‘THE BELLBOY’ (1960)
The fascinating backstory: Lewis promised Paramount he would deliver a Jerry Lewis film for a 1960 summer release if the studio agreed to hold back his completed Cinderfella until the holiday season.
He proceeded to make The Bellboy (he produced, wrote and directed) in record time, all while performing his nightclub act in Miami. Lewis plays a mute bellboy at a luxurious hotel.
“His brilliant performance echoes that of his beloved Charlie Chaplin, as Jerry doesn’t utter a sound until the last sentence of the film,” Barson says.
Lewis also invented the video assist for the film, which is used to this day in film and television production. Using the device, he could see himself act on monitors in his directorial debut.
Paramount kept its end of the bargain and Lewis profited. “The movie went on to make him millions,” Barson sayd.