Medical school flunky Jerry Lewis, who turns to jelly when patients talk about their grisly ailments, finds himself employed as an orderly at a private hospital/sanitarium/rest home (the script can't decide which it is). There's a drill sergeant head nurse who shouts at Jerry, a resident manager who dotes on Jerry, a corporation head who wants to fire Jerry, and a student nurse who wants to marry Jerry. In between all this, Lewis crosses his eyes and knocks things over. Some of this slapstick might be funnier if director Frank Tashlin knew how to follow through on a gag--and had possibly found a way to reel Lewis in. The glossy production is bright, the supporting players are good, and there's a funny, frantic chase through the streets and into a supermarket at the finale. Tashlin's outrageous sense of satire is occasionally clever, but it can't really bolster the dim-wittedness of Lewis' geek act, nor the cartoony screwball bits (as when Lewis cracks open a bad TV set and creates a snowy blizzard in a hospital room). Lewis-addicts are obviously the film's prime audience; for everyone else, a few scattered laughs amongst the high-decibel shouting and mugging. ** from ****
32 Reviews
The funniest lawsuit waiting to happen ever...
mark.waltz22 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I could watch the lengthy chase sequence ar the end of this film over and over and laugh hysterically at the site gags. That's the highlight of this big hearted Jerry Lewis farce that reunites him once again with Kathleen Freeman. Veteran 30's brassy blonde Glenda Farrell, in her last screen role, plays the gentle chief of staff at the hospital Lewis works at as an orderly, sharing with brash nurse Freeman why she has a soft spot for the clumsy Lewis. The big hearted Jerry finds out that troubled suicidal patient Susan Oliver is about to be transferred to the local general hospital since she has no money to pay her bill and works nearly around the clock to secretly help her out. Sweet nurse Karen Sharpe is in love with Lewis herself, and misunderstandings keeps them from getting together as does a misunderstood kiss Sharp's he's going on between Lewis and Oliver. This leads to the hysterical chase sequence at the end where the nasty head of the hospital board, Everett Sloane, is trapped on a stretcher in the back of the ambulance that Lewis is driving to get to Sharp to explain the misunderstanding. Another ambulance has Farrell and Freeman chasing after them, emphasis on the fact that when she was in the Army, Freeman drove a tank!
Freeman's nurse is the epitome of the serious no nonsense medical professional, represented on the daytime soap opera "General Hospital" at the time by the rigid nurse Lucille March, nicknamed Sarge. That could be the nickname for Freeman's character here too, because the more humorless she becomes, the funnier she is! An angry patient throws a cup of pudding at Lewis, hitting Freeman in the face, and after having dealt with a hefty sleeping patient trying to change her sheets, this breaks the usually controlled Freeman into a hysterical valley of tears. Farrell, who played many wisecracking gold-diggers with Joan Blondell in the 1930s, is the total antithesis here, although she does get a few cracks in at the nasty Sloane whose character certainly deserves the fate that he gets in the hysterical conclusion.
As for all Oliver, it was difficult to sympathize with her after her initial breakdown scene because she is completely rude to Lewis who only wants to try to make her feel better. There is a background story explained for Lewis's feelings for Oliver, but after seeing how she treated Luis, it is difficult to have any sympathy for her character. Sharps sweet nurse is much more deserving of his love. The chase sequence which closes the film out and lasts about 10 minutes is up there with the comic chase sequences in "What's Up Doc", "Foul Play" and "The Blues Brothers". It utilizes scenes of the San Gabriel Valley very well and will have you in hysterics.
The cast of patients, doctors and nurses is rounded out with some very well known character actors, most notably Alice Pearce as a hypochondriac patient whose illnesses she believes are much more serious than any other patients in the hospital, the scene where she tells a patient of her ordeals while Lewis cringes in the background is hysterically funny. Veteran comic Jack Leonard has a funny moment as a crazy TV actor whom Lewis is ordered to get into a straight jacket with failing results. Blonde sexpot Barbara Nichols has a very funny Cameo where Lewis tries to fix her snowy TV.the film overall flows very quickly, has many laughs and Lewis manages to get through this without being too obnoxious in his attempts to out stage everybody and thus his character is much more likeable than normal. It is one of his films that I can watch over and over and still find many things to laugh at, something that I can't say about most of his films.
Freeman's nurse is the epitome of the serious no nonsense medical professional, represented on the daytime soap opera "General Hospital" at the time by the rigid nurse Lucille March, nicknamed Sarge. That could be the nickname for Freeman's character here too, because the more humorless she becomes, the funnier she is! An angry patient throws a cup of pudding at Lewis, hitting Freeman in the face, and after having dealt with a hefty sleeping patient trying to change her sheets, this breaks the usually controlled Freeman into a hysterical valley of tears. Farrell, who played many wisecracking gold-diggers with Joan Blondell in the 1930s, is the total antithesis here, although she does get a few cracks in at the nasty Sloane whose character certainly deserves the fate that he gets in the hysterical conclusion.
