The Disorderly Orderly

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.

The Disorderly Orderly
Theatrical lobby card
Directed by	Frank Tashlin
Screenplay by	Frank Tashlin
Story by	Norm 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 by	John 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
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$2,700,000 (US/ Canada rentals)[1] 1,434,122 admissions (France)[2]

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

• Jerry Lewis as Jerome Littlefield
• Susan Oliver as Susan
• Kathleen Freeman as Nurse Higgins
• Glenda Farrell as Dr. Howard
• Karen Sharpe as Julie
• Alice Pearce as Mrs. Fuzzibee
• Barbara Nichols as Patient
• Jack E. Leonard as Patient
• Everett Sloane as Mr. Tuffington

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.