Jerry Lewis makes his directorial debut with THE BELLBOY (1960)

October 30th, 2007 by Scott Marks

Jerry envisioned the family-friendly Cinderfella as a Christmas picture. The Paramount brass agreed, but were insistent on a July release date in order to ensure a Lewis picture on their summer roster.

Lewis had been itching to get in the director’s chair ever since he and Dean set foot on the backlot and saw this as his golden opportunity. If they wanted a Lewis summer smash they’d get a Lewis summer smash, only on one condition: a director’s credit.

He was scheduled to appear at Miami’s Fontainbleau Hotel and shot The Bellboy over the course of a brisk four weeks, filming by day and performing by night.

Say what you will about The Bellboy, it remains a landmark in cinema history. In order to expedite his shooting schedule, Jerry strapped a video camera to the 35mm Panaflex for instant playback. Video assist, as it has come to be known, is an industry standard used in the making of every major motion picture.

Not bad for a nine-year-old Idiot!

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