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IMDbPro

The Jerk

  • 1979
  • R
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
61K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,179
256
The Jerk (1979)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer2:32
2 Videos
76 Photos
Comedy

A simpleminded, sheltered country boy suddenly decides to leave his family home to experience life in the big city, where his naivete is both his best friend and his worst enemy.A simpleminded, sheltered country boy suddenly decides to leave his family home to experience life in the big city, where his naivete is both his best friend and his worst enemy.A simpleminded, sheltered country boy suddenly decides to leave his family home to experience life in the big city, where his naivete is both his best friend and his worst enemy.

  • Director
    • Carl Reiner
  • Writers
    • Steve Martin
    • Carl Gottlieb
    • Michael Elias
  • Stars
    • Steve Martin
    • Bernadette Peters
    • Catlin Adams
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    61K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,179
    256
    • Director
      • Carl Reiner
    • Writers
      • Steve Martin
      • Carl Gottlieb
      • Michael Elias
    • Stars
      • Steve Martin
      • Bernadette Peters
      • Catlin Adams
    • 161User reviews
    • 76Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:32
    Watch Official Trailer
    The Jerk
    Clip 1:37
    Watch The Jerk

    Photos76

    Steve Martin and Carl Reiner in The Jerk (1979)
    Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters in The Jerk (1979)
    Steve Martin, Mabel King, and Renn Woods in The Jerk (1979)
    Steve Martin and Carl Reiner in The Jerk (1979)
    Steve Martin, Mabel King, Richard Ward, and Frances E. Williams in The Jerk (1979)
    Steve Martin and Bill Macy in The Jerk (1979)
    Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters in The Jerk (1979)
    Steve Martin in The Jerk (1979)
    Steve Martin and Catlin Adams in The Jerk (1979)
    Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters in The Jerk (1979)
    Steve Martin and Bill Macy in The Jerk (1979)
    Steve Martin in The Jerk (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Steve Martin
    Steve Martin
    • Navin
    • (as Pig Eye Jackson also)
    • …
    Bernadette Peters
    Bernadette Peters
    • Marie
    Catlin Adams
    Catlin Adams
    • Patty Bernstein
    Mabel King
    Mabel King
    • Mother
    Richard Ward
    Richard Ward
    • Father
    Dick Anthony Williams
    Dick Anthony Williams
    • Taj
    Bill Macy
    Bill Macy
    • Stan Fox
    M. Emmet Walsh
    M. Emmet Walsh
    • Madman
    Dick O'Neill
    Dick O'Neill
    • Frosty
    Maurice Evans
    Maurice Evans
    • Hobart
    Helena Carroll
    • Hester
    Renn Woods
    Renn Woods
    • Elvira
    • (as Ren Wood)
    Pepe Serna
    Pepe Serna
    • Punk #1
    Sonny Terry
    • Blues Singer
    Brownie McGhee
    • Blues Singer
    • (as Brownie McGee)
    Jackie Mason
    Jackie Mason
    • Harry Hartounian
    David Landsberg
    David Landsberg
    • Bank Manager
    Domingo Ambriz
    • Father De Cordoba
    • Director
      • Carl Reiner
    • Writers
      • Steve Martin
      • Carl Gottlieb
      • Michael Elias
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Stanley Kubrick was a big admirer of this film. He would often recite lines from the film to cast and crew on his films and he once invited Steve Martin over so they could play chess.
    • Goofs
      When the family is sitting around the table for Navin's (Steve Martin) birthday, they congratulate him and his brother says "That's great, Steve!"
    • Quotes

      Navin R. Johnson: Well I'm gonna to go then! And I don't need any of this. I don't need this stuff, and I don't need *you*. I don't need anything. Except this.

      [picks up an ashtray]

      Navin R. Johnson: And that's the only thing I need is *this*. I don't need this or this. Just this ashtray... And this paddle game. - The ashtray and the paddle game and that's all I need... And this remote control. - The ashtray, the paddle game, and the remote control, and that's all I need... And these matches. - The ashtray, and these matches, and the remote control, and the paddle ball... And this lamp. - The ashtray, this paddle game, and the remote control, and the lamp, and that's all *I* need. And that's *all* I need too. I don't need one other thing, not one... I need this. - The paddle game and the chair, and the remote control, and the matches for sure. Well what are you looking at? What do you think I'm some kind of a jerk or something! - And this. That's all I need.

      [walking outside]

      Navin R. Johnson: The ashtray, the remote control, the paddle game, and this magazine, and the chair.

      Navin R. Johnson: [outside now] And I don't need one other thing, except my dog.

      [Shithead growls at him]

      Navin R. Johnson: I don't need my dog.

