The Errand Boy (1961)

Captivating movie !

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

I don't think "The Errand Boy" is a film everyone will love. The film is essentially plot less and it's made up of one silly skit after another. Additionally, some of the bits are pretty bad--with some serious overacting by Jerry Lewis. Yet, despite its faults, the film is pleasant and entertaining.I could describe the plot but frankly it never made sense and occupied little of the film. Suffice to say that dopey Morty (Lewis) is hired as an errand boy at a film studio and ends up repeatedly screwing up pretty much everything he does. And, in the end, there is a twist--a nice one at that.Very few people would notice that much of "The Errand Boy" was lifted from the Harold Lloyd feature "Movie Crazy". Part of the reason folks won't recognize this is that it's a rather obscure film--created in the talking picture era when he was no longer quite the star he was during the silent days. Additionally, the film has been seen, quite inaccurately, as a dud--whereas it's really a dandy film. Here, Lewis resurrects much of this old film and into it injects lots of silliness. Some of the silliness doesn't work (as was often the case, the timing was a problem--skits were something overdone and drawn out way too much--especially the ones involving mispronunciations) and some does. I really didn't enjoy the pathos in scenes involving puppets but must admit a few of the skits (such as Jerry in the pool) were quite funny. Overall, a VERY mixed bag and a film much like Lewis' other plot less film, "The Bell Boy" (which I actually prefer). Worth seeing if you are a fan.By the way, for classic TV buffs, you'll easily recognize Howard McNear (Floyd the Barber from "The Andy Griffith Show"). But, if you look closely, you'll also see Barry Livingston (Ernie from "My Three Sons") in a skit involving jellybeans.

Mr Lewis is of an acquired taste but for anyone with a shred of a sense of humour, he is one of the kings. If this is NOT his best movie, it's certainly in the top 3.One or two of the routines are copied from other comedians but the rest are just pure genius. Check out the scene in the board room where Jerry does a great mime to a Count Basie track. Unfortunately, there is the usual sentiment which slows the comedy down and I personally find that boring and a bit off putting but when the comedy returns it's well worth waiting for.I would place this movie up there with The Nutty Professor and It's Only Money (a film I REALLY do think is underrated).If you've never seen a Jerry Lewis film you could do a lot worse than start with this and don't let any of Jerry detractors put you off - judge for yourself.The man's an idiot but a brilliant idiot!!!

Having seen this through much younger eyes a few decades ago, my faulty memory banks recall this as being: A) much funnier than I think it is now, and B) in glorious Technicolor, which it obviously wasn't.All great comedians steal from each other, and many of the sight gags here owe so much to the great Ernie Kovacs, (who himself owed everyone from Buster Keaton to Harold Lloyd to old Warners cartoons and comedic shorts). That said, Jerry puts his own unique stamp on every gag, in that way which is what only the most gifted comics can pull off.The recording studio sequence is much funnier than I remember it, and I would willingly sit through the first act just to get to it. There are a lot of dull spots, strange interludes that are compelling if somewhat jarring in the context of things, (his encounter with the 'live' puppets), and just a tad preachy, (the confrontation between T.P. Paramutual (Brian Donlevy) and his 'toadies' in the screening room.Overall, I don't know if I would hail it as a masterpiece, (I will leave that task to Parisian critics,) but it's one helluva lot funnier than a lot of the crap coming out of Hollyweird these days.I'd recommend it, but not over THE LADIES' MAN. Now THERE is a funny movie!

This is one of his most daring and creative ventures along with The Bellboy. Not much dialogue, just over the top sight gags and general hilarity. What do you people expect? This is Jerry Lewis in top form and it just doesn't get any better. The only thing funnier than his movies are the ridiculous criticisms of his films on this sight. Hello people...this is Jerry Lewis OK! It's too bad that his egocentric persona alienated several generations that didn't grow up looking forward to his next project. The Errand Boy stands alone as one of the most innovative comedies of all time and anyone that can muster some objectivity will appreciate his work for what it is. I personally think this is one of the funniest movies of all time and I rank it as Jerry's best work, although the Academy may disagree. 10/10