The Patsy (1964)

An incompetent bellhop is recruited to fill in for a deceased comedian.

Director:

Jerry Lewis

Writers:

Jerry Lewis, Bill Richmond

Stars:

Jerry Lewis, Ina Balin, Everett Sloane

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jerry Lewis	...	Stanley Belt / Singers of the Trio
Ina Balin	...	Ellen Betz
Everett Sloane	...	Caryl Fergusson
Phil Harris	...	Chic Wymore
Keenan Wynn	...	Harry Silver
Peter Lorre	...	Morgan Heywood
John Carradine	...	Bruce Arden
Hans Conried	...	Prof. Mulerr
Richard Deacon	...	Sy Devore
Scatman Crothers	...	Shoeshine Boy (as Scat Man Crothers)
Del Moore	...	Policeman
Neil Hamilton	...	The Barber
Buddy Lester	...	Copa Café MC
Nancy Kulp	...	Helen, Theatergoer
Lloyd Thaxton	...	Lloyd

Storyline

When a star comedian dies, rather than letting anyone know, his comedy writers decide to find and teach an unknown to fill his shoes for a big show the comedian had been schedeled for. But the man they choose - bellboy, Stanley Belt - can't do anything right, and time's running out.

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Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | newspaper headline | reference to cinderella | beverly hilton | boeing 707 | 

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Taglines:

Jerry's a dumb-like-a-fox bellhop that some smart alecs manipulate into stardom...

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was released as a double bill with The Son of Captain Blood (1962) by Paramount in the United States.

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Quotes

[Ina Balin, as Ellen, is bawling after seeing Jerry's character Stanley fall over the balcony of his apartment. Jerry Lewis appears from the right, behind her]
Stanley Belt: Aren't you overacting a little bit, Miss Bawling... Balin... Balin? It's a movie, you see? I'm fine. Uh, the people in the theater know I ain't gonna die. Here, it's a movie stage. Here, look at this, see? There's wires and lights and I'm gonna make more movies, so I couldn't die. It's like a "make-believe." It's a dumb city.
Ellen Betz: Mr. Lewis, ...

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Connections

Featured in 100 Years of Comedy (1997)

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Soundtracks

I Lost My Heart in a Drive-In Movie
Lyrics by Jack Brooks
Music by David Raksin
Performed by Jerry Lewis

User Reviews

Amazing Cast, but Falls Short

The Patsy boasts a fantastic cast but falls incredibly short. Lewis is rather cringeworthy in a handful of sequences here with the exception of about three skits (the ice in the beginning, the chair/seat sketch somewhere in the middle) and the finale). It's also worth mentioning Lewis was fantastic at breaking the 4th wall and using scene set-up and prop set-up rather masterfully. He just doesn't keep it consistent enough in this. It would also help if he didn't babble nonsense so much. Worth watching if your a fan of Lewis. Definitely doesn't crack his best work though.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 July 1964 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Son of Bellboy

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Patti Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1