Ernest Goes to Jail (1990)

Bumbling Ernest P. Worrell is assigned to jury duty, where a crooked lawyer notices a resemblance with crime boss Mr. Nash, and arranges a switch. Nash assumes Ernest's job as a bank ... See full summary »

Director:

John R. Cherry III (as John Cherry)

Writer:

Charlie Cohen

Stars:

Jim Varney, Gailard Sartain, Bill Byrge

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jim Varney	...	Ernest P. Worrell / Mr. Felix Nash / Auntie Nelda
Gailard Sartain	...	Chuck
Bill Byrge	...	Bobby
Barbara Tyson	...	Charlotte Sparrow (as Barbara Bush)
Barry Scott	...	Rubin Bartlett
Randall 'Tex' Cobb	...	Lyle
Dan Leegant	...	Oscar Pendlesmythe
Charles Napier	...	Warden
Jim Conrad	...	Eddie
Jackie Welch	...	Judge
Melanie Wheeler	...	Prosecutor
Jeffrey Buckner Ford	...	Defense Attorney (as Buck Ford)
Daniel Butler	...	Waiter
Charlie Lamb	...	Another Con
Mac Bennett	...	Con

Storyline

Bumbling Ernest P. Worrell is assigned to jury duty, where a crooked lawyer notices a resemblance with crime boss Mr. Nash, and arranges a switch. Nash assumes Ernest's job as a bank employee, while Ernest undergoes Nash's sentence to the electric chair. But instead of killing him, the electrocution gives Ernest superhuman powers, enabling him to escape from jail and foil Nash's attempt to rob the bank.

---

Plot Keywords:

jury duty | electric chair | court | electrocution | four word title | 

---

Taglines:

Guilty of Maximum Fun in the First Degree!

---

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Family

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 April 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ernesto pierde su puesto

Filming Locations:

Tennessee, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,143,372, 8 April 1990, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$25,029,569

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Among the famous eccentric actors whom Ernest imitates in jail when trying out for "Mr. Nash", are James Cagney, Walter Brennan, Humphrey Bogart, Barry Fitzgerald, Sylvester Stallone, and James Mason.

---

Goofs

When Nash throws the chair at Ernest, you can hear Nash say, "Here, have a seat!", but his mouth clearly does not move.

---

Quotes

[Ernest and the crew he's with are being forced to go into a jail cell, and Ernest is mistaking the prison he's in for his jury crew, and a guard comes up from behind him and hits him]
Ernest P. Worrell: I hope you've got a good story to tell my boss! After all, I do have a living to earn.
Mean prison guard: Now look, Nash -...
Ernest P. Worrell: My name is "Worrel, Ernest P. Worrel."
Mean prison guard: Oh, Mister Funny-Man, huh? Yeah, Mister Funny-Man. You'll think funny when you're tapping to the tune of 2-20, son!
[throws him into his cell, right next to them]
Ernest P. Worrell: That is...

---

Alternate Versions

An extra scene of Mr. Pendelsmythe and Nash talking before Nash breaks Mr. Pendelsmythe's golf trophy.

---

Connections

Spoofs Take the Money and Run (1969)

---

Soundtracks

Doin' Time
Music and Lyrics by Bruce Arntson
Performed by Bruce Arntson

User Reviews

"Is everyone who works here a moron?"

Bank janitor Ernest unwillingly switches place with lookalike convict Felix Nash. Now Ernest is stuck in prison and has to figure out a way to survive until he can set things right. Jim Varney plays both parts, of course. Oh, and I forgot to mention Ernest gets super powers in this one. Yeah. Let's face it, Ernest movies are about as low-brow as it gets. But they also can be entertaining. This one's no "Ernest Goes to Camp" but it's better than the rest of the dreadful Ernest movies from the '90s. It's admittedly pretty dumb stuff but if you shut your brain off for awhile and let your inner kid out, you might find some laughs here.