Scared Stiff

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For the 1987 Hong Kong movie, see Scared Stiff (1987 film).
For the pinball game starring Elvira, see Scared Stiff (pinball).
Scared Stiff
Directed by George Marshall
Produced by Hal B. Wallis
Written by Herbert Baker
Walter DeLeon
Norman Lear
Starring Dean Martin
Jerry Lewis
Lizabeth Scott
Carmen Miranda
Music by Leith Stevens
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date(s) April 27, 1953
Running time 108 min.
Language English
IMDb profile

Scared Stiff is a 1953 comedy film starring the team of Martin and Lewis. The musical comedy was released on April 27, 1953 by Paramount and directed by George Marshall.

Contents

[edit] 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 by Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.

[edit] 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 and Paulette Goddard, also directed by George Marshall[1]. 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 Wallis felt was one that could be successful in the comedy team's hands, he held the two to their contract for the film [1].

Scared Stiff was filmed from June 2 through July 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[2]. 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 another Martin and Lewis picture, Jumping Jacks.

[edit] Cast

Dean Martin ... Larry Todd
Jerry Lewis ... Myron Mertz
Lizabeth Scott ... Mary Carroll
Carmen Miranda ... Carmelita Castinha
George Dolenz ... Mr. Cortega
Dorothy 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 Pier

[edit] DVD release

October 31, 2006

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Neibaur, James L. and Okuda, Ted: Jerry Lewis Films, The: an analytical filmography of the innovative comic, Pages 62-72. McFarland & Company, Inc, 1995.
  2. ^ "Paramount Offers Zany Comedy Team", Oakland Tribune, Oakland, CA. June 12, 1953, Page 39.

[edit] External links

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