User Reviews

Jerry Lewis assembled a large cast of veteran character actors, most of which only appear briefly, for his latest picture. Lewis once again directed himself and co-wrote the script with Bill Richmond. Make no mistake it's all Jerry Lewis both behind and in front of the camera.

T.P Paramutual (Brian Donlevy) is chairing a meeting of the board of Paramutual Pictures. He is concerned over the excess spending within the studio and wants to plant a "spy" to search out the causes. He selects an inept paper hanger Morty S. Tashman (Lewis) for the job. He is to report through nervous Dexter Sneak (Howard McNear). You know what? This premise quickly disappears into Lewis' antics asnd the cause of the over spending is never revealed.

Anyway, Morty is assigned to be an errand boy which means that he will be roaming throughout the studio disrupting everywhere he goes. His disgruntled grumpy boss (Stanley Adams) becomes increasingly frustrated with Morty's disruptive nature.

Of the large cast, only Donlevy and Adams have substantial roles Some of the people he disrupts along the way include: Fritz Feld and Sig Ruman (Eric von Stroheim anyone?) as frustrated directors, Dick Wesson (totally wasted) as an Assistant Director, Herb Vigran as a cigar smoking man in the crowded elevator, Bill Richmond in the same scene, Lewis regulars Del Moore as an announcer and Milton Frome as a sound editor, Iris Adrian as the actress being "honored" at the finale as well as, Kenneth MacDonald, Joe Besser, Richard Bakalyan, Doodles Weaver, Regis Toomey, Benny Rubin Renee Taylor, Kathleen Freeman among others in minor roles.

Some highlights include the aforementioned crowded elevator, Lewis selling jelly beans to three youngsters, a illplaced scene with a sock puppet, cameos by the cast of TVs "Bonanza" and Leo Durocher. The scene at the end where Robert Ivers gets on his soap box and praises the new wave of film makers is a bit out of place. Ivers ,Wesson and Besser watching "The Errand Boy" and lauding the discovery of a new talent (Morty) doesn't make sense within the context of the film and I found the final scene to be a bit corny.

Disappointing! Given the promise of the movie's central idea, plus the wide latitude available to take the mickey out of Hollywood (as at least a dozen films have done so amusingly in the past), Jerry Lewis seems determined – aside from two sequences – to play his Hollywood studio errand boy in a distinctly minor key. True, we do encounter some heavy slapstick and far-too-broad satire, and there is some wistful yet rather too obvious, cutesy stuff with puppets. But the way the movie is constructed as a series of sketches strung together on the thinnest of threads, will ensure that nearly all viewers are in the running to find something to complain about. Some of the sketches – crowded into an elevator, climbing a ladder to get jelly beans for kids – don't have any connections with a movie studio at all. In short, I feel that an opportunity for some really amusing satire was lost. I regard The Patsy as more consistently amusing. That movie also had a superior support cast. Sig Ruman is glimpsed but briefly here. However, Stanley Adams as the mail room chief is amusingly choleric. On the other hand, Howard McNear way overdoes the sycophant, while Brian Donleby delivers one of his duller, stiffer performances. Iris Adrian, however, is always welcome. Disappointingly, production values are only average "A". It's a pity there were no more surprise guest stars than Lorne Greene and company. As a director, Lewis uses lots of close-ups, but is generally efficient despite the jerky continuity. The lighting photography, however, is unusually dark and somber for a comedy.

From a painter to a comedy star, Jerry was always at his usual best! It was always funny seeing him interrupt a lot of the "behind the scenes" that took place in the studios. It was really fun on where he'll disrupt next. I liked so much at the beginning where he accidentally got involved in a party scene and he sang really loudly from the singer who was suppose to be entertaining in the scene.

I found Howard McNear who played Dexter Sneak was really funny as he was very eccentric with his fast talking and his crazy behavior! It's too bad he was an unrated actor because he really deserved more for being in this movie! He should've been Jerry Lewis' sidekick if he had the chance to make us all laugh!

If you like movies and comedy, this one is for you!