Legendary comedy actor Jerry Lewis made his directing debut with this generally engaging movie. Lewis' primary role is that of Stanley, a mute bellboy at the prestigious Fontainebleau hotel in Miami Beach. He's always bumbling and causing trouble, no matter what he has to do. However, as the opening segment (featuring an unbilled Jack Kruschen) lets us know, this movie is deliberately refraining from telling us a real "story". It's just a series of gags strung together to provide some *fun* for its audience.
While this viewer didn't find all of the jokes that funny, there's still enough inspired silliness here to make "The Bellboy" an enjoyable enough movie. Among my favorite bits: Stanley miming conducting an orchestra, trying to walk up a *down* escalator, making the mistake of getting between an arguing husband & wife, and trying to call an elevator while somehow managing to miss the button every single time. Most uproarious is the bit involving a plane near the end of the movie. And the gag right at the end is pretty priceless, providing the perfect finish.
Lewis is in fine form, mugging for the camera for everything that he's worth, and his physical comedy is quite impressive the way that he throws his body around. He's ably supported by Alex Gerry as his boss and Bob Clayton as the harried bell captain. Lewis also plays "himself" (billed under his real name, Joe Levitch) during the first half of the movie. Cameos include Milton Berle, Cary Middlecoff, and entertainers The Novelites.
All in all, "The Bellboy" should be required viewing for fans of the star.
Seven out of 10.
While this viewer didn't find all of the jokes that funny, there's still enough inspired silliness here to make "The Bellboy" an enjoyable enough movie. Among my favorite bits: Stanley miming conducting an orchestra, trying to walk up a *down* escalator, making the mistake of getting between an arguing husband & wife, and trying to call an elevator while somehow managing to miss the button every single time. Most uproarious is the bit involving a plane near the end of the movie. And the gag right at the end is pretty priceless, providing the perfect finish.
Lewis is in fine form, mugging for the camera for everything that he's worth, and his physical comedy is quite impressive the way that he throws his body around. He's ably supported by Alex Gerry as his boss and Bob Clayton as the harried bell captain. Lewis also plays "himself" (billed under his real name, Joe Levitch) during the first half of the movie. Cameos include Milton Berle, Cary Middlecoff, and entertainers The Novelites.
All in all, "The Bellboy" should be required viewing for fans of the star.
Seven out of 10.