HOLLYWOOD OR BUST
US, 1956, 95 minutes, Colour.
Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Pat Crowley, Anita Ekberg.
Directed by Frank Tashlin.
Hollywood or Bust was the last of the very successful series of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis comedies. From 1950 to 1956 they made over twenty films together, all of which were very popular indeed. They developed a style of working together with Dean Martin as straight man and singer, giving a background for Jerry Lewis’ comedy style. writer-director Frank Tashlin made two of their last films, Artists and Models and Hollywood or Bust. His particular zany comic style is evident. He worked with Jerry Lewis in such film as Cinderfella, It's Only Money and The Disorderly Orderly.
1. The quality of the Martin and Lewis comedy? Enjoyment value?
2. A comedy of the fifties: style, VistaVision?, Paramount Studios, threat of television, movies of the time, stars of the time? how does it rate now?
3. The importance of Hollywood, the title, the songs? The pre-credit comedy with the picturing of the filmgoer around the world? The type, knowledge? Infatuation for the stars, for Anita Ekberg? Hollywood and the real thing, the studios, contracts etc.?
4. The success of the comedy routines, the style of Jerry Lewis in his comedy, for example the sequences of his luck, the sequence with the bull? The contrast with Dean Martin and his songs and straight man for the comedy? How well did they blend?
5. The humour of the gangster background, Damon Runyon types? Influence on the plot?
6. Dean Martin and his hero style, gangster, the swindle with the car, using his friend, a foil for the comedy? A nice guy?
7. Jerry Lewis and his comedy style: as a character, foolish, comic?
8. How attractive a heroine was Terry? Conventional? Ambitions of Las Vegas and Hollywood? Participation in the comedy, songs, happy ending?
9. Anita Ekberg playing herself as a Hollywood star, victim of comedy routines in the pool, the chase at the end during the filming?
10. Films like this reflecting the values and style of America in the fifties? The humour and fantasy about movies?
