The Patsy (1964 film)

Infobox Film
name = The Patsy


caption = "The Patsy" Theatrical Poster
director = Jerry Lewis
producer = Ernest D. Glucksman
writer = Jerry Lewis
Bill Richmond
starring = Jerry Lewis
Everett Sloane
Phil Harris
Keenan Wynn
Peter Lorre
John Carradine
music = Jack Brooks (lyrics)
David Raksin
cinematography = W. Wallace Kelley
editing =
distributor = Paramount Pictures
released = August 12, 1964 (US)
runtime = 101 min.
country = US
awards =
language = English
budget =
amg_id = 1:37444
imdb_id = 0058456

"The Patsy" is a 1964 film directed by and starring Jerry Lewis. It was released on August 12, 1964 by Paramount Pictures.

Plot

A famous comedian perishes in a plane crash and his management team, worried that they will be jobless, decide to find someone else to take his place as their "meal ticket". Stanley Belt (Jerry Lewis) is a bellboy at the hotel at which they are staying and they decide that he will become the next superstar.

Although Stanley has no obvious talent, his new managers use their power to open doors for him, including an appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show". However, it quickly appears that Stanley will never have talent and the management teams fires him just before he goes on stage. However, one of the management team, Ellen (Ina Balin) has fallen in love with Stanley and stays by his side.

Stanley becomes a hit on the show, and the rest of the management team beg for their jobs back, to which Stanley magnanimously agrees.

Production

The film's working title was "Son of Bellboy", as it was originally intended to be a sequel to "The Bellboy". In fact, Lewis' characters in both films are named Stanley. It was filmed from January 6 to February 28, 1964.

Cast

Jerry Lewis as Stanley Belt: a bellboy turned into a superstar by his management team.

Everett Sloane as Caryl Fergusson.

Phil Harris as Chic Wymore.

Keenan Wynn as Harry Silver.

Peter Lorre as Morgan Heywood. This was Peter Lorre's final film. He died in March 1964 prior to the film's release.

John Carradine as Bruce Alden.

Ina Balin as Ellen Betz: the only member of Stanley's management team to stick by him. The character of Ellen becomes romantically involved with Stanley as the plot develops.

This film contains cameos from a variety of Hollyood personalities including George Raft, Hedda Hopper, Ed Sullivan, Ed Wynn, Mel Tormé, Rhonda Fleming, Scatman Crothers, Billy Beck, Hans Conried, Richard Deacon, Del Moore, Neil Hamilton, Buddy Lester, Nancy Kulp, Norman Alden, Jack Albertson, Richard Bakalyan, Jerry Dunphy, Kathleen Freeman, Norman Leavitt, Eddie Ryder, and Fritz Feld.

In addition, Bill Richmond, who co-wrote the screenplay with Lewis, makes a cameo appearance in "The Patsy" as a piano player.

Re-release

This film was re-released on a double bill with another Jerry Lewis film, "The Nutty Professor", in 1967.

DVD release

External links

*imdb title|0058456
*amg movie|id=1:37444|title=The Patsy
*rotten-tomatoes|id=patsy|title=The Patsy