Singer, actor, and member of the infamous Rat Pack, Dean Martin was a star who had it all—money, women, and fame. Now Michael Freedland looks at his life, his career, and his enduring appeal. Beginning with his Ohio childhood as a son of Italian immigrants, Freedland dispels the myths surrounding Martin, a consummate professional who worked hard to cultivate a reputation for laziness. The author, who had exclusive access to Martin's family and friends, includes interviews with the star’s wife Jeanne, his daughter Gail, and his comedy partner Jerry Lewis. Dean Martin: King of the Road offers a close-up look at an American icon, including his lifelong relationship with Frank Sinatra, the tragic death of his son, his relationships with the Kennedys and various Mafiosi, and his three marriages.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Legendary Rat Pack member Martin cultivated an image of a happy drunk, but once said, "If I drank as much as they said I did, I would have been dead thirty years ago." Freedland, biographer of Doris Day, Liza Minnelli, Gregory Peck and others, queried acquaintances (including Martin's second wife, Jeanne) on the true contents of Martin's ubiquitous whiskey bottle—and reveals that it usually contained apple juice. The deception was deliberate: Martin (1917–1995), Freedland shows, wanted to cover up the insecurity of his lower-class Steubenville, Ohio, childhood. "I was afraid to open my mouth because I knew I wasn't speaking correctly," he admitted. But the smalltown boy made the most of his talents, and Freedland carefully charts Martin's career from croupier to his famed partnership with Jerry Lewis. After their acrimonious breakup, Martin became a successful headliner on the nightclub circuit and starred in several films, including 1959's Rio Bravo and the original Ocean's Eleven (1960). Later, his TV variety show led to the popular Dean Martin Celebrity Roast. Though Freedland has written a stimulating tale, he whitewashes Martin's image. Fans will enjoy the ride, as long as they remember it includes wearing rose-colored glasses. Photos. (Jan. 15)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
“Freedland has written a stimulating tale, fans will enjoy the ride.” -- Publishers Weekly
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Dino deserves a better biography than this,
By
This review is from: Dean Martin: King of the Road (Paperback)
Dean Martin, one of the most successful entertainers in history, deserves a better biography than this hastily written, poorly edited, work of pulp.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Barely informative, terribly written,
By Widsta (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Dean Martin: King of the Road (Paperback)
I thought this book must have been a rush job, written to capitalize on Martin's death-- it reads like it was thrown together in a week.
The writing is awful-- sentences that are almost incomprehensible, non-sequitors abounding, a smarmy tone in an attempt to sound jaunty, many facts questionable if not downright wrong (The Lewis/Martin reunion was on the MD telethon not the "Frank Sinatra Show"-- whatever that was) . Save your time and money-- read "Martini Man" for a good bio.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
dean martin biography,
This review is from: Dean Martin: King of the Road (Paperback)
i own alot of dean martin biographies, this is one of the ok ones. most of the book is spent on deans partnership with jerry lewis and thru out the whole book in my opinion is discussed too much. they also dont even mention his son dying in a plane crash until the next to last page and then its back to jerry lewis again.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
They came in their millions - in ships that had already been condemned as unseaworthy, in conditions that defied most of the rules of human dignity. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Dean Martin, New York, Frank Sinatra, Las Vegas, Jerry Lewis, Beverly Hills, Joey Bishop, Bing Crosby, Los Angeles, Abby Greshler, Hal Wallis, Rat Pack, Sammy Cahn, Sammy Davis Jnr, Greg Garrison, Dean Paul, Slapsie Maxie, Milton Berle, George Burns, Ruta Lee, Something's Got To Give, United States, Barbra Paskin, Some Came Running, Ten Thousand Bedrooms New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
They came in their millions - in ships that had already been condemned as unseaworthy, in conditions that defied most of the rules of human dignity. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Dean Martin, New York, Frank Sinatra, Las Vegas, Jerry Lewis, Beverly Hills, Joey Bishop, Bing Crosby, Los Angeles, Abby Greshler, Hal Wallis, Rat Pack, Sammy Cahn, Sammy Davis Jnr, Greg Garrison, Dean Paul, Slapsie Maxie, Milton Berle, George Burns, Ruta Lee, Something's Got To Give, United States, Barbra Paskin, Some Came Running, Ten Thousand Bedrooms New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 33
books:
See all 33 books this book cites
- The Young Lions by Irwin Shaw on page 84, and page 86
- Memories Are Made Of This: Dean Martin Through His Daughter's Eyes by Deana Martin in Front Matter, and page 62
- Ventura County by Automobile Club of Southern California on page 159
- The Third Man (BFI Film Classics) by Rob White on page 147
- Gunga Din and Other Favorite Poems (Dover Thrift Editions) by Rudyard Kipling on page 115
See all 33 books this book cites
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