The Jerk backdrop

The Jerk 1979 Directed by Carl Reiner

A rags to riches to rags story.

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.

Country USA
Production Country USA
Language English
Spoken Language English
Gnere Comedy
Production Companies Universal Pictures , Aspen Film Society
Budget $4,000,000
Revenue $100,000,000
Release Date 14 December 1979
94 mins
Cast
Steve Martin Navin R. Johnson
Bernadette Peters Marie Kimble Johnson
Catlin Adams Patty Bernstein
Mabel King Mother
Carl Gottlieb Iron Balls McGinty
Bill Macy Stan Fox
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
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)
William Schallert Judge M.A. Loring