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.
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.