The Disorderly Orderly is a 1964 American comedy film released by Paramount Pictures, and starring Jerry Lewis. The film was produced by Paul Jones with a screenplay by director Frank Tashlin, based on a story by Norm Liebermann and Ed Haas.
| The Disorderly Orderly | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Theatrical lobby card | |
| Directed by | Frank Tashlin |
| Screenplay by | Frank Tashlin |
| Story by | Norm Liebermann Ed Haas |
| Produced by | Paul Jones |
| Starring | Jerry Lewis Susan Oliver Glenda Farrell Kathleen Freeman Karen Sharpe |
| Narrated by | Paul Frees |
| Cinematography | W. Wallace Kelley |
| Edited by | John Woodcock Russel Wiles |
| Music by | Joseph J. Lilley |
| Color process | Technicolor |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $2,700,000 (US/ Canada rentals)[1] 1,434,122 admissions (France)[2] |
Plot
editJerome Littlefield is an orderly at a hospital. His dream is to be a doctor, but he has a problem that prevents it from becoming a reality: when he hears of a problem that a patient is having, psychosomatically he begins to suffer those symptoms as well.
Susan Andrews, an old high school friend, is brought to the hospital after a suicide attempt. Littlefield recognizes her as the girl he has had a crush on since then. Eventually Andrews falls for Littlefield and they kiss. Littlefield later realizes that his problem with suffering from other people's symptoms was a direct result of his obsession with Andrews. Now that he has overcome that, his problems go away and he finally becomes a doctor.
Cast
edit- Jerry Lewis as Jerome Littlefield
- Susan Oliver as Susan
- Kathleen Freeman as Nurse Higgins
- Glenda Farrell as Dr. Howard
- Karen Sharpe as Julie
- Alice Pearce as Mrs. Fuzzibee
- Barbara Nichols as Patient
- Jack E. Leonard as Patient
- Everett Sloane as Mr. Tuffington
Production
editThe Disorderly Orderly was filmed at the Greystone Park and Mansion in Beverly Hills, California with costumes designed by Edith Head.
Soundtrack
editThe title song, sung over the opening credits, is performed by Sammy Davis Jr. The title song "The Disorderly Orderly" was written by songwriter Earl Shuman.
Reception
editWhile Howard Thompson of the New York Times (December 24, 1964) liked a few comedic bits and praised some secondary performers, he generally panned The Disorderly Orderly writing, "[The film] runs dry at the end of the first third — like a juiceless watermelon — and splits open, with about the same results."[3]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 60% rating based on 5 reviews, with an average rating of 5.95/10.[4]
Home media
editThe film was released to Region 1 DVD on October 12, 2004[5] and March 15, 2021.
References
edit- ^ This figure consists of anticipated rentals accruing distributors in North America. See "Big Rental Pictures of 1965", Variety, 5 January 1966 p 6
- ^ Box office information for film at Box Office Story
- ^ New York Times: New Jerry Lewis Film Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ^ "The Disorderly Orderly". Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ "DVD Talk".