Le Zinzin d'Hollywood

One of the first of many Jerry Lewis comedies that Paramount (Paramutual) Studios would produce throughout the late 50's and 60's. I disappointment to not have the movie in color, the black and white not only shows the movie's early roots, but the classic Hollywood esq. that the movie takes place in. In many ways, the movie opens and closes poking fun at the Hollywood system and the people in it. The ending showcases a moral that if you are in the right place at the right time and that you know the right people, you too can make it in Hollywood. \ Jerry Lewis has many moments throughout the movie. Many if not all re comical. His childlike qualities gives Lewis the reputation that he can do no wrong. Like most Jerry Lewis movies, he is not the only highlight. All of his movies have a strong central cast without any weak links. All the supporting characters (funny or not) are terrific. An interesting scene with the New York based filmmaker. In a way, it shows the different ethic that east coast has compared to the west coast. One of the more interesting parts of the movie, it is far from anything comical. It makes me wonder why Jerry Lewis included it in the film.....being from the east coast himself.

Jerry Lewis is Morty S. Tashman who is hired by Paramutual Pictures to be their spy.He gets to work in the mail room for Grumpy (Stanley Adams).Soon they notice it wasn't such a good idea to hire Morty.Morty causes a disaster after another at whatever he does.The funny man Jerry Lewis directed and wrote with Bill Richmond this hilarious movie.Jerry is at his funniest in this one, just like he is in many of his other movies.The supporting cast is great as well.There are talents like Brian Donlevy, Dexter McNear, Renée Taylor, Kathleen Freeman, Isobel Elsom, Iris Adrian, Del Moore, 'Snub' Pollard, Michael Landon and three other members from Bonanza.The Errand Boy (1961) is a party for Jerry Lewis fans, such as myself.The movie is filled and full of hilarious scenes, like Jerry in the elevator or in the candy store, when he has problems with pronouncing all those complicated names, when he gets accidentally to the movie set and gets carried away with the song...The list goes on and on until the movie ends.The movie can also be serious and sweet, when Jerry encounters with the hand puppet clown and ostrich.I think a good comedy can be funny and serious, maybe even at the same time.Serious moments don't worsen the comedy.Jerry Lewis has the capability of bringing both of those sides into his movies.Watch this movie.It will show you the both sides of Jerry Lewis, the king of comedy.

Those who dismiss 'The Errand Boy' as juvenile comedy in the vein of the awful Tom Green are way out of line - this film in particular is entertaining, genuinely funny, and acted and directed with charm by Jerry Lewis. Perhaps he was funnier in 'Who's Minding The Store' or 'The Nutty Professor', but this one remains my favourite.

It is the story of Morty, an underling at a Hollywood studio where he can cause as many problems as he can - in the canteen, on the sets, in the lift, as an unexpected extra during filming, and by overdubbing his own squeaky vocals over a finished soundtrack. The combined effect of all this is irresistable.

My favourite scene though is the one in the prop room, where Morty seeks advice from a couple of finger puppets about how to improve his life. Cliched, maybe, but unexpected amongst the silliness and really quite effective.

This is probably one of the finest films Jerry Lewis did in the post Martin and Lewis era. In fact, this film is a pretty much a great parody of Hollywood and it manages to poke fun at what really goes on behind the scenes with many of its stars and how a lot of films are really produced. One scene that is particularly funny is the one in the recording studio. This pretty much reminded me of how a lot of actresses who couldn't sing had their voices dubbed by a professional singer (of course this could have been inspired by noted singer Marni Nixon who dubbed many of Hollywood's leading ladies including Audrey Hepburn and Natalie Wood). But the funniest scene was the one in the candy store in which Morty is constantly going up and down the ladder getting jelly beans for the three kids and finally explodes when the last kid asks for them. This film is definitely one of Jerry Lewis's best.

Well I didn't see the full version of this movie until a couple of years ago. I know it from a 1970s cut-down to 18 minutes Super 8mm film version I saw many times,long ago. Those were the days...

We need to work our way through a self-centered and self serving Jerry Lewis. As an earlier comment correctly stated, Jerry Lewis didn't manage to come up with the "not too bright underdog with a golden heart, trying to live the American dream, facing many obstacles but making it in the end" - story, even though this was clearly his idea of the storyline. You can call me names for my next statement: Sylvester Stallone did that thing much better (even though not through a comedy) in his first two "Rocky" movies.

Anyway, this still is a Jerry Lewis classic with many great scenes. Undoubtedly the best being him doing a perfectly-in-sync routine to "Blues in Hoss Flat", as usual impeccably performed by the great Count Basie big band.

Some other material such as the radio that won't stop playing even when smashed to bits has been done much better in 1940s Warner Brothers cartoon shorts.

The two scenes where Morty (Jerry Lewis) meets "living" puppets are rather painful and reminiscent of Charles Chaplin's later work (Limelight etc.) It's in the "crying Clown" tradition and rather out of place in this otherwise funny and inventive movie. The puppets, a little clown and in a later scene a talking female ostrich, magically coming to life (yet obviously performed by rather average puppeteers) in a comedy are the only beings who really understand our "hero"? I'm afraid this is very weak material.

Jerry Lewis also has his "serius" moment in movies like "Cinderfella", and they are totally out of place as well. But that is a classic: a comedian trying to show his (or her) serious side. I will be tolerant and understanding (=forgiving).

If you are a Jerry Lewis fan, "The Errand boy" is a must see in any case. Jerry lewis definitely was (and remains) a great inspiration to contemporary film comedians such as Steve Martin and Jim Carrey.