As for all Oliver, it was difficult to sympathize with her after her initial breakdown scene because she is completely rude to Lewis who only wants to try to make her feel better. There is a background story explained for Lewis's feelings for Oliver, but after seeing how she treated Luis, it is difficult to have any sympathy for her character. Sharps sweet nurse is much more deserving of his love. The chase sequence which closes the film out and lasts about 10 minutes is up there with the comic chase sequences in "What's Up Doc", "Foul Play" and "The Blues Brothers". It utilizes scenes of the San Gabriel Valley very well and will have you in hysterics.
The cast of patients, doctors and nurses is rounded out with some very well known character actors, most notably Alice Pearce as a hypochondriac patient whose illnesses she believes are much more serious than any other patients in the hospital, the scene where she tells a patient of her ordeals while Lewis cringes in the background is hysterically funny. Veteran comic Jack Leonard has a funny moment as a crazy TV actor whom Lewis is ordered to get into a straight jacket with failing results. Blonde sexpot Barbara Nichols has a very funny Cameo where Lewis tries to fix her snowy TV.the film overall flows very quickly, has many laughs and Lewis manages to get through this without being too obnoxious in his attempts to out stage everybody and thus his character is much more likeable than normal. It is one of his films that I can watch over and over and still find many things to laugh at, something that I can't say about most of his films.
Jerry Loose in a Sanitarium!
bsmith555224 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The title, "The Disorderly Orderly" pretty much tells you what this Jerry Lewis film is about. Jerome Littlefield (Lewis) is kicked out of medical school because he empathizes with patients ailments making it impossible for him to treat them. He goes to work as an orderly at a sanitarium headed by Dr. Jean Howard (Glenda Farrell) who just happens to have been interested in Jerome's father, a successful doctor, in her youth.
A frustrated head nurse Maggie Hayes (the marvelous Kathleen Freeman) tries to help Jerome in the performance of his duties much to her chagrin. Nurse Julie Blair (Karen Sharpe) is Jerome's love interest. A young woman, Susan Andrews (Susan Oliver) who is despondent and had attempted suicide is admitted to the sanitarium. It seems that Jerome has had a long standing crush on Suisan dating back to their high school days where she was the Prom Queen.
Jerome visits Susan's room on the sly leaving her flowers and an anonymous note. Chairman of the Board Mr. Tuffington (Everett Sloane) insists that all patients must pay for their stays at the sanitarium. Because Susan is unable to pay, Jerome anonymously pays her bill. Julie becomes worried that Jerome is drifting away from her. When Susan recovers................................
Jerry has time for his usual hi jinks in addition to the serious stuff. Some highlights include:
- the arrival of "Fat Jack" (Jack E. Leonard) for a "rest";
- Jerry unleashing a snow storm in Barbara Nichols room while fixing her TV set:
- the bandaged patient rolling down a hill and breaking into pieces; and
- the wild chase sequence a-la Keystone cops where Everett Sloan is careening all over the streets on a stretcher.
Jerry's stock company is well represented in this film. In addition to Freeman who steals every scene she's in, Del Moore plays psychiatrist Dr. Davenport, Milton Frome is a board member, and Benny Rubin plays a waiter. Alice Pearce is good as the hypochondriac Mrs. Fuzzibee who describes all of her ailments to a queezy Jerome.
Imagine having the choice between the beautiful Susan Oliver and the winsome Karen Sharpe. Boy some guys have all the luck..
A frustrated head nurse Maggie Hayes (the marvelous Kathleen Freeman) tries to help Jerome in the performance of his duties much to her chagrin. Nurse Julie Blair (Karen Sharpe) is Jerome's love interest. A young woman, Susan Andrews (Susan Oliver) who is despondent and had attempted suicide is admitted to the sanitarium. It seems that Jerome has had a long standing crush on Suisan dating back to their high school days where she was the Prom Queen.
Jerome visits Susan's room on the sly leaving her flowers and an anonymous note. Chairman of the Board Mr. Tuffington (Everett Sloane) insists that all patients must pay for their stays at the sanitarium. Because Susan is unable to pay, Jerome anonymously pays her bill. Julie becomes worried that Jerome is drifting away from her. When Susan recovers................................
Jerry has time for his usual hi jinks in addition to the serious stuff. Some highlights include:
- the arrival of "Fat Jack" (Jack E. Leonard) for a "rest";
- Jerry unleashing a snow storm in Barbara Nichols room while fixing her TV set:
- the bandaged patient rolling down a hill and breaking into pieces; and
- the wild chase sequence a-la Keystone cops where Everett Sloan is careening all over the streets on a stretcher.
Jerry's stock company is well represented in this film. In addition to Freeman who steals every scene she's in, Del Moore plays psychiatrist Dr. Davenport, Milton Frome is a board member, and Benny Rubin plays a waiter. Alice Pearce is good as the hypochondriac Mrs. Fuzzibee who describes all of her ailments to a queezy Jerome.
