- Scared Stiff
Infobox_Film
name = Scared Stiff
director = George Marshall
writer = Herbert BakerWalter DeLeon Norman Lear
starring =Dean Martin Jerry Lewis Lizabeth Scott Carmen Miranda
producer =Hal B. Wallis
distributor =Paramount Pictures
released =April 27 ,1953
music =Leith Stevens
runtime = 108 min.
language = English
imdb_id = 0046280"Scared Stiff" is a
1953 comedy film starring the team ofMartin and Lewis . The musical comedy was released onApril 27 ,1953 by Paramount and directed by George Marshall.Plot
Larry Todd (
Dean Martin ), and Myron Mertz (Jerry Lewis ), cross paths with a gangster named "Shorty" when Larry hits on Shorty's girl. After fleeing from Shorty, they meet an heiress (Lizabeth Scott ) who is sailing for Cuba. One unexplained murder and threatening note later, Larry and Myron sail with her to the island. Once there they cross paths with a zombie and other mysterious happenings. Eventually they discover the person behind the mystery and rid the island of him. The movie ends with a cameo appearance byBing Crosby andBob Hope .Production
The team's ninth picture, "Scared Stiff" is a remake of Paramount's previous effort, "
The Ghost Breakers ", a 1940 "scare comedy" starring Bob Hope andPaulette Goddard , also directed by George MarshallNeibaur, James L. and Okuda, Ted: Jerry Lewis Films, The: an analytical filmography of the innovative comic, Pages 62-72. McFarland & Company, Inc, 1995.] .Martin and Lewis had appeared as a cameo in Hope and Bing Crosby's "Road to Bali " the previous year as part of a 'comedy trade' between the two teams. In turn, Hope and Crosby appear for a cameo in "Scared Stiff". Both shared a common producer,Cy Howard , who produced Martin and Lewis' first two "My Friend Irma" pictures and "That's My Boy".According to Lewis, both he and Martin were against making the picture, as they found the original to be satisfactory. However, because the film was a Paramount property that producer
Hal B. Wallis felt was one that could be successful in the comedy team's hands, he held the two to their contract for the film ."Scared Stiff" was filmed from
June 2 throughJuly 17 ,1952 . It was the first film of the team's available in 3-track,stereophonic sound . Some reviews at the time commented on the soundtrack's use of stereo enhancing gag sequences ["Paramount Offers Zany Comedy Team", Oakland Tribune, Oakland, CA. June 12, 1953, Page 39.] . The stereo tracks for this film are now considered lost. As with most films of team's work, it garnered a re-release in 1958 on a double bill with anotherMartin and Lewis picture, "Jumping Jacks "."Scared Stiff" turned out to be the last film for
Carmen Miranda who died two years later, shortly after completing an episode of "The Jimmy Durante Show" on TV.Cast
Dean Martin ... Larry Todd
Jerry Lewis ... Myron Mertz
Lizabeth Scott ... Mary Carroll
Carmen Miranda ... Carmelita Castinha
George Dolenz ... Mr. CortegaDorothy Malone ... Rosie
William Ching ... Tony Warren
Paul Marion ... Ramon Cariso / Francisco Cariso
Jack Lambert ... Zombie
Tony Barr ... Trigger
Leonard Strong ... Shorty
Henry Brandon ... Pierre
Hugh Sanders ... Cop on PierDVD release
The film was included on an eight-film DVD set, the "Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Collection: Volume One", released on October 31, 2006.
Notes
External links
*imdb title|id=0046280
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