The Bellboy (1960)

Director:

Jerry Lewis

Writer:

Jerry Lewis (writer)

Release Date:

20 July 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Jerry Lewis rings the bell for buffoonery!

Plot:

In Miami Beach, the mute bellboy Stanley works at the luxurious Fontainebleau Hotel. In spite of being a serviceable and friendly employee, the clumsy Stanley gets successively into trouble with his mistakes.

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Slapstick | Bellhop | Actor Meets Character

Cast

Jerry Lewis	...	Stanley / Himself
Alex Gerry	...	Mr. Novak, Hotel Manager
Bob Clayton	...	Bob, Bell Captain
Sonnie Sands	...	Sonnie, Bellboy (as Sonny Sands)
Eddie Shaeffer	...	Eddie, Bellboy
Herkie Styles	...	Herkie, Bellboy
David Landfield	...	David, Bellboy
Bill Richmond	...	Stan Laurel
Larry Best	...	Apple Man
Cary Middlecoff	...	Himself
Art Terry	...	Himself (as The Novelites)
Frankie Carr	...	Himself (as The Novelites)
Joe Mayer	...	Himself (as The Novelites)
Stanley Allan	...	Hotel Guest
Duke Art Jr.	...	Bit part

Also Known As:

Hallo, Page! (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
Alla tiders gågosse (Sweden) [sv]
El botones (Spain) [es]
Garsonun marifetleri (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Jerry no Grande Hotel (Portugal) [pt]
Jerry piccolona (Finland) [fi]
Le dingue du Palace (France) (dubbed version) [fr]
O Mensageiro Trapalhão (Brazil) [pt]
Paidi gia oles tis doulies (Greece) [el]
Ragazzo tuttofare (Italy) [it]

Runtime:

72 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G | UK:U | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Fontainebleau Hilton Resort - 4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida, USA

Company:

Jerry Lewis Pictures

Trivia:

Jerry Lewis is credited with having created the video-assist technique for this film. At the time it was called "Closed Circuit Television Applied to Motion Pictures," for which he was awarded a patent.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: When the staff helps the overweight Mrs. Hartung up the stairs you see the reflection of the boom mic raising up in the window

Movie Connections:

Featured in 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009) (TV)

Jerry Lewis the true genius of comedy

Jerry Lewis produced, wrote and directed The Bellboy in 1960, in four weeks at the Fountainbleau Hotel in Miami Beach, where he was performing at the time.The movie has no plot, it just shows us Stanley the bellboy getting in many hilarious situations.Stanley doesn't speak, he doesn't say a word until at the end of the movie.Lewis shows us some incredible silent comedy, great physical comedy in a way only Jerry can do.And what he does with his face! Marvelous, just marvelous! In this movie Jerry makes also a visit as himself.You can't help yourself laughing when the star arrives with a whole bunch of people.An other great comedian, Milton Berle can be seen there.And Stan Laurel.Well, not quite.Jerry wanted Stan to be in the movie, he sent him the script and Stan did make a few minor changes to it.He deleted one entire scene because it was too mean-spirited.So Stan did have something to do with the picture, but he wasn't seen in it.That's too bad, since Mr Laurel is also one of my favorite comics.But there is Bill Richmond as Stan Laurel look-alike.Mr Lewis will receive next September the Governors award for his charity work.He is the chairman of Muscular Dystrophy Association.Good for you, Jerry!You do deserve all the best in the world.I bought the DVD yesterday and I sure am glad I did.It may not be the most traditional Jerry Lewis movie, but it still works, works like a charm.After 45 years it still does.