The Patsy

1h 41m 1964

Brief Synopsis

When a star comedian dies, his comedy team, decides to train a nobody to fill the shoes of the Star in a big TV show (a Patsy). But the man they choose, bellboy Stanley Belt, cant do anything right. The big TV show is getting closer, and Stanley gets worse all the time.

Cast & Crew

Read More

Jerry Lewis

Director

Jerry Lewis

Stanley Belt

Everett Sloane

Caryl Fergusson

Ina Balin

Ellen Betz

Keenan Wynn

Harry Silver

Peter Lorre

Morgan Heywood

Film Details

Genre
Comedy
Release Date
Jan 1964
Premiere Information
Los Angeles opening: 8 Jul 1964
Production Company
Patti Enterprises
Distribution Company
Paramount Pictures
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 41m
Sound
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Color
Color (Technicolor)

Synopsis

A famous singer dies in a plane accident, and his management team--producer Caryl Fergusson, writer Chic Wymore, press agent Harry Silver, director Morgan Heywood, valet Bruce Alden, and secretary Ellen Betz--decides to make an unknown into a star. They pick Stanley Belt, a shy bellboy, whose nervous bumbling is mistaken for comic ability. Despite singing and acting lessons, Stanley is extremely nervous, and a recording session and nightclub tryout are disastrous. However, a publicity campaign gains him an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, but his management team--with the exception of Ellen, who loves him--abandons him before he goes on. Contrary to the team's expectations, Stanley is a hit on the show. He later forgives the others because they made him a star; he gives each back his old job and proposes to Ellen.

Director

Jerry Lewis

Director

Cast

Jerry Lewis

Stanley Belt

Everett Sloane

Caryl Fergusson

Ina Balin

Ellen Betz

Keenan Wynn

Harry Silver

Peter Lorre

Morgan Heywood

John Carradine

Bruce Alden

Phil Harris

Chic Wymore

Hans Conried

Dr. Mule-rrr

Phil Foster

Mayo Sloan

Richard Deacon

Sy Devore

Del Moore

Policeman

Nancy Kulp

Theatre-goer

Neil Hamilton

Barber

Jerry Dunphy

Television newscaster

Jerry Dexter

Radio newscaster

Scatman Crothers

Shoe-shine boy

Fritz Feld

Maitre d'

Benny Rubin

Waiter

Jerome Cowan

Executive

Ned Wynn

Page

Henry Slate

Paul

Ed Wynn

Ed Sullivan

Mel Torme

Hedda Hopper

Rhonda Fleming

George Raft

The Step Brothers

Themselves

Gavin Gordon

Buddy Lester

Jack Albertson

Norman Alden

Lloyd Thaxton

Crew

Ralph Axness

Assistant Director

Larry Barbier

Stills

Jack Brooks

Composer

Karlice Burkhart

Costumes

Buddy Clark

Costumes

Dale Coleman

Assistant Director

Sam Comer

Set Decoration

Ray Cossar

Sound

Jim Cottrell

Prop

Robert Dabke

Grip

William C. Davidson

Unit Production Manager

Sy Devore

Haberdashery

Ernest D. Glucksman

Producer

Hugo Grenzbach

Mix

Edith Head

Costume Design

W. Wallace Kelley

Director of Photography

James Knott

Camera Operator

Jerry Lewis

Screenwriter

Jerry Lewis

Company

Ed Morse

Casting

Ray Moyer

Set Decoration

Lorne Netten

Gaffer

Cary Odell

Art Director

Earl Olin

Prop

Bud Parman

Boom Operator

Hal Pereira

Art Director

David Raksin

Music Score

David Raksin

Composer

Harry Ray

Makeup

Bill Richmond

Screenwriter

Howard Roessel

Assistant Director

Arthur P. Schmidt

Associate Producer

Jack Stone

Makeup

Marvin Weldon

Dial coach

Wally Westmore

Makeup Supervisor

John Woodcock

Film Editor

Dorothy Yutzi

Script Supervisor

Film Details

Genre
Comedy
Release Date
Jan 1964
Premiere Information
Los Angeles opening: 8 Jul 1964
Production Company
Patti Enterprises
Distribution Company
Paramount Pictures
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 41m
Sound
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Color
Color (Technicolor)

Quotes

Trivia

The plane crash scene at the beginning of the movie was taken from The Mountain (1956).

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States Fall September 1964

Rhonda Fleming has a cameo appearance in the film

Released in United States Fall September 1964

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