Imagine having the choice between the beautiful Susan Oliver and the winsome Karen Sharpe. Boy some guys have all the luck..
Unusual Jerry Lewis movie
Wizard-821 April 2002
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.
Jerry's Last Good Hurrah
LeonLouisRicci3 April 2014
By this Time in His Solo Career Jerry Lewis was Showing Signs of Slipping and the Usual Self Indulgence was Becoming a Bit Much for Discerning Movie Goers and this was the Comedian's Final Year to be a Box Office Star.
It is a Typical Mugfest for Jerry and with His Familiar Director and Friend Frank Tashlin to Help with the Ego, there is Much Emphasis on Elaborate Visuals for Lewis to Run Amok in and around. But a Number of Times the Whackiness Subsides for some Sentimental Claptrap that is Painful to Watch.
The Final Chase Sequence is Quite Good and Jerry has a Few Bits of Inspiration Throughout and this was the Last Movie that could be called a Fine Film as the Remainder of His Output was Decisively Poor.
Note: Jerry Lewis was outstanding in a straight role in Martin Scorsese's King of Comedy (1982), one of his best performances on screen.
It is a Typical Mugfest for Jerry and with His Familiar Director and Friend Frank Tashlin to Help with the Ego, there is Much Emphasis on Elaborate Visuals for Lewis to Run Amok in and around. But a Number of Times the Whackiness Subsides for some Sentimental Claptrap that is Painful to Watch.
The Final Chase Sequence is Quite Good and Jerry has a Few Bits of Inspiration Throughout and this was the Last Movie that could be called a Fine Film as the Remainder of His Output was Decisively Poor.
Note: Jerry Lewis was outstanding in a straight role in Martin Scorsese's King of Comedy (1982), one of his best performances on screen.
Kathleen Freeman Plays an Angry Head Nurse
masercot26 May 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Jerry Lewis is a lot like Benny Hill: He was a slapstick comedian in a time when slapstick was on its way out. A lot of Lewis' later films are simply a series of comic situations tied together with some occupational premise. The influence of the movies of Jacques Tati is obvious...
But, Lewis is a very good physical comedian. With a foil like Kathleen Freeman, he's even funnier. And, if your mood is right, even the "serious" part of the movie can be taken in a humorous vein.
Susan Oliver plays a patient with a slight anger problem. If she says anything in the movie that is not hatefully sarcastic and self indulgent, they probably dubbed over it later. Her part of the movie is perfect for when you want to go upstairs for a snack or simply to test the fast-forward button on your TiVO...
Watch this on for the comedy: Jerry gleefully brushing a patient's teeth then noticing his false teeth in a jar; falling down a laundry chute; chasing a man in a body cast; or, just empathizing with a patient. Not as good as "The Bellboy"... way better than "Hook, Line and Sinker"....
But, Lewis is a very good physical comedian. With a foil like Kathleen Freeman, he's even funnier. And, if your mood is right, even the "serious" part of the movie can be taken in a humorous vein.
Susan Oliver plays a patient with a slight anger problem. If she says anything in the movie that is not hatefully sarcastic and self indulgent, they probably dubbed over it later. Her part of the movie is perfect for when you want to go upstairs for a snack or simply to test the fast-forward button on your TiVO...
Watch this on for the comedy: Jerry gleefully brushing a patient's teeth then noticing his false teeth in a jar; falling down a laundry chute; chasing a man in a body cast; or, just empathizing with a patient. Not as good as "The Bellboy"... way better than "Hook, Line and Sinker"....
Order is What the Doctor Prescribed-Disorderly Orderly **1/2
edwagreen3 April 2014
Warning: Spoilers
While Jerry Lewis displayed in this film why he was the king of comedy, the film, a farce about life in a sanitarium/hospital often becomes quite silly at times.
I wouldn't describe Glenda Farrell's role as the hospital head as one being an exasperated person. Farrell puts up with Lewis's antics because of the love she had for her father. Rather the term exasperated best describes Kathleen Freeman in the film. A head nurse who is often quite loud, Freeman finds herself constantly at the receiving end of Lewis's antics.
The great comedienne Alice Pearce shows her mettle as a patient who goes into continuous detail regarding her many ailments. She is a gem on screen.
In a comedy role, Everett Sloane is hilarious as the president of the hospital finally caught up by his own rule of no money, no bed.
The ambulance gone wild chase scene at the film's end is funny, but there is only so much of what you can take in that endless ride by the cast.
Susan Oliver has her moments as a patient who Lewis knew from high school. It is through her that he finally realizes that Julie the nurse is his true love.
I wouldn't describe Glenda Farrell's role as the hospital head as one being an exasperated person. Farrell puts up with Lewis's antics because of the love she had for her father. Rather the term exasperated best describes Kathleen Freeman in the film. A head nurse who is often quite loud, Freeman finds herself constantly at the receiving end of Lewis's antics.
