The Disorderly Orderly

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The Disorderly Orderly
The Disorderly Orderly (1964 film).jpg
Theatrical lobby card
Directed by Frank Tashlin
Screenplay byFrank Tashlin
Story byNorm 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 byJohn Woodcock
Russel Wiles
Music by Joseph J. Lilley
Color process Technicolor
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date
  • December 16, 1964 (1964-12-16)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$2,700,000 (US/ Canada rentals) [1]
1,434,122 admissions (France) [2]

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.

Contents

Plot

Jerome 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

Production

The Disorderly Orderly was filmed at the Greystone Park and Mansion in Beverly Hills, California with costumes designed by Edith Head.

Soundtrack

The 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

While 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

The film was released to Region 1 DVD on October 12, 2004 [5] and March 15, 2021.

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References

  1. This figure consists of anticipated rentals accruing distributors in North America. See "Big Rental Pictures of 1965", Variety, 5 January 1966 p 6
  2. Box office information for film at Box Office Story
  3. New York Times: New Jerry Lewis Film Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  4. "The Disorderly Orderly". Rotten Tomatoes .
  5. "DVD Talk".