The Errand Boy

92 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBox office$3 million (US/Canada rentals)^[1]
843,546 admissions (France)^[2]

The Errand Boy is a 1961 American comedy film directed by, co-written by and starring Jerry Lewis.^[3]

Plot

Paramutual Pictures decide that they need a spy to find out the inner workings of their studio. Morty S. Tashman, (the 'S' stands for 'scared'), is a paperhanger who happens to be working right outside their window. They decide that he is the man for the job and hire him on the spot. He bumbles his way through a series of misadventures, reporting everything back to the corporate executives.

The Paramutual Studio President eventually has to fire Morty for incompetency. But secret film taken of his bumbling becomes public and everybody wants to know who the terrific new comedy star is. Paramutual is forced to beg Morty to come back and rescue the studio from bankruptcy; which he does.

Cast

• Jerry Lewis as Morty S. Tashman
• Brian Donlevy as Tom "T.P." Paramutual
• Howard McNear as Dexter Sneak
• Dick Wesson as The A. D.
• Robert Ivers as Young NY director who argues with T.P.
• Pat Dahl as Miss Carson
• Renée Taylor as Miss Giles
• Rita Hayes as Singer who dubs Davitt
• Stanley Adams as Grumpy
• Kathleen Freeman as Mrs. Helen Paramutual/Mrs. T.P.
• Isobel Elsom as Irma Paramutual
• Sig Ruman as Baron Elston Carteblanche
• Felicia Atkins as Serina
• Doodles Weaver as Weaver
• Fritz Feld as Roaring 20's Director
• Richard Bakalyan as The Studio Director
• Kenneth MacDonald as Mr.Fumble
• Herb Vigran as man with cigar in elevator
• Barry Livingston as boy who wants jellybeans
• Milton Frome as Mr. Greenback
• Benny Rubin as Mr. Wabenlotnee
• Paul Frees as Unseen Narrator(uncredited)

Cast notes

• The cast of the western TV series Bonanza makes a cameo appearance.
• Leo Durocher (baseball manager and player) gives a group of "studio kids" (actually the Dover Basketeers) a pep talk.
• Joe Besser, a former member of the Three Stooges, has a bit part.

Production

The Errand Boy was filmed from July 24 to September 1, 1961, and was released on November 28, 1961, by Paramount Pictures.

Release

In 1967, it was re-released on a double bill with another Jerry Lewis film, Cinderfella.

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 50% rating based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 5.47/10.^[4]

The film earned theatrical rentals of $3 million in the United States and Canada.^[1]

Home media

The film was released on DVD on October 12, 2004, July 15, 2014, in a 4-film collection, 4 Film Favorites: Jerry Lewis, with The Bellboy, The Ladies Man, and The Patsy, and March 15, 2021.

References

External links

• The Errand Boy at IMDb
• The Errand Boy at the TCM Movie Database
• The Errand Boy at AllMovie