Dean Martin | Hollywood Yesterday

Lizabeth Scott, Dean Martin, and Jerry Lewis in Scared Stiff

January 13, 2022 By Joi

Dean Martin, Lizabeth Scott, and Jerry Lewis in Scared Stiff

I don’t think you could find a bigger fan of Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin films than me – I’m completely obsessed with them. Scared Stiff (1953, directed by George Marshall) is no exception. It’s great, great fun and… come on… what more could you ask from a movie?!

Plot: Running from murder charges they don’t deserve, a busboy and nightclub singer (bet you know which is which!) find themselves on a VERY spooky island with a VERY beautiful woman. Enter Lizabeth Scott!

Scared Stiff is available on Prime Video (Amazon link). Finding it on dvd is proving to be quite difficult… I need it for my Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin collection and it is nowhere to be found!

Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin Collection:

Dean MARTIN & Jerry LEWIS COLLECTION 7 DVD Set (13 movies!)

Angie Dickinson, Dean Martin, and John Wayne Behind the Scenes of Rio Bravo

January 11, 2022 By Joi

Dean Martin and Angie Dickinson

Rio Bravo isn’t just one of my favorite Westerns, it’s one of my favorite movies. Period. I simply love everything about it from start to finish. The cast, the story, the dialogue, the directing, the wardrobe… everything.

Angie Dickinson’s “Feathers” is one of my favorite movie characters – her portrayal is absolute perfection. Given that the actress was so young, it would have been easy for her to have been overwhelmed by being surrounded by such veteran talent, but she not only fit in beautifully, she stole more than a few scenes to boot!

John Wayne and Angie Dickinson

Rio Bravo is available on DVD (Amazon link) or you can watch it on Prime Video!

BOTD in 1917, the Wonderful Dean Martin!

June 7, 2021 By Joi

Dean Martin

Dino Paul Crocetti was BOTD in1917 in Steubenville, Ohio, to Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti, a barber who was an Italian immigrant, and his wife, Angela, who was born in Ohio.

We often talk about great singers and obviously name Dean Martin. We talk about great comedy teams and obviously name Lewis & Martin. We all talk about great entertainers and obviously name Dean Martin. However, when we talk about all-time great comedians, we don’t bring up the name Dean Martin nearly enough.

Yet, the man was absolutely hilarious. When you watch his comedy routines and his hilarious talk show appearances, you realize he had a wonderful gift for comedy. I think the reason many don’t realize it is they believed him to always be drunk off his butt. He wasn’t, of course, but he acted the part to absolute perfection.

(Continued Below Dude…)

Dean Martin as Dude, Rio Bravo (1959)

Another thing Dean Martin doesn’t’ get enough credit for (IMO) is his acting. He gave each and every one of his roles exactly what it needed. He was never too large for the scene and certainly never too small. Drama, comedy, and everything in between. I love his westerns, comedies, and most definitely his Matt Helm movies.

Delirious fun!

My personal favorite Dean Martin Movies:

Rio Bravo (in arguably his best performance)
The Stooge
The Wrecking Crew
The Silencers
Airport
The Cannonball Run
Oceans 11
The Sons of Katie Elder
Artists and Models
Hollywood or Bust
You’re Never too Young
Pardners
Robin and the 7 Hoods
Living it Up
3 Ring Circus
The Caddy
That’s My Boy
At War with the Army
My Friend Irma
My Friend Irma Goes West
Sailor Beware
Jumping Jacks
Money from Home

Suffice to say, I’m a HUGE fan.

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Behind the Scenes of The Stooge

BOTD in 1896, Wonderful Director Howard Hawks

May 30, 2021 By Joi

Howard Hawks With Crew and Cast Members, Rio Bravo

One of my absolute favorite directors, Howard Hawks, was BOTD (born on this day) in 1896 in Goshen, Indiana. This talented director was behind some of my personal favorite movies…

Rio Bravo
El Dorado
Red River
Bringing Up Baby
Monkey Business
The Big Sleep
Only Angels Have Wings
To Have or Have Not
Ball of Fire
Rio Lobo
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Hatari

As I see more of his movies, I have NO doubt that other favorites will join the list.

Not only do we owe him a debt of gratitude for his wonderful films, he is responsible for discovering Lauren Bacall. That, alone, earns him my undying devotion!

Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart, To Have and Have Not

The Wrecking Ball: Sharon Tate, Elke Sommer, and Dean Martin

November 5, 2020 By Joi

The Wrecking Crew Lobby Card

I am a huge, huge, huge, HUGE fan of Dean Martin’s Matt Helm movies. They’re almost TOO fun, if we’re being honest. They make you forget the troubles around you, the sickness, the madness… all of it. They’re downright therapeutic if you ask this Dean Martin fan.

