IMDb RATING
6.3/10
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Medical student Jerome Littlefield works as an orderly at a private clinic where he creates havoc due to his ineptitude.Medical student Jerome Littlefield works as an orderly at a private clinic where he creates havoc due to his ineptitude.Medical student Jerome Littlefield works as an orderly at a private clinic where he creates havoc due to his ineptitude.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
Frank J. Scannell
- Milton M. Mealy
- (as Frank Scannell)
Frank Alesia
- Intern
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
This time Jerry Lewis is a hospital worker.Now that doesn't sound right.When Jerry is trying to do his job, it's always a disaster.This Jerome Littlefield, that Jerry plays, is in love with one patient.And there is also a nurse, that likes Jerome. Disorderly Orderly is a terrific Jerry Lewis comedy. Just hilarious.
I can watch Jerry Lewis films over and over again and still get the full laugh effect. This one finds him as an orderly in a mental hospital (!) where he manages to fumble everything from breakfast to scrubbing the floors. He meets a destitute patient (Susan Oliver) and then the fun begins. These sequences provide a little of the film's serious side but overall the slapstick and Jerry's mugging are hilarious. Even the kids will get a hoot out of this. Highly recommended for family viewing.
This is the usual Jerry Lewis slapstick, though a lot of it seems somewhat forced this time around. Still, writer/director Frank Tashlin keeps it breezy and fast-paced, and makes some memorable scenes, such as the wild chase at the end. Tashlin's previous work in animation is really evident here.
What's unusual about this J.L. entry is that there are a number of quite serious moments, ranging from a criticism of for-profit medical care, and the saga of a suicidal patient Lewis' character falls for. These moments are treated so serious (and convincingly) it's really odd to find them in such a slapstick movie.
What's unusual about this J.L. entry is that there are a number of quite serious moments, ranging from a criticism of for-profit medical care, and the saga of a suicidal patient Lewis' character falls for. These moments are treated so serious (and convincingly) it's really odd to find them in such a slapstick movie.
I am not a Jerry Lewis specialist, though I possess nearly all his films, but comedies are not my stuff. However I like this kind of entertainment,naive, mindless but exciting, especially in climaxes. This one makes no exception and remains I guess one of Jerry Lewis' best, pulled by a Frank Tashlin in great shape. Last fifteen minutes are overwhelming, a gigantic tribute to Buster Keaton and silent slapstick masterpieces. IT'S A MAD MAD WORLD was also a terrific tribute to slapstick movies.
Jerry Lewis may have reached his wackiest here. He plays Jerome Littlefield, an orderly who appears to be a combination of Insp. Clouseau and Gilligan. Pretty much most of the movie features him getting into a series of embarrassing situations. I personally think that they could have just left it at that and avoided the love story.
And yes, that's Alice Pearce as the over-communicative Miss Fuzzibee, right before she got the role of a certain nosy neighbor suspicious that there's a witch or something in the neighborhood. All in all, "The Disorderly Orderly" is classic comedy at its best. You gotta wonder how they did some of those scenes. Also starring Kathleen Freeman.
And yes, that's Alice Pearce as the over-communicative Miss Fuzzibee, right before she got the role of a certain nosy neighbor suspicious that there's a witch or something in the neighborhood. All in all, "The Disorderly Orderly" is classic comedy at its best. You gotta wonder how they did some of those scenes. Also starring Kathleen Freeman.
Did you know
- TriviaIn the travel agency's window is a sign that reads, "TWA movie-in-flight: Jerry Lewis in 'The Disorderly Orderly'".
- GoofsWhen Jerome and Julie go out to dinner for spaghetti, he has a plate and she does not. When he finishes twirling the spaghetti into a big pile, her plate "magically" appears.
- Quotes
Dr. Jean Howard: Can you drive an ambulance?
Nurse Higgins: In the Army I drove a tank.
Dr. Jean Howard: Come on, let's go!
- ConnectionsFeatured in North (1994)
- How long is The Disorderly Orderly?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Zaljubljeni bolnicar
- Filming locations
- Greystone Park & Mansion - 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA(Whitestone Sanitarium and Hospital)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime
- 1h 30m(90 min)
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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