Germany / Dec 14, 1979 / 12
A rags to riches to rags story.
1h 34min
Overall average
5.0/10
Trailer
Videos
Plot
After discovering he's not really black like the rest of his family, likable dimwit Navin Johnson sets off on a hilarious misadventure that takes him from rags to riches and back again. The slaphappy jerk strikes it rich, but life in the fast lane isn't all it's cracked up to be and, in the end, all that really matters to Johnson is his true love.
Main cast
Full cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Bill Macy | Stan Fox |
| M. Emmet Walsh | Madman |
| Dick O'Neill | Frosty |
| Maurice Evans | Hobart |
| Helena Carroll | Hester |
| Ren Woods | Elvira |
| Pepe Serna | Punk #1 |
| Sonny Terry | Blues Singer |
| Brownie McGhee | Blues Singer |
| Jackie Mason | Harry Hartounian |
| Sharon Johansen | Lenore Hartounian |
| Gene LeBell | Con Man |
| Carl Reiner | Carl Reiner the Celebrity |
| Larry Hankin | Circus Hand (uncredited) |
| Howard Hesseman | Carnival Worker (uncredited) |
| Rob Reiner | Truck Driver Picking Up Navin (uncredited) |
| Gailard Sartain | Guy with Cracked Airplane Seats (uncredited) |
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| Lenny Montana | Con Man |
| William Schallert | Judge M.A. Loring |
| David Landsberg | Bank Manager |
| Domingo Ambriz | Father De Cordoba |
| Richard Foronjy | Con Man |
| Clete Roberts | Announcer |
| Frances E. Williams | Grandma Johnson |
| Lydia McGhee | Cleotis Johnson |
| Niko Denise Holmes | Satch Johnson |
| Shawn Harris | Pierre Johnson |
| Nyles Harris | Leroy Johnson (as Niles Harris) |
| Susan Denise Harrison | Lisa Johnson |
| Douglas S. Close | Fireman |
| Trinidad Silva | Punk |
| Alston Ahern | Bride |
| Lawrence Green | Father of the Bride |
| Ken Magee | Carnival Rube |
| Tom J. Delaney | Tourist |
| Alfred Dennis | Irving |
| Marc Loge | Farm Boy |
| Jon Leichter | Billy |
| Lillian Adams | Tillie |
| Joe Lynn | Voodoo Dancer |
| Maurice Marsac | French Waiter |
| Fred Lerner | Con Man |
| Jerry G. Velasco | Man in Garden |
| Kimberly Cameron | Disco Party |
| Elizabeth Macey | Disco Party |
| Richie Reiner | Disco Party |
| Daniel Trevor | Disco Party |
| Benjie Bancroft | Bailiff (uncredited) |
Genres
Comedy
Technical details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Original title | The Jerk |
| Original language | English (EN) |
| Spoken languages | English |
| Production countries | United States of America |
| Status | Released |
| Production companies | Universal Pictures, Aspen Film Society |
| Release date | 14 dicembre 1979 |
| Production | Peter Macgregor-Scott, David V. Picker, William E. McEuen |
| Writer | Carl Gottlieb, Steve Martin, Michael Elias |
| Casting | Geno Havens, Penny Perry |
| Editing | Bud Molin, Ron Spang |
| Cinematography | Victor J. Kemper |
| Assistant directors | Carl Reiner |
| Camera operators | Victor J. Kemper |
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| Additional photography | Victor J. Kemper |
| Production design | Jack T. Collis, Richard C. Goddard |
| Art direction | Richard C. Goddard, Jack T. Collis |
| Set decoration | Richard C. Goddard, Jack T. Collis |
| Stunts | Diane Peterson, Conrad E. Palmisano, Debbie Evans, Jeannie Epper |
| Music | Jack Elliott |
| Sound | Jack Elliott |
| Costume design | April Ferry, Theadora Van Runkle |
| Makeup | April Ferry, Theadora Van Runkle |
| Hairstyling | April Ferry, Theadora Van Runkle |
| Collection | The Jerk Collection |
| Budget | 4.000.000 € |
| Revenue | 100.000.000 € |
Release dates
Theatrical release
United Kingdom / Dec 14, 1979 / 12
United States / Dec 14, 1979 / R
Brazil / Jan 12, 1980
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Ireland / May 16, 1980 / 15
Australia / Jun 06, 1980 / M
Portugal / Aug 19, 1982 / M/12
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