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:

big breasts | breasts | breast | great dane | cross country | 

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Taglines:

A COAST TO COAST FUN TOOT! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jerry Lewis maintained that he never saw this film, because the making of it was too painful, as he and Dean Martin had already decided to end their partnership.

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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

Malcolm Smith: But remember, I'd have never known about the phony ticket or the stealing if you didn't tell me, which means you're very noble. You're as noble as Abraham Lincoln or Raymond Massey.

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Connections

References Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940)

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Soundtracks

Let's Be Friendly
Music by Sammy Fain
Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster

User Reviews

A very funny satire on Hollywood by Frank Tashlin

"Hollywood or Bust" was the last of Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin musical comedies and a very good one. Although it is not as bracingly innovative and riotous as Tashlin's "Artists and Models", I kept laughing throughout.

Some hilarious and enjoyable scenes come to mind: The opening moments in the movie theater where Lewis is ruining a woman's hair with popcorn; the rousing musical number "A Day in the Country" (Martin and Lewis in a car) which is Tashlin's homage to the "Beyond the Blue Horizon" number in Lubitsch's 1930 musical "Monte Carlo"; and there is Lewis' imitation of Rudolph Valentino's "Blood and the Sand".

Sure it can be silly and puerile at times, but it's a lot of fun.

Worth seeing.

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