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Hollywood or Bust (1956) - Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis

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Dr. Mabuse:
"Hollywood or Bust" marked the cinematic swansong of Martin and Lewis, with the comedy team on its last legs (Jerry was taking over the act by this point — much to Dean's displeasure).

Despite Frank Tashlin's inventive direction, the film is uneven.  Jerry performs some memorable routines, but Dino has had enough (particularly when it came to Jerry's increased amount of singing). Compared to the natural rapport in their earlier films, the chemistry is gone. Still, it remains one of the duo's better efforts.

Interesting side note:  "Hollywood or Bust" was released in December 1956 — five months after Dean and Jerry's breakup. According to Martin biographer Nick Tosches, the team's final film was their least successful at the box office due to the fans' resentment of their split. Tosches called it "illusion depravation."

Paul Pain:

--- Quote from: metaldams on October 04, 2022, 11:12:34 AM ---A pretty common response to Jerry Lewis.  I’ve had my moments, even if I do think he’s OK here.

--- End quote ---

It wasn't actually Jerry as much as it was the entire thing with the dog that finished me off.  If I'm going to see magically transporting dogs, I expect them to go all the way with that kind of thing, and a lot of opportunities were missed in those first 20 minutes because of the writer's psychological hangup on the dog.  Those 20 minutes made Gomer Pyle seem like highbrow humor.

Dr. Mabuse:
"Hollywood or Bust" was not intended to be the last Martin and Lewis film. Lewis proposed a modern-day version of "Damon and Pythias," with Jerry as a juvenile delinquent and Dean as a police officer. When Dean read the script, he flat-out refused to play a uniformed cop. Lewis told his partner "We’ll have to get somebody else." "Start looking, boy," Martin responded. That was the final straw. "Damon and Pythias" became Jerry's first solo film: "The Delicate Delinquent" (1957), with Darren McGavin taking over Dean's role.

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