The Wrecking Crew (1968) stars Dean Martin, Sharon Tate, and Elke Sommer. This was the only film in the Matt Helm series where James Gregory didn’t play MacDonald…. and, I’ll add, he was missed.

Although there was another Matt Helm movie in the works, this was the last one in the series. Dean Martin was so distraught over the murder of his co-star and friend Sharon Tate in August 1969 that he abandoned the series altogether.

You can watch The Wrecking Crew on Prime Video.

Elke Sommer and Dean Martin

Sailor Beware: A FUN Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin Movie with Marion Marshall and Corinne Calvet

November 1, 2020 By Joi

Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, Sailor Beware

I can assure you of certain things in life and this is one of them – there is NOT a bigger fan Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin movies on the planet than me. It is what it is and that’s how it is. I’d go so far as to say I’m the biggest fan of each actor as well, but given that each has family they have left behind, I’ll hold off on that claim.

See how reasonable I can be after my third cup of coffee?

My completely truthful answer to the question I’m often asked (“What’s your favorite Lewis and Martin film?“) is this: Whichever one I’m watching at the time or the one I saw last. That’s why the answer is often a different one.

Today it’s Sailor Beware (1952).

The fun movie stars Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, French actress Corinne Calvet, and the always wonderful Marion Marshall. Marshall co-starred in three of the dynamic duo’s “Paramount movies:” “That’s My Boy” (1951), “The Stooge” (1951) and, finally, “Sailor Beware” (1952).

Dean Martin, Corinne Calvet, and Jerry Lewis Sailor Beware

You can find a great selection of Lewis & Martin dvd collections on Amazon (some of the best are linked below). Some of their individual movies (they made 16 together… naturally I nickname them the Sweet Sixteen because why wouldn’t I?) can be really tough to find. Fortunately the collections are very reasonably priced.

Jerry Lewis and Marion Marshall, Sailor Beware

Dean Martin Christmas Music (As Good as it Gets): Let it Snow!

November 8, 2019 By Joi

Without fail, this time of year means many wonderful things in my home:

Christmas trees, lights, villages, snowmen, elves, gingerbread men and women, and Santas fill every room.
Cookies and candy are baked and made like our home is a bakery and candy factory combined!
Gift lists are made, scoured over, stressed about, and gifts are (finally!) bought, wrapped, and put under the tree.
Our cats go berserk!
All of the above goes on with Dean Martin, Lena Horne, Elton John, Brenda Lee, Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, and other favorites singing in the background. These wonderful Christmas companions have been part of our family for as long as I can remember and Christmas would NOT be the same without them.

Dean Martin has the distinction of being the first one of these old Christmas friends to be played each year. Either Marshmallow World, Let it Snow, or Walking in a Winter Wonderland kick off the season in our home – this year it was Marshmallow World.

If the Christmas spirit hasn’t hit you yet, give Dean a chance… he’ll make it happen!

How Well Do You Know Rosemary Clooney? 16 Fast Facts About a Multi-Talented Star

May 11, 2019 By Joi

Rosemary Clooney, Dean Martin, and Jerry Lewis on The Colgate Comedy Hour

One of my quirkiest regrets (when it comes to Old Hollywood stars) is that so many aren’t remembered as they “should be” or as they “deserve to be.” Many, especially when they became older, did television and/or commercials and this is how many are remembered by most. If only they had prophetic advisers to tell them to steer clear of commercials. They’re shown so frequently (and right in the comfort of the viewer’s own home!) that the image becomes ingrained.

The only way for us Old Hollywood enthusiasts to counter that is to get more pictures, videos, and information OUT THERE of the stars when they were full of vitality, packed with talent, and beautifully radiant.

When I think about this conundrum, one of the names that always comes to mind is Rosemary Clooney. This actress and singer was very beautiful and talented, and.. could she ever sing?! She absolutely had the voice of an angel.

There’s so much more to her than paper towel commercials!

