Posted on 11/18/2021 5:23:53 PM PST by nickcarraway
Not everything about “King of Cool” Dean Martin was what it seemed. The dashing playboy and heartthrob was actually a devoted family man to eight children. The legendary drinker — who always had a tumbler in hand —secretly filled his glass with apple cider. And that gleaming grin masked pain.
A new documentary explores the complexities of the beloved crooner, comedian and founding member of the Rat Pack. “Dean Martin: King of Cool,” which premieres Friday on TCM, features never-before-seen archival footage and delves into Martin’s strained relationship with Jerry Lewis, his bromance with Frank Sinatra and the personal tragedy of losing a child.
Born Dino Paul Crocetti in Steubenville, Ohio, in 1917 to Italian immigrant parents, Martin didn’t learn English until age 6 and was considered nearly illiterate. The hardscrabble life in his working-class town couldn’t have been further from the shiny patina of Hollywood, yet Martin’s irrepressible talent was undeniable. His seamstress mother, Angela, proclaimed that if her kid didn’t make it as a singer, nobody could.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Also his stage and screen personality had to do with who he was playing opposite. I don't think he did the drunk bit in his films with Jerry Lewis, but later it gave him a way of distinguishing himself from Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack. Sinatra had to be top dog, and Dean and the others had to work around that and find a way to fit in and to stand out.
Pardon me, that was the Tonight Show Eith Johnny Carson. My how time flies.
It’s good that Lurker said “coolest men”
instead of “coolest singer”. “Coolest
singer” would be rather difficult to
set in Martin’s genre. Few come to mind
and are very much open for debate.
Johnny Mathis
Tony Bennet
Wayne Newton
Sammy Davis Jr.
Frank Sinatra (not a big fan).
Genre=high rollers of Vegas.
Yes, that particular gag was used a few times. Also Don Rickles was equal opportunity with the insults, he made fun of just about every conceivable race, ethnicity, etc
Trump, Zappa, JimRob, and Laz
Absolutely. :)
Steve McQueen, Cary Grant, David Niven, James Garner.
Think about the beginning of the "Dean Martin Show."
Dean in a prone / laying down, position on top of the piano.
Now, what is the first thing any singing coach will say, "You need to be standing erect manner," in order to sing.
Not good old Dino, he just belted them songs out like it was a nothing-burger.
That's what you call natural talent, and did Dino ever have IT!!!!!
I love this performance, but once I understood him to say, "other dancers may pee on the floor", I always think of that, but I still always listen to his fantastic talent. Yes, I've always thought he was better than ol Blue Eyes.
I've read that Jerry Lewis and Bing were kind of jerks...
when you mentioned “wayne” for some reason I thought of Wayne Newton.....lol
Bing abused his entire family. Wife and kids were scared to death of him.
Thanks for the post. This is a great distraction from the sad state of affairs we find ourselves in today. I have spent hours watching old clips and complete shows of Martin, Rickles and Carson over the past couple of years. An era when comedy was actually funny.
I have no idea, but I believe one of his sons said that, but others said it wasn’t true.
NKC??
Nat King Cole
My hubbie worked for Century Plaza hotel in 1990’s and was excited when Jerry Lewis was to be a guest. He quickly learned the man was an insufferable ahole…. Just leave it at that. Dashed his love of this man’s comic genius…. Sad.
Ah...thank you. And correct!
You just used it. In quotes counts. Goodbye.
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