Stanley (Jerry Lewis) is a bumbling, mostly-silent bellboy at a high class hotel. He gets into wacky slapstick situations. There is a cavalcade of comedic luminaries passing through including a big star played by Jerry Lewis himself.This is a physical performance almost from a silent era. It goes from one situation to another. It can be rambling as the central narrative isn't well-developed. It is simply Jerry having slapstick fun. There isn't really a plot. At only 72 minutes, it doesn't necessarily need a compelling plot. It is short enough that the random physical comedy is fun before I got bored with it.

Jerry Lewis's directorial debut is 72 minutes of sight gag after sight gag as Lewis plays a bellboy at the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami. Despite the harassment of co-workers and bullying of managers, Lewis manages to get EVERY job thrown at him done in his own outrageous ways. He also plays two roles...the other being himself(!), in town for an engagement at the hotel. Lewis is priceless in both roles, pantomiming his bellboy role and playing it straight as himself. There are many highlights in the film, from Lewis making the long walk across an insanely large empty theater to dozens of hotel guests trying unlock their rooms with the wrong key. The supporting cast includes Alex Gerry, Bob Clayton and two actresses playing Mrs. Hartunga! Milton Berle has a very clever cameo.

This movie was wonderful and worth seeing just to see the talented Jerry Lewis. There is such great comic timing. I enjoyed so many scenes for example where Stanley directs the orchestra and we see how he approves or disproves of each instrument.,when Stanley took his bow to the audience what a great moment of joy that Stanley felt someone said thank you. Another favorite us when Stanley takes the camera and photographs the moon as the bell captain tells about the moon and love. This is the first time I saw this film and for me I felt just like Stanley filled with curiosity. A wonderful film I could see over and over again.

Jerry Lewis wrote, produced, directed, and stars in this collection of skits centering around a put-upon bellhop at a Miami Beach hotel. Having just completed "Cinderfella" for a mid-year release, Lewis suggested to Paramount Pictures they hold off showing that film until Christmas and gave them this one in its place (put together in near-record time). Short and relatively painless, the film benefits from Haskell Boggs' sharp black-and-white cinematography, Walter Scharf's bright score, and of course the snazzy locale. Lewis, making his directorial debut, smoothly segues from one sight-gag to the next, and his low-key performance is actually one of his best. **1/2 from ****