Rosemary Clooney Trivia:

Rosemary was born and raised in Maysville, Kentucky – she was one of five children.
The street in Maysville – where her parents lived when she was born – was renamed in her honor.
Rosemary and her sister Betty sang at their grandfather’s mayoral election campaigns, which he won three times.
Her big break came in in 1954 when she starred in White Christmas Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Vera-Ellen.
She and then-husband José Ferrer had five children between 1955 and 1960. The marriage was a very tempestuous one and is cited for the cause of her nervous breakdown in 1968. She recovered and returned to work in 1976.
George Clooney is her nephew (he’s the son of Rosemary’s brother Nick Clooney).
Rosemary’s son, Gabriel is married to singer Debby Boone.
Once Rosemary was performing with singer/pianist Michael Feinstein at the Hollywood Bowl. Before taking the stage, they were both noticeably nervous. Expecting Rosemary to give him words of strength and encouragement, Michael Feinstein was shocked when she told him, “Don’t think this ever gets any easier!“
One of her more interesting quotes (and she had a lot of them!) was: “In the final analysis, it’s true that fame is unimportant. No matter how great a man is, the size of his funeral usually depends on the weather.”
She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording in Hollywood, California.
She performed annually at the “Rosemary Clooney Music Festival” in her hometown of Maysville, Kentucky.
Beginning in 1980, Rosemary called Augusta, Kentucky home. What a peaceful retreat it must have been from her busy showbiz days!
On October 1st, 2005, her Augusta, Kentucky home was partially transformed into a celebration of her life, The Rosemary Clooney House – a non-profit foundation headed by former Kentucky Lt. Gov Dr. Steve Henry and his wife, former Miss America and Augusta native, Heather French Henry.
After Rosemary Clooney’s death, her children bought the home from the Henrys.
The Rosemary Clooney House has the largest collection of White Christmas memorabilia in the world.
Rosemary Clooney is buried at St. Patrick’s Cemetery near her mother and grandmother in Maysville, Ky.

Below, Rosemary Clooney sings “Hey There.”

Be prepared to become obsessed with this beautiful voice.

Ravings of a Dean Martin Fan with “A Marshmallow World” on the Side

December 13, 2018 By Joi

Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, A Marshmallow World

There are many personal favorite stars who I am convinced DO NOT get the appreciation they deserve. Who knows, maybe one of the reasons I started this Golden Age of Hollywood blog, in the first place, was to remedy the oversights!

Example of the day…. Dean Martin. Okay, this is one I could really go on and on about. Seriously.

Is he a household name? Absolutely.

Do people realize that he was a hilarious comedian? Absolutely.

Do they realize how extraordinary his voice was? Absolutely.

But… somehow (in my opinion) he still doesn’t quite get the appreciation he deserves.

Dean Martin had a larger than life personality and a sense of humor that was staggering. These traits seem to be associated with him more than any other – which is fine, mind you… we should all have such a wonderful personality that it’s remembered long after we’re gone.

And yet…

If you’ve watched as many Dean Martin movies as I have and have listened to as many of his songs as I have, you know that this was an incredibly multi-talented star – the kind that do not come around often.

I think I actually had “Dean Martin fan” etched into my DNA. He was one of my mother’s favorite singers (he, Elvis, and The Oakridge Boys… what a soundtrack I had growing up!) and he was one of my dad’s absolute favorite actors. Like me, he’d go on and on about how effortless he made each role seem. Whether he was playing straight man to the wonderful Jerry Lewis or serving as a deputy to John Wayne’s character in Rio Bravo – he was never caught “acting,” he simply WAS the character you were enjoying at the moment.

My husband and I watch Rio Bravo several times a year and, yes, we do have the lines memorized at this point. We’ve seen it so often, we’ll often cue the characters…

Okay, Dude, rub your face…
Time to sing, boys…
Walk it out, Chance…
Fling those feathers, girl!

Sometimes we’ll even laugh in anticipation of what Stumpy’s fixing to say.

A couple of things consistently occur to me EACH time we watch this favorite movie.

ONE. Angie Dickinson was (and is) impossibly and flawlessly beautiful. Her facial features master the concept of teamwork better than most. She was the perfect “Feathers” and there is no actress who could have brought the character to life as beautifully.

TWO. John Wayne was larger than life. His onscreen persona, to this day, stands out as being one of the most imposing of all stars. Whatever “it” is, he had “it” from the tip of his hat to the toes of his boots. Watching John Wayne movies is one of the funnest things in the world and he is the reason.

THREE. Walter Brennan is a national treasure. His Stumpy is one of the most adorable and hilarious movie characters of all time – like “Feathers”, the role was cast perfectly.

FOUR. Dean Martin was more than a performer and more than a personality… he was an actor… make that ACTOR. If he had chosen to, he could have carved out a career as a dramatic actor and gone on to make a slew of memorable dramas. Fortunately for us, however, he chose a diverse career and has left us with dramatic roles, comedic roles, and songs that are as memorizing as a flip of Feather’s feathers.

One of my favorite Christmas songs is also one of my favorite Dean Martin songs and I listen to it nonstop this time of year. A Marshmallow World is a seriously fun song – it sets the tone for the Christmas season deliciously.

