Saturday, May 07, 2011

Movie review – “Hollywood or Bust” (1956) ***

This is unavoidably in hindsight, but I felt the tension from Dean Martin towards Jerry Lewis in this one a lot. It’s mostly because of the characters they play – they’re not friends, rather he’s a gambler who is forced to drive cross country with Jerry to Hollywood (years before Due Date). Martin’s character isn’t very nice – there’s a really uncomfortable scene where he forces himself upon the female lead (Pat Crowley, who later falls for him - but still it's not too fun to watch). Jerry is in great form, far better than Dean, whether doing a tribute to movie goers of the world, or fighting a bull or panting over Anita Ekberg. Anita Ekberg plays herself – she was very famous at that stage, despite actually not having starred in a hit film.
 
This was directed by Frank Tashlin, which means there’s a lot more sexual innuendo (plenty of legs from girls, talk of underwear) and satire (gags about Gregory Peck, Burt Lancaster, Vista Vision, the censor… even one bit when Martin and Lewis drive through Las Vegas and see a sign advertising Martin and Lewis.) There’s a great dane dog who goes along with them on the ride and almost steals the picture plus several musical numbers.

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