    • Crazy credits
      Pig Eye Jackson - Cat Juggler (Steve Martin)
    • Alternate versions
      A version of "The Jerk" shown on cable's Turner Network Television contained alternate footage. Besides changing the name of Navin's dog to "Stupid" from "Shithead," genuine alternate footage was contained; in one previously-unseen scene, Navin is so broken-up over the loss of Marie that he "just had to spin." The carnies remove him from the ride by force, and he tries to explain to them what emotions are. The "charity" montage also differs: before the cat-juggling sequence, Navin meets a professor-type who insults him and shows him some apparently unpleasant pictures, and a Texan millionaire who cries over small cracks on the seat of his airplane; he pays both, of course. In this version there is no "Iron-Balls McGinty" sequence.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: The Jerk/Kramer vs. Kramer/Star Trek/Mr. Mike's Mondo Video/Sleeping Beauty (1979)
    • Soundtracks
      Tonight You Belong To Me
      Sung by Bernadette Peters and Steve Martin

      Music by Lee David

      Lyric by Billy Rose

    User reviews161

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    I was born a poor black child…The Jerk
    It was sheer dumb luck that while reading Steve Martin's autobiography earlier this year I saw his film The Jerk was being shown on TV. A few months later and the threat of my DVR being erased, I finally took the time to view it. Martin definitely did something special, infusing his stand-up routine into a story of one man's rise to wealth and subsequent loss of everything. His crazy persona takes center stage right from the start as we meet Navin Johnson, not a bum on the street, but a jerk who has lost it all. His slowed down drunk speech and deep tones as he begins to tell the camera the story of his life set up the collection of gags and jokes you can't even imagine will come your way. Here we have a man that was born into a black southern family, always wondering why his skin was so light and why he could never keep up with the rhythm of blues music. With a penchant for Twinkies and Tab cola, something was amiss and only when he heard a strange new song on the radio, one his white body could dance to, does he realize he needed to see the world and show it his "special purpose".

    I really think I wouldn't have enjoyed my time with this character if I hadn't read Martin's book first. Knowing his stand-up background made it fun to spot tired and true aspects throughout the movie. You have the juggling, the ukulele, and the "all I need is this ashtray, and I don't need anything else, well except this paddle-game, all I need is this ashtray and the paddle-game … and these matches …" schtick that surprising goes on long in the film, but never gets old. I think it has to do with the way it is shot, in a still-framed composition as he gradually goes further and further away, his voice getting softer and softer. It really is well-orchestrated and credit goes to either he or director Carl Reiner for the success. There are definite lulls in the action, as is inherent in films like this being a stream of jokes tied together, but there is bound to be some failures amongst the true gems. When the laughs hit, though, they hit pretty hard—even if it might just be because of how off-the-wall the gag is.

    For a guy like Martin, fresh off of his club appearances and television variety shows, he is quite a natural. The Jerk marks his first major film role, the lead part in his own movie, something that shows how powerful he was based on record sales alone and no real reputation for acting on screen. He gets his wild and crazy guy dancing involved along with other staples from his repertoire to help the audience find their bearings and remember that this is the guy they hear at home every night for laughs. This really is the start of a powerhouse's career and he planned it out to perfection.

    Having a supporting cast like he does can't hurt either. Bernadette Peters did not have many film jobs beforehand, probably just known mostly for her stage work. Her vocal prowess is on display as well as her comedic timing and blank face reactions to Martin's antics. I don't know if anyone else could have taken his face lick with such class. Martin's family is a lot of fun too, always singing and dancing and trying their best to make him a part of the group. I really enjoyed Dick Anthony Williams as his brother Taj. This is the one person who understands the absurdity of the situation and when Navin writes home about the possibility of a new job from his girlfriend, Williams' smirk and laughter is absolutely fantastic.

    A lot works and plenty doesn't, but when you understand the film's place in history, you must give it a lot of credit. People took a chance on this unproven young man and ushered in a new era of comedians. With "Saturday Night Live" beginning it's perpetual lifespan around the same time, The Jerk became a sign of things to come. If you look at the comedy world today, everything seems to be manifested from the minds of comedians who started on stage or in TV. Shows are based on comedy acts and films molded from characters. Most of them fail miserably, but the strong success of a select few keep the money flowing, hoping to discover that next new cash cow. With scenes like those at the gas station here, Navin's first real job, you can't help but feel as though it could have been a skit translated and expanded for screen. Between Jackie Mason's utter wonderment at his employee's penchant for jubilance and M. Emmet Walsh's search for a random civilian to murder, the scene is the highlight of a film chock full of good one-liners. When Martin looks at the exploding oil cans and then at the gun-toting whackjob, he screams, "that guy really hates cans!" I couldn't stop laughing as he gets cornered by a coca-cola machine and a can display indoors. It is comedy gold and with plenty more to complement, you will be smiling once the credits roll.
    helpful•9
    3
    • jaredmobarak
    • Oct 5, 2008

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 14, 1979 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Easy Money
    • Filming locations
      • Beverly Estate, 1011 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA(grounds of Navin's mansion)
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Aspen Film Society
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $73,691,419
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,935,025
      • Dec 16, 1979
    • Gross worldwide
      • $73,691,419
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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