Scared Stiff (1953)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

George Marshall

Writers:

Herbert Baker (writer)
Walter DeLeon (writer)

Release Date:

27 April 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror | Musical | Mystery

Tagline:

They're making a spook-tacle of themselves!

Plot:

Fleeing a murder charge, a singer and a busboy (Martin & Lewis) wind up on a spooky Carribean island inherited by heiress (Scott).

Plot Keywords:

Singer | Island | Gangster | Haunted | Ghost

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

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

3 Channel Stereo (Western Electric Multi-Track Magnetic Stereophonic) | Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

West Germany:12 (re-rated) | West Germany:16 | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:Btl | USA:Unrated

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The previous year Martin and Lewis had made an uncredited gag appearance in Bing Crosby and Bob Hope's "The Road to Bali." Hope and Crosby return the favor with a cameo in this film.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Larry and Myron cast multiple shadows in a castle lit only by their candle.

Quotes:

Rosie: I'm just an average girl.
Larry Todd: Honey, if you're an average girl then I've been dating boys.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Chu Chu and the Philly Flash (1981)

Soundtrack:

Enchiladas

Typical Martin-Lewis Comedy

First of all, if you're considering watching a Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis picture, you must be aware of the fact that it is mainly slapstick comedy. If you can't laugh at a drunk guy slapping Jerry Lewis in the face, then this movie isn't for you.

With that being said, this movie has an interesting story line. Lewis and Martin are friends and when Martin gets in trouble with Shorty, a mob-type guy, Lewis goes to defend him. This leads to an accidental shooting that Martin gets blamed for and when he goes to hide, he meets Mary, who inherited a haunted island from her father. Martin and Lewis end up going with Mary and figure out the mystery of Lost Island.

Although the plot jumps around a lot, watching Martin and Lewis is always enjoyable and there are many funny situations in this movie. If you're a fan of slapstick, this movie is for you.