The great comedienne Alice Pearce shows her mettle as a patient who goes into continuous detail regarding her many ailments. She is a gem on screen.
In a comedy role, Everett Sloane is hilarious as the president of the hospital finally caught up by his own rule of no money, no bed.
The ambulance gone wild chase scene at the film's end is funny, but there is only so much of what you can take in that endless ride by the cast.
Susan Oliver has her moments as a patient who Lewis knew from high school. It is through her that he finally realizes that Julie the nurse is his true love.
Jerry loves Jerry
snuffy40626 December 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Synopsis: Jerry can't stay in character as an orderly at a mental hospital/trauma hospital. Jerry half heartedly alternates between high voiced idiot Jerry and deep voiced serious Jerry. The hot nurse is hot for Jerry. The good looking older female doctor who runs the hospital is hot for Jerry. The pretty blonde suicidal mental patient is hot for Jerry. Everyone loves Jerry, except for one poor old guy who is Jerry's enemy, and rolls on a gurney to a drowning death under "THE END" title.
The main theme of this movie: Jerry is so lovable!
No matter how annoying he is, everyone loves Jerry. The Blonde Mental Patient is a woman he's been stalking since high school. He sneaks into her room and watches her sleep while he has fantasies about her. The next morning she screams that JERRY IS A PEEPING TOM. She is dragged away, while the head psychiatrist understands that Jerry is misunderstood.
Theme 2: Jerry's enemies WILL BE PUNISHED!
The head of "one of the major television networks" is a mental patient, so are several of the big TV sponsors! Movie studio heads are also insane. Jerry is not insane, even though he acts that way. The owner of the hospital, pretty much murdered by Jerry after Jerry dumped a bucket of red paint on him and broke his ankle "got what he deserved".
Jerry Lewis movies might be a look at what Ed Wood could have done with a big budget.
The main theme of this movie: Jerry is so lovable!
No matter how annoying he is, everyone loves Jerry. The Blonde Mental Patient is a woman he's been stalking since high school. He sneaks into her room and watches her sleep while he has fantasies about her. The next morning she screams that JERRY IS A PEEPING TOM. She is dragged away, while the head psychiatrist understands that Jerry is misunderstood.
Theme 2: Jerry's enemies WILL BE PUNISHED!
The head of "one of the major television networks" is a mental patient, so are several of the big TV sponsors! Movie studio heads are also insane. Jerry is not insane, even though he acts that way. The owner of the hospital, pretty much murdered by Jerry after Jerry dumped a bucket of red paint on him and broke his ankle "got what he deserved".
Jerry Lewis movies might be a look at what Ed Wood could have done with a big budget.
Jerry gets committed....
Mister-62 September 1999
This is the kind of movie most Lewis fans cite when talking about his best.
And why not? "The Disorderly Orderly" pairs Lewis with a good director (Tashlin), apt foils (especially Freeman), supremely funny moments (check out his "sympathy pains") and just the right amount of bathos in spots to give his character not just a clown but a good-hearted, hard-working, sympathetic clown.
And as most come to expect with this kind of movie, slapstick is the prevalent language throughout and if you don't speak it, you won't understand it here. I do, and I did.
See, and they said he wouldn't make it without Dean.
Eight stars. Classic slapstick carnage with a classic slapstick idol.
And why not? "The Disorderly Orderly" pairs Lewis with a good director (Tashlin), apt foils (especially Freeman), supremely funny moments (check out his "sympathy pains") and just the right amount of bathos in spots to give his character not just a clown but a good-hearted, hard-working, sympathetic clown.
And as most come to expect with this kind of movie, slapstick is the prevalent language throughout and if you don't speak it, you won't understand it here. I do, and I did.
See, and they said he wouldn't make it without Dean.
Eight stars. Classic slapstick carnage with a classic slapstick idol.
Not among the comedian's best.
planktonrules19 February 2013
I must admit that I am not a huge fan of Jerry Lewis' comedies. I used to think they were all pretty bad but have recently come to appreciate many of them. However, I really think they are an uneven lot. Some are quite clever and well done--others suffer from one major problem--a lack of subtlety. Jokes are often taken to such extremes and Jerry's reactions are so intense that it loses me. As I said, however, this isn't always true---plus I love him in dramas (I think he actually is great in these). In the case of "The Disorderly Orderly", I tried but just couldn't enjoy the film. Too often, his overreactions just lost me and few of the skits came close to eliciting a chuckle...but nothing more. Additionally, the plot itself made little sense (such as, Why did Miss Blair even like him?!). Very weak. My advice is that if you like this very broad humor, by all means watch it. However, films like "The Bellboy", "The Delicate Delinquent" and "The Ladies Man" are much better and are well worth your time.
UPDATE: I saw this movie again a few days ago at the TCM Classic Movie Cruise. It was introduced by Lewis himself and the audience seemed to love it--with tons of laughs and snickers. Still, despite enjoying seeing Lewis interviewed, I was left feeling that the film was much like "The Bellboy" in that it was very episodic...but unlike "The Bellboy" its jokes fell flat almost every time. Perhaps I'd rate this one a 4 at second viewing...perhaps not. All I know is that I still didn't understand folks' love for this picture.
