The Patsy (1964) - Turner Classic Movies

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

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Jerry Lewis

Jerry Lewis

Everett Sloane

Caryl Fergusson

Ina Balin

Keenan Wynn

Peter Lorre

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

Cast

Jerry Lewis

Everett Sloane

Caryl Fergusson

Ina Balin

Keenan Wynn

Peter Lorre

John Carradine

Phil Harris

Hans Conried

Phil Foster

Richard Deacon

Del Moore

Nancy Kulp

Neil Hamilton

Jerry Dunphy

Television newscaster

Jerry Dexter

Radio newscaster

Scatman Crothers

Fritz Feld

Benny Rubin

Jerome Cowan

Ned Wynn

Henry Slate

Ed Wynn

Ed Sullivan

Mel Torme

Hedda Hopper

Rhonda Fleming

George Raft

The Step Brothers

Gavin Gordon

Buddy Lester

Jack Albertson

Norman Alden

Lloyd Thaxton

Crew

Ralph Axness

Assistant Director

Larry Barbier

Jack Brooks

Karlice Burkhart

Buddy Clark

Dale Coleman

Assistant Director

Sam Comer

Ray Cossar

Jim Cottrell

Robert Dabke

William C. Davidson

Unit Production Manager

Sy Devore

Ernest D. Glucksman

Hugo Grenzbach

Edith Head

W. Wallace Kelley

Director of Photography

James Knott

Camera Operator

Jerry Lewis

Jerry Lewis

Ed Morse

Ray Moyer

Lorne Netten

Cary Odell

Earl Olin

Bud Parman

Hal Pereira

David Raksin

David Raksin

Harry Ray

Bill Richmond

Howard Roessel

Assistant Director

Arthur P. Schmidt

Associate Producer

Jack Stone

Marvin Weldon

Wally Westmore

Makeup Supervisor

John Woodcock

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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