Hollywood or Bust (1956)

A singer who can't pay his bookie joins a nerdy, star-struck movie fan and his Great Dane in a cross-country convertible ride to Hollywood.

Director:

Frank Tashlin

Writer:

Erna Lazarus

Stars:

Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Pat Crowley

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Dean Martin	...	Steve Wiley
Jerry Lewis	...	Malcolm Smith
Pat Crowley	...	Terry Roberts
Maxie Rosenbloom	...	Bookie Benny
Anita Ekberg	...	Anita Ekberg

Storyline

The last movie with Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin together, is a satire of the life in Hollywood. Steve Wiley is a deceiver who cheats Malcolm Smith when he wins a car, claiming that he won it too. Trying to steal the car, Steve tells Malcolm that he lives in Hollywood, next to Anita Ekberg's. When Malcom hears that, they both set out for Hollywood and the adventure begins...

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Plot Keywords:

great dane | cross country | raffle | gambler | convertible | 

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Taglines:

Their maddest, merriest FUN HIT!

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The shiny red convertible is a 1956 Chrysler New Yorker.

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Goofs

When the bull throws Malcolm after a short ride, you can briefly see a rope around its neck, presumably used by the stunt double. But the rest of the bull scenes show no rope.

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Quotes

[on his jingle]
Malcolm Smith: You like it?
Steve Wiley: I think it'll live forever. Maybe longer!

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Crazy Credits

Dean Martin addresses the audience: "We also would like to pay tribute to the British movie fan." (A scene of a butler bringing an elaborate silver tray to a formally dressed Jerry Lewis who's watching a movie -- and the butler removes the lid so Lewis can pick one of four kernels of popcorn to gently put in his mouth).

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Connections

Featured in The Godfather (1972)

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Soundtracks

The Wild and Wooly West
Music by Sammy Fain
Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster

User Reviews

The last picture with Martin and Lewis

Dean Martin plays Steve Wiley, a gambler with bad debts and Jerry Lewis is Malcolm Smith, a huge movie lover who wants to go to Hollywood to meet Anita Ekberg.And then there is a car raffle where Steve wins a car with a fake ticket and Malcolm wins it with a real one.So they're both off to Hollywood with Malcolm's dog Great Dane and Terry Roberts (Pat Crowley), a girl they meet along the way.A very pretty lady, if I may add.By the way, Dean Martin's daughters Claudia, Deana and Gail can be seen in the movie.Frank Tashlin's Hollywood or Bust (1956) is a good and funny comedy which offers you some good laughs.One good and funny scene is where Jerry sings the song of the dog food commercial and then there's of course the one where the dog goes for a ride with the car.A dog behind the wheel is always funny.This was the last movie Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis did together.There were personal conflicts that ended the relationship.They were such a hilarious duo and they did lots of great films together.But as you know,nothing lasts forever.Luckily they didn't stay as enemies forever.In 1976 Frank Sinatra reunited them on stage and they stayed as friends till Dean's death in 1995.While making this film there was lots of anger between them but you can hardly see it.This isn't all time best of Martin and Lewis but it's very enjoyable anyway.Jerry Lewis has said he hasn't seen Hollywood or Bust because it's much too painful for him to watch.Good movie, bad memories.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 December 1956 (UK)

Also Known As:

Beginner's Luck

Filming Locations:

Taos, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$3,300,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Wallis Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1