At the top of the post is A Marshmallow World performed by Dean Martin and a friend of his… I’m sure you’ve heard of him.. Frank Sinatra. I love this duet! At the bottom of the post is the version of A Marshmallow World by Dean Martin all by himself. What. A. Voice. I couldn’t decide which version to include in this post, so I did the “totally me” thing and went with both.

What can I say? I hate decisions.

Dino Paul Crocetti will always be one of my favorites and, if you get a chance, I hope you’ll watch each of his movies and listen to each of his songs. If he isn’t already, he’ll quickly become one of your favorites, too.

Review: The Stooge, Starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis (Love this Movie!)

March 21, 2018 By Joi

One of my favorite quotes of all time is, “I just want to spend the rest of my life laughing.” I honestly don’t know WHO originated the quote because each time I see (or hear) it, I’m too busy thinking, “AMEN!” to look for a name. I’m one of those people (for better or worse) who finds humor in most situations – if there isn’t any to be found, I do my darnedest to create some. If that can’t be done, I just part ways with the situation.

Okay, so I’m exaggerating a little but the truth of the matter is this – I love to laugh and do so many times throughout the day. Not surprisingly, many of my absolute favorite stars (Lucille Ball, Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, Carol Burnett, Abbott and Costello, Laurel and Hardy, Rue McClanahan, Bob Hope, Desi Arnaz, Redd Foxx, Don Knotts…) are those who fully support my funny bone fetish.

I’m convinced that it was actually Lewis and Martin, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, and Abbott and Costello that turned me into the clown I am. I grew up watching (and loving) them – I guess, as a child, I assumed every single day was filled with laughter. I soon learned that every day does not come with laughter… perhaps that’s when I began trying to create craziness where none existed.

One of our cats (Nacho) and I recently rewatched one of four favorite movies, “The Stooge,” (1951) starring the wonderful Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. These men were just brilliant – geniuses in every sense of the word.

Before getting to the movie, I have to tell you how much Nacho loves this movie. As you’d expect from a Classic Movie blogger, I watch a lot of old movies… A LOT. Yet, The Stooge is the only movie this particular cat will sit through with me. He settles in and, I kid you not, watches the entire movie with me. I used to think it was Jerry Lewis’ voice (especially high in this role) that fascinated him, but he doesn’t fully commit himself to other Lewis movies like he does this one.

Synopsis: Bill Miller (Dean Martin) is trying to make it big as a singer. In spite of having a phenomenal voice, he’s just not achieving the type of success he strives for OR the level of fame Bill fully believes Bill deserves!

His luck changes after he’s teamed up with an adorably flighty comic named Theodore (Jerry Lewis). They become a huge success but Bill’s pride is convinced the draw is HIM, not THEM…. and he certainly wouldn’t consider giving “Ted” any credit. Bill’s pride gets in his way and nearly ruins his relationship with Mary (played by the beautiful Polly Bergen) and his career. Mary, as well as everyone else, sees that the success is just as much the stooge‘s credit as Bill’s.

Jerry Lewis’ Ted Hitting the High Notes… as in Assaulting Them!

Too cute for her own good Marion Marshall appears in The Stooge as Genevieve “Frecklehead” Tait, Ted’s love interest and none other than Frances Bavier (Aunt Bee) stas as Ted’s mother. They help round out a very talented and hilarious cast.

As much as I love (love, love, love) The Stooge, I have to admit… it takes a hot minute to get going. Once it hits its stride, though, it’s an especially fun ride. The best part of the ride is, undoubtedly, the wonderful ending.

MOVIE. MAGIC.

I don’t know about you, but my movie motto is this: A movie is only as good as its ending. I’ve never understood why movie makers would settle for anything less than a stellar ending – after all, its the last thing a viewer sees and the first thing they remember.

The Stooge has one of the best endings of any movie and I love every single thing about it.

So does Nacho.

(Concluded Below….)

Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin: Just One More ChanceJerry Lewis called this his favorite Martin and Lewis movie, which is saying a lot since they were all extra, extra, extra special. He believed that this movie best-represented the phenomenon he and Martin had in real life.

Lewis and Martin made 17 movies together between 1949-1956. The Stooge was actually filmed in 1951, but it wasn’t released until 1953. Seems Paramount was entirely sure how this film’s dramatic moments would play out at the box office. Of all the Lewis and Martin movies, The Stooge brings the most drama. This is why, if you’re a huge fan of their comedies like I am, the film seems to take a bit to find its footing. It’s simply not the “one hilarious scene after the other” laughathons we’re accustomed to with their movies.

It is, however, one of the best – which is a real tribute to their talents.

Nacho and I both hope you’ll see this movie soon – whether it’s for the first or fortieth time, the ending will move you.

And don’t you love it when a movie does that?