UPDATE: I saw this movie again a few days ago at the TCM Classic Movie Cruise. It was introduced by Lewis himself and the audience seemed to love it--with tons of laughs and snickers. Still, despite enjoying seeing Lewis interviewed, I was left feeling that the film was much like "The Bellboy" in that it was very episodic...but unlike "The Bellboy" its jokes fell flat almost every time. Perhaps I'd rate this one a 4 at second viewing...perhaps not. All I know is that I still didn't understand folks' love for this picture.
Very hospital-able, especially since Gladys Kravitz is one of the patients.
lee_eisenberg22 March 2006
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.
This is my least favorite of Lewis'
Irishchatter15 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I honestly love Jerry Lewis, he is so talented and extraordinary performer but this movie was really disappointing. I thought his character was all over the shop and it just gave me a headache. I really got bored of the storyline and to be quite honest with you, it's not a great romantic comedy. I felt that the lovebirds were going around in circles, he was with other women and she was just a woman he met a few weeks ago. Now, I don't know exactly when they first met but, it felt too short! I really wanted for the pair of them to introduce themselves,form a friendship and then jump into the relationship.
I guess this isn't a movie to be worth watching after all!
I guess this isn't a movie to be worth watching after all!
Jerry Lewis at his silliest best
Teenie-125 November 2002
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.
Oh Jerry...
rebeccamary-9603825 September 2020
Jerry Lewis is too over-the-top for my taste in this movie. His slapstick antics are just too much. There were some funny bits that made me laugh (watch for the young nurse's exasperated look to camera), but I did not like the random comedy scenes thrown in that didn't add to the story. These scenes made the movie feel disjointed.
However, Kathleen Freeman as Nurse Higgins was wonderful! If you like old slapstick you may want to watch this movie just for her role--especially her melt-down scene. Love it.
However, Kathleen Freeman as Nurse Higgins was wonderful! If you like old slapstick you may want to watch this movie just for her role--especially her melt-down scene. Love it.
"That Boy Is An Accident"
bkoganbing24 October 2011
When Jerry Lewis had a strong director like Frank Tashlin who had his own ideas about comedy both could turn in a really good film. The Disorderly Orderly ranks up there as one of Lewis's best solo films.
The Disorderly Orderly casts Jerry as a would be doctor who but for one thing might have his MD degree, he's a natural born klutz. He's working at a private hospital where every task he's given turns into a disaster. He'd be fired but for the fact that the hospital head Glenda Farrell was once involved with Jerry's father and she looks on him as a child with special needs. The head nurse played by Lewis film regular Kathleen Freeman would like to strangle him as does Everett Sloane the chairman of the hospital board after a couple of encounters with him.
It's a psychological block that Jerry has, he empathizes too much with the patients and he tries too hard. The scene that brings that out is when he has to listen to Alice Pearce as one of the patients go through her laundry list of ailments. Lewis's reactions are positively hysterical.
Truth be told not everything is his fault. There's a surreal scene where Jerry is trying to fix patient Barbara Nichols's television of the snow showing. He opens it up and an arctic blast comes through the television. Truly not his fault, but also very funny.
As it turns out the cause of his complex arrives at the hospital in the person of Susan Oliver who was a prom queen back in his high school who Jerry didn't have the nerve to approach. Contact with her cures him though not the way you think or what you think.
Lewis's performance hits on all levels from the screamingly funny to a sad kind of pathos especially involving Oliver. His relationship with her as an innocent reminds me a lot of Lou Costello in several of his films.
The last ten minutes involving a chase scene with two ambulances reminds me of the chase in The Bank Dick later revived in In Society. There's also a nice cameo from Jack E. Leonard as another patient who gets the better of Jerry.
The Disorderly Orderly is an absolute must for Jerry Lewis fans of yesterday and today, it belongs at the top of his comedy classics.
The Disorderly Orderly casts Jerry as a would be doctor who but for one thing might have his MD degree, he's a natural born klutz. He's working at a private hospital where every task he's given turns into a disaster. He'd be fired but for the fact that the hospital head Glenda Farrell was once involved with Jerry's father and she looks on him as a child with special needs. The head nurse played by Lewis film regular Kathleen Freeman would like to strangle him as does Everett Sloane the chairman of the hospital board after a couple of encounters with him.
It's a psychological block that Jerry has, he empathizes too much with the patients and he tries too hard. The scene that brings that out is when he has to listen to Alice Pearce as one of the patients go through her laundry list of ailments. Lewis's reactions are positively hysterical.
Truth be told not everything is his fault. There's a surreal scene where Jerry is trying to fix patient Barbara Nichols's television of the snow showing. He opens it up and an arctic blast comes through the television. Truly not his fault, but also very funny.
