The Errand Boy

1961

The Errand Boy (1961)

TOMATOMETER

50%

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Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

72%

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Movie Info

The second of Jerry Lewis' directorial endeavors, The Errand Boy, like its predecessor The Bellboy, is essentially a series of "spot gags," some hilarious, others only moderately amusing. The gossamer-thin plot finds Morty Tashman (Lewis) being hired by the CEO of "Paramutuel Pictures" (Brian Donlevy) to spy on studio employees and report any incidents of wastefulness and sloth. This gives Morty a chance to wander all over the Paramutuel Pictures lot, inadvertently interfering with work in progress, encountering strange characters and inexplicable events, and overall making as much of a nuisance of himself as possible. Some of the better gags include Morty's chaotic behavior at the "wrap party" for a vainglorious movie queen (Iris Adrian); his attempts to eat lunch while a noisy battle scene from a war picture rages all around him; his misguided effort to dub in the singing voice of a tone-deaf actress; the "Mr. Baebrosenthal" bit; and Morty's tete-a-tete in the studio swimming pool with a scuba diver. The weakest scenes involve Morty's sugary encounters with the Ritts Puppets, and a smug curtain speech about the importance of laughmakers in this troubled world. The huge supporting cast includes such reliable chucklemeisters as Howard McNear, Sig Ruman, Milton Frome, Benny Rubin, Fritz Feld, Doodles Weaver, Joey Forman, Dick Wesson and Joe Besser; also making fleeting appearances are actress/writer/director Renee Taylor, veteran movie tough guy Mike Mazurki (in drag!), silent film comic Snub Pollard, and the four stars from TV's Bonanza. Even non-Jerry Lewis fans will come down with a case of loose chuckles while watching The Errand Boy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Cast

Jerry Lewis
as Morty S. Tashman
Brian Donlevy
as Tom 'T.P.' Paramutual
Dick Wesson
as The A.D.
Howard McNear
as Dexter Sneak
Felicia Atkins
as Serina
Kathleen Freeman
as Mrs. TP
Mary Ritts
as Herself
Paul Ritts
as Himself
Isobel Elsom
as Irma Paramutual
Fritz Feld
as Foreign Director
Iris Adrian
as Great Actress
Renée Taylor
as Miss Giles
Stanley Adams
as Grumpy
Sig Rumann
as Baron Elston Carteblanche
Doodles Weaver
as Man on scaffold
Kenneth MacDonald
as Mr. Fumble
Joey Forman
as Jedson
David Landfield
as Lance
Del Moore
as MC
Rita Hayes
as Singer
Pat Dahl
as Miss Carson
Mike Mazurki
as Blonde `Movie Siren'
Dan Blocker
as Guest Star
Lorne Greene
as Guest Star
Michael Landon
as Guest Star
Pernell Roberts
as Guest Star
Murray Alper
Phil Arnold
as Babe Rosenwald
Richard Bakalyan
as Jason, Anastasia's Director
Don 'Red' Barry
Bellfontevro
as Puppeteer
John Benson
Joe Besser
as Man Watching Rushes
Jan Bradley
Sue Casey
Connie Cezon
Harry V. Cheshire
Booth Colman
Theodora Davitt
Jean Engstrom
Judy Erwin
Milton Frome
as Mr. Greenbag
Barry Gray
Daryn Hinton
Bob Hopkins
Judy Howard
Robert Ivers
as Young NY Director Who Argues with T.P.
Dick Wessel
as The A.D.
Hank Ladd
as Minor Role
Frances Lax
Barry Livingston
Sally Mansfield
as Minor Role
Mickey Manners
as Minor Role
Quinn O'Hara
as Model
'Snub' Pollard
as 'Snub'
Sherwood Price
Roscoe Ates
Hal Rand
Tony Regan
Caroline Richter
as Minor Role
Sheila Rogers
Michael Ross
as Big Man in Elevator
Benny Rubin
as Mr. Wabenlotnee
Frank J. Scannell
Jeanne Taylor
Mary Treen
as Commissary Cashier
Herb Vigran
as Cigar Smoker in Elevator
William Wellman Jr.
as Actor / Lover in Film
Dick Winslow
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Critic Reviews for The Errand Boy

All Critics (10) | Top Critics (1)

Lewis's antics bring out his radically democratic politics: when the yearnings for power, self-expression, and love are thwarted, the ordinary man becomes the great anarch.

Oct 8, 2018 | Full Review…
New Yorker
Top Critic

Jerry Lewis screwball comedy is tedious, lacks kid appeal.

Dec 16, 2014 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…
Common Sense Media

The skeleton of Hollywood, half fakery and half magic

Feb 5, 2010 | Full Review…
CinePassion

The film is a series of sight gags, with not too many hitting the mark.

Jul 22, 2007 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The self-reflectivity of The Errand Boy is so pervasive it truly becomes the content of the film.

Oct 13, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…
Slant Magazine

One of Lewis' more successful efforts.

Mar 8, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
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