Martini Man: The Life of Dean Martin [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

William Schoell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1999

Martini Man goes beyond the simple caricature of the boozy lounge singer with a penchant for racy humor to reveal the substantive man behind that mask. Although Martin's movie roles receive in-depth attention in this incisive biography, as does his career-defining partnership with Jerry Lewis, details of Dino's personal life also abound, such as how Shierly MacLaine dropped by his house "to tell Dean she was in love with him-even though his wife was in the other room." William Schoell's chronicle is a sympathetic portrait that recreates the life and times of one of America's favorite entertainers.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Schoell pleasantly recalls rodent number two in the Sinatra Rat Pack. Although Martin's movie roles receive much attention, details of Dino's personal life abound, such as how Shirley MacLaine dropped by his house "to tell Dean she was in love with him--even though his wife was in the other room." Schoell chronicles the partnership with Jerry Lewis that was Martin's ticket to the top, of course, including Dino's attempt, years after their famous parting of ways, to make peace with Lewis after noticing that the original Nutty Professor ducked out of sight whenever he saw Dino coming. Lewis agreed to a rapprochement but at their next near-meeting, ducked again. Then there is the matter of the Ding-a-ling Sisters, regulars on Martin's TV show. Pressured by women's groups, the show's producers toned down the innuendo and dumb-chick humor, only to ratchet it back up when ratings fell. Schoell's book reads Dino sympathetically, leaving Rat Pack sleaze-a-thon treatment awaiting another day. Mike Tribby

Review

... an engaging book ... (San Antonio Express-News )

... this whirlwind bio takes Martin out from the shadows of Jerry Lewis and the Sinatra-led Rat Pack and puts the popular crooner, film actor, comedian and TV personality center-stage. (Publisher's Weekly )

Schoell pleasantly recalls rodent number two in the Sinatra Rat Pack. (Booklist )

Schoell has done a masterful job of capturing the true Dean Martin (John Austin )

Dino fans will lap it up. (Film Reveiw Magazine ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878332316
• ISBN-13: 978-0878332311
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #995,363 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #14 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( M ) > Martin, Dean

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ain't That a Kick in the Head?, February 26, 2000

By 

[e-mail] - See all my reviews

This review is from: Martini Man: The Life of Dean Martin (Hardcover)

Okay, perfect book...no, but I liked it much more than I disliked it, and here's why: The information was presented in a palatable, consistent manner. For example, the development of the Jerry Lewis partnership seemed reasonable in light of the aloof, distant qualities that Martin demonstrated from his early days 'til the end, and the interviews with Lewis, himself, seem to support the author's view. The glimpses into his personal life seem grounded in facts and substantiated by ex-wives and others who reinforce the insights. While the entire book was heavy on movie details, no apologies are really necessary since the accompanying musical information was appropriate and useful (if not equal to the film info.) The often understated details of the television program seem reasonable given Martin's apparent lack of interest in the medium (devoting roughly one day a week to a TV show represents a moderate--if not minimal--effort.) And when it's all said and done, the picture that Schoell paints of a charasmatic, easy-going talent who preferred a "night in" versus a "night out" sits just fine with me. I feel like I've seen an even, fair, and unbiased portrayal of an imperfect man's imperfect life. It was certainly worth my time.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars not bad...but, December 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Martini Man: The Life of Dean Martin (Hardcover)

This book isn't bad, but the great biography of Dean Martin is still to be written. Nonetheless, this book is a vast improvement over Nick Tosches' "Dino." While Tosches elected to write the fluffy, tabloid nonsense version of Martin's story, this is at least a traditional biography. Other reviewers are correct that entirely too much time is spent on Martin's films; much more detail should have been spent on his singing. In particular, I would like to see a biographer discuss the divide between Martin's earlier hits and his later ones. It seems to me that there is a lot to be said about the traditional tunes, such as "Memories Are Made of This" and "I'd Cry Like A Baby" and later ones, such as "One Cup of Happiness" and "Lay Some Happiness on Me." These later songs come long after the high tide of the Rat Pack (circa 1966). While Martin's life certainly is complicated, and he was a purposeful enigma, I think a biographer can do better than exhaustively discussing "Irma La Duce."ÿ

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From on Dino fan to another...., April 15, 2001

By 

Bradley Cunningham (Tacoma, Washington USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Martini Man: The Life of Dean Martin (Hardcover)

This book was pretty good. But it spent way too much time talking about his movies. It did fill me on on a few of the facts that I did'nt know, like Dean's arrest for having a gun in his car. He was for sure the best entertainer that ever walked the earth because he did'nt really do anything but be himself and get paid for it. I bet everyone would like to be able to do that