As it turns out the cause of his complex arrives at the hospital in the person of Susan Oliver who was a prom queen back in his high school who Jerry didn't have the nerve to approach. Contact with her cures him though not the way you think or what you think.
Lewis's performance hits on all levels from the screamingly funny to a sad kind of pathos especially involving Oliver. His relationship with her as an innocent reminds me a lot of Lou Costello in several of his films.
The last ten minutes involving a chase scene with two ambulances reminds me of the chase in The Bank Dick later revived in In Society. There's also a nice cameo from Jack E. Leonard as another patient who gets the better of Jerry.
The Disorderly Orderly is an absolute must for Jerry Lewis fans of yesterday and today, it belongs at the top of his comedy classics.
i once thought he was funny
malcolmgsw6 November 2019
I used to go and see his films when they were released in the fifties and sixties.So I must have thought him funny.However watching this film today I could only wonder why.Mugging his way throughout this truly awful film was a real endurance test.
Harmless Slapstick From More Innocent Times
ShadeGrenade8 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
To me the films of Jerry Lewis are guilty cinematic pleasures up ( or should that be down? ) there along with the 'Airport' disaster movies, Britain's 'Confessions Of' series, and the Dean Martin 'Matt Helm' pictures.
Whenever one aired on U.K. television in the '70's, it was like a Royal Wedding, 'Live Aid' and 'Concert For Diana' all rolled into one. There was no simply no way I was going to miss a Jerry Lewis movie.
He basically played the same character over and over again - the gormless goof-ball, a child inhabiting a man's body, 'Forrest Gump' meets 'Inspector Clouseau' - and that's why we loved him.
In 'The Disorderly Orderly', he is Jerome Littlefield, an accident-prone orderly at a private hospital. If anything can go wrong, when he's around it will. Ask him to fix a television set and he will break it beyond repair. Tell him to brush someone's teeth and he won't bother to check to see whether the patient actually has them in his mouth. If he smashes a bottle of pills, nurses will step on them and go flying like skittles.
As one would expect from a Frank Tashlin film, its full of inventive sight gags, and Lewis performs them in his own wonderful, crazy way. The climax in which he chases a patient rolling down a steep hill on a gurney will have you goggling in disbelief even now. No C.G.I. in those days, folks! Incredible stuff.
Not so hot is the romantic subplot in which Lewis comes to the aid of would-be suicide patient Susan Oliver. Like Chaplin before him, Lewis combined comedy and pathos, but not so successfully. One of the great things about D.V.D. is that one can fast forward the soppy stuff to get to the really good bits ( of which there are many ).
We are far away from the '60's to have reached the point where movies such as this now represent nostalgia. Yet 'The Disorderly Orderly' does not depict the world as it was, but as it should have been, a land where women wore Edith Head clothes, everything looked colourful and shiny, no-one swore or did terrible things and even idiots like Jerome got the girl at the end.
Lewis had burned himself out by the late '60's, but when ablaze he was a comedy supernova.
Whenever one aired on U.K. television in the '70's, it was like a Royal Wedding, 'Live Aid' and 'Concert For Diana' all rolled into one. There was no simply no way I was going to miss a Jerry Lewis movie.
He basically played the same character over and over again - the gormless goof-ball, a child inhabiting a man's body, 'Forrest Gump' meets 'Inspector Clouseau' - and that's why we loved him.
In 'The Disorderly Orderly', he is Jerome Littlefield, an accident-prone orderly at a private hospital. If anything can go wrong, when he's around it will. Ask him to fix a television set and he will break it beyond repair. Tell him to brush someone's teeth and he won't bother to check to see whether the patient actually has them in his mouth. If he smashes a bottle of pills, nurses will step on them and go flying like skittles.
As one would expect from a Frank Tashlin film, its full of inventive sight gags, and Lewis performs them in his own wonderful, crazy way. The climax in which he chases a patient rolling down a steep hill on a gurney will have you goggling in disbelief even now. No C.G.I. in those days, folks! Incredible stuff.
Not so hot is the romantic subplot in which Lewis comes to the aid of would-be suicide patient Susan Oliver. Like Chaplin before him, Lewis combined comedy and pathos, but not so successfully. One of the great things about D.V.D. is that one can fast forward the soppy stuff to get to the really good bits ( of which there are many ).
We are far away from the '60's to have reached the point where movies such as this now represent nostalgia. Yet 'The Disorderly Orderly' does not depict the world as it was, but as it should have been, a land where women wore Edith Head clothes, everything looked colourful and shiny, no-one swore or did terrible things and even idiots like Jerome got the girl at the end.
Lewis had burned himself out by the late '60's, but when ablaze he was a comedy supernova.
Jerry's orderly was probably funnier back then
SimonJack9 September 2019
"The Disorderly Orderly" is one of the several comedy films Jerry Lewis made after he and Dean Martin split up as a comedy team in the mid-1950s. Without Martin's straight man, Lewis did much more goofy stuff, mostly in antics. It was reminiscent of the type of slapstick and mayhem that the Three Stooges created. Only this is one character, and the running string of mishaps and goofs begin to tire after a while.
