The Ladies' Man

Play trailer

The Ladies' Man

Released May 26, 1961

1h 46m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

11 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Upon losing his lover, Herbert (Jerry Lewis) gives up women for good and seeks a fresh start by taking a maintenance position at what appears to be an ordinary Los Angeles boarding house. To Herbert's surprise, however, the building caters specifically to single women. He immediately resolves to quit, but landlady Miss Wellenmellon (Helen Traubel) and sweet tenant Fay (Pat Stanley) talk him into keeping the job. In no time at all, Herbert is mired in one comic disaster after another.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Richard Brody

New Yorker

In the end, the movie exalts the modest pleasures of everyday people, but, along the way, Lewis reveals the madder music within that they whistle while they work.

Mar 7, 2016

Full Review

Eric Henderson

Slant Magazine

A bizarre, sexually ambiguous, cantankerously skeptical burlesque on the ascent of feminine independence.

Rated: 4/4

Oct 13, 2004

Full Review

Ray Pride

Newcity

Beyond the range of big laffs Lewis could readily rollick at that prolific stage of his career, there’s breathtaking Technicolor and Lewis’ mastery of the mobile camera. Behold vast ambition and also grace at his directorial command. The nerve of the man!

Rated: 10/10

Aug 16, 2022

Full Review

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

A masterwork of demasculinization

Feb 14, 2010

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

This is one of Jerry's more creative comedies.

Rated: B

Jun 30, 2007

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Turner Classic Movies Online

...it's hard not to be awed by the technological leaps of this production, and at their best his gags delve in to the realm of the surreal last visited by the Marx Brothers.

Apr 28, 2007

Full Review

Read all reviews

David D

Jerry plays a goofy guy working in a wacky over 35 year old (but still sexy cute) female packed sorority house. If the Rock and Doris in Pillow Talk gave you heartburn, this will make you pray for the sweet angel of death. Where is thy sting ?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/19/24

Full Review

Audience Member

For the first couple minutes of The Ladies Man, I was interested in it because of how funny it was. Sadly, I lost interest for many reasons. Even though I like the humor, music, and the set of The Ladies Man, it wasn't as good as people said it was. I wasn't a big fan of the editing and the sound. But what really disappointed me was the writing by Jerry Lewis and Bill Richmond as I felt like the two have not only missed a lot of opportunities but also relied on skits instead of the plot for The Ladies Man. So to be honest, the film indeed would of been better but it felt like Jerry Lewis rushed into production on this one.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Jerry Lewis got his start as a comic in Manhattan singing along to records. He would make funny faces, pratfalls, and that was his thing. This movie is Jerry Lewis making funny faces and pratfalls, for an entire movie. If there is a length of wire on the ground he will step into it. If there is a trombone he'll fling the slide off. It feels like the movie lasts forever. Nothing is funny. Nothing. It's just weird face after weird face constantly mugging for the camera and yelling "Maaaw!" The set is gorgeous. There is one fantastic scene that's the white room scene. It's not really played for laughs just an all white room where Jerry Lewis finds a spider lady and dances with her in a white room painted with blue clouds to Harry James and his orchestra. It boggles the mind that anyone would like his. How? The terrible Three Stooges and Snow White which also came out in 1961 is easier to watch. Breakfast at Tiffany's a tremendous comedy came out in 1961 watch that instead if you want something from 1961. If you watch this movie you ask yourself, "Was Jerry Lewis ever funny?" The funniest thing he did in the entire movie was sit on George Raft's hat. That's it. He sat on the hat. Then George Raft said "You're sitting on my hat." That's about as good as this movie gets.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I never get tired of this bit. I laugh out loud every time I watch it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/15/22

Full Review

Audience Member

We need this comedy again, silly but classic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/15/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Collection of sketches, some amusing. (Plot sketchy too.)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Jerry Lewis

Director

Jerry Lewis

Herbert H. Heebert

Helen Traubel

Miss Helen N. Wellenmellon

Kathleen Freeman

Katie

Hope Holiday

Miss Anxious

Pat Stanley

Fay

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Who's Minding the Store?

57%

65%

Who's Minding the Store?

Watchlist

The Nutty Professor

82%

67%

The Nutty Professor

Watchlist

The Patsy

82%

63%

The Patsy

Watchlist

Donovan's Reef

54%

75%

Donovan's Reef

Watchlist

The Odd Couple

97%

89%

The Odd Couple

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Jerry Lewis’ Best Films by Tomatometer

View more photos

Synopsis

Upon losing his lover, Herbert (Jerry Lewis) gives up women for good and seeks a fresh start by taking a maintenance position at what appears to be an ordinary Los Angeles boarding house. To Herbert's surprise, however, the building caters specifically to single women. He immediately resolves to quit, but landlady Miss Wellenmellon (Helen Traubel) and sweet tenant Fay (Pat Stanley) talk him into keeping the job. In no time at all, Herbert is mired in one comic disaster after another.

Director: Jerry Lewis
Producer: Jerry Lewis
Screenwriter: Jerry Lewis, Bill Richmond
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 26, 1961, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2012
Runtime: 1h 46m

Most Popular at Home Now