"The Bellboy" came about after Paramount wanted to have a Jerry Lewis movie for summer release in North America. The movie that it wanted to release was "Cinderfella", which had finished shooting in December 1959. However, Lewis wanted to hold back the release of "Cinderfella" until Christmas 1960 and Paramount agreed to his terms if Jerry could deliver another movie for summer. While playing an engagement in Miami Beach, Lewis came up with a movie that could be shot at the hotel during winter and delivered to Paramount by the summer release deadline.