One might think that there is something about the differences in cultures of the times. For this film seemed funnier to audiences in 1964 than it does several decades later. So, the humor, or type of humor clearly is dated.
The only characters of notable roles are Nurse Maggie Higgins and Mr. Tuffington. They are played very well by Kathleen Freeman and Everett Sloane. It doesn't take much acting for Jerry Lewis to play Jerome Littlefield. He's the usual stumble-bum character of most of his film.
This isn't a bad film, but many audiences in the 21st century might find it very slow or boring.
One might think that there is something about the differences in cultures of the times. For this film seemed funnier to audiences in 1964 than it does several decades later. So, the humor, or type of humor clearly is dated.
The only characters of notable roles are Nurse Maggie Higgins and Mr. Tuffington. They are played very well by Kathleen Freeman and Everett Sloane. It doesn't take much acting for Jerry Lewis to play Jerome Littlefield. He's the usual stumble-bum character of most of his film.
This isn't a bad film, but many audiences in the 21st century might find it very slow or boring.
Jerry Lewis is good as usual; I mostly liked the physical comedy (SPOILERS)
vchimpanzee15 July 2003
Warning: Spoilers
As the movie opens, three potential heroes are shown. All are played by Jerry Lewis, so naturally they will fall flat on their faces. One hero must be chosen, and since they are all standing, the chosen one does not stand up. He falls.
Jerome Littlefield wants to be a doctor. But he is very clumsy, and a hypochondriac (whatever symptoms he hears described, he gets). So he must settle for being an orderly. Dr. Howard, who runs the Whitestone Sanatarium where Jerome works, has faith in Jerome, but why anyone would is a mystery.
Jerome dates a nurse named Julie, but he falls for Susan, who attempted suicide. So which one will he choose in the end?
A highlight of this movie is a car chase near the end. Actually, car chase doesn't even begin to describe what happened. It's a wild ride full of physical comedy, and the grocery store has the best of that.
Lewis is wonderful as a clown, and he can even act when he's not being funny, making us care for the character. Kathleen Freeman is also good as a nurse who is almost as crazy as the patients. Everett Sloane makes a deliciously evil Mr. Tuffington, the president of the hospital board, who is only concerned about profits, believing the real money is in mental problems, especially those of rich celebrities. And one rich celebrity is Fat Jack, who is hilarious in one brief scene.
Some examples of physical comedy:
-Jerome tries to fix a TV set which has snow on screen. Opening it up, he finds real snow coming out of the TV. I think that particular gag was overdone.
-Jerome brushes a patient's teeth before realizing they were in a glass beside the bed.
-Jerome makes a mess in a supply room, a mess which migrates into the hall and causes what seems like every staff member in the place to fall down.
-One patient is wrapped up like a mummy. Jerome accidentally bumps the patient, who rolls downhill and breaks apart.
SPOILERS follow:
It was touching to see Jerome work extra hard to make sure Susan's bills were paid. I didn't like the romantic stuff all that much, and Susan wasn't that likeable a character, at least not to me.
Jerome dumps paint on Mr. Tuffington while he is working so hard, getting himself fired, and then Mr. Tuffington has an accident that leads to him needing to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance--which Jerome steals when he realizes he could lose the girl he wants, not knowing Mr. Tuffington is in back! And then the fun begins. At one point, the doors open and Mr. Tuffington starts rolling downhill! Eventually, the ambulance loses its driver and goes on a rampage.
Jerome Littlefield wants to be a doctor. But he is very clumsy, and a hypochondriac (whatever symptoms he hears described, he gets). So he must settle for being an orderly. Dr. Howard, who runs the Whitestone Sanatarium where Jerome works, has faith in Jerome, but why anyone would is a mystery.
Jerome dates a nurse named Julie, but he falls for Susan, who attempted suicide. So which one will he choose in the end?
A highlight of this movie is a car chase near the end. Actually, car chase doesn't even begin to describe what happened. It's a wild ride full of physical comedy, and the grocery store has the best of that.
Lewis is wonderful as a clown, and he can even act when he's not being funny, making us care for the character. Kathleen Freeman is also good as a nurse who is almost as crazy as the patients. Everett Sloane makes a deliciously evil Mr. Tuffington, the president of the hospital board, who is only concerned about profits, believing the real money is in mental problems, especially those of rich celebrities. And one rich celebrity is Fat Jack, who is hilarious in one brief scene.
Some examples of physical comedy:
-Jerome tries to fix a TV set which has snow on screen. Opening it up, he finds real snow coming out of the TV. I think that particular gag was overdone.
-Jerome brushes a patient's teeth before realizing they were in a glass beside the bed.
-Jerome makes a mess in a supply room, a mess which migrates into the hall and causes what seems like every staff member in the place to fall down.
-One patient is wrapped up like a mummy. Jerome accidentally bumps the patient, who rolls downhill and breaks apart.
SPOILERS follow:
It was touching to see Jerome work extra hard to make sure Susan's bills were paid. I didn't like the romantic stuff all that much, and Susan wasn't that likeable a character, at least not to me.
Jerome dumps paint on Mr. Tuffington while he is working so hard, getting himself fired, and then Mr. Tuffington has an accident that leads to him needing to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance--which Jerome steals when he realizes he could lose the girl he wants, not knowing Mr. Tuffington is in back! And then the fun begins. At one point, the doors open and Mr. Tuffington starts rolling downhill! Eventually, the ambulance loses its driver and goes on a rampage.
Jerry Lewis Is Off His Rocker
wes-connors3 October 2010
Infantile neurotic Jerry Lewis (as Jerome Littlefield) dreams of one day becoming a doctor like his father, but has instead become "The Disorderly Orderly" at the "Whitestone Sanitarium and Hospital" (for recovering nut-cases). As you'll see, Mr. Lewis is well-placed. The sanitarium locations are recognizable as being filmed at "Greystone", the mansions producer Dan Curtis used for the west coast "Collinwood" on his "Dark Shadows" TV series. It's a frequently filmed estate.
There are several clever bits; it's too bad the comedy is so often strained. The introduction of three Lewis characters before the credits is a waste of time. And, Lewis' "Jerome" fails as a sort of a split personality, as outlined by head doctor Glenda Farrell (as Jean Howard). He's also caught up in a dull "love triangle" with nurse Karen Sharpe (as Julie Blair) and patient Susan Oliver (as Susan Andrews). However, the delightful Kathleen Freeman (as Maggie Higgins) is always an asset.
**** The Disorderly Orderly (12/16/64) Frank Tashlin ~ Jerry Lewis, Susan Oliver, Glenda Farrell, Kathleen Freeman
There are several clever bits; it's too bad the comedy is so often strained. The introduction of three Lewis characters before the credits is a waste of time. And, Lewis' "Jerome" fails as a sort of a split personality, as outlined by head doctor Glenda Farrell (as Jean Howard). He's also caught up in a dull "love triangle" with nurse Karen Sharpe (as Julie Blair) and patient Susan Oliver (as Susan Andrews). However, the delightful Kathleen Freeman (as Maggie Higgins) is always an asset.
**** The Disorderly Orderly (12/16/64) Frank Tashlin ~ Jerry Lewis, Susan Oliver, Glenda Farrell, Kathleen Freeman
Lewis Landmark
JasparLamarCrabb15 April 2006
With all due respect to THE NUTTY PROFESSOR, THE DISORDERLY ORDERLY is the funniest movie Jerry Lewis ever made. He didn't direct it --- instead he wisely turned those duties over to the master Frank Tashlin. Tashlin keeps Lewis on slapstick track while forgoing much of the maudlin sentimentality that Lewis usually allowed to overwhelm his self-directed movies. As Jerome Littlefield, Lewis is an extremely inept orderly allowed to run amok by hospital administrator Glenda Farrell much to the chagrin of the shrewish head nurse, played by regular Lewis foil Kathleen Freeman.
The gags are plentiful and all on target: Lewis grappling with an inordinate amount of laundry and a very uncooperative laundry chute; Lewis having to relieve himself while a hypochondriac patient recalls her extremely small bladder; the silent ward has subtitles! Lewis is great and Freeman is her usually tightly wound crank. Alice Pearce is very funny as Mrs. Fuzzybee, who insists on revealing her ailments in very vivid detail.
The gags are plentiful and all on target: Lewis grappling with an inordinate amount of laundry and a very uncooperative laundry chute; Lewis having to relieve himself while a hypochondriac patient recalls her extremely small bladder; the silent ward has subtitles! Lewis is great and Freeman is her usually tightly wound crank. Alice Pearce is very funny as Mrs. Fuzzybee, who insists on revealing her ailments in very vivid detail.
Buster Keaton, Laurel & Hardy and Tex Avery reunited
searchanddestroy-119 April 2022
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 in a hospital
Petey-1020 January 2000
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.
SUPER SILLY AND FUN!!!
thrasherwoman1 March 2020
I remember this movie from the 70's when I was just a child. When I saw it playing on PLUTOTV, I just HAD to watch it! It still makes me laugh at the silliness and slapstick humor that I've always enjoyed. The "snow" on the tv, the clanking "mineral water fountain" laundry chute, and OMG the butterfly collection skits are hilarious!! Great CLEAN family fun!! I'm glad I grew up with these crazy, fun movies & that I introduced them to my daughter!
Great colour slapstick
edgeofreality12 November 2020
This film keeps getting better. The 60s as they should have been. I'll always remember the ambulances, the frustrated nurse, the rotten hospital director (Everett Sloane). The chase at the end is what film comedy is about. Watch it at the cinema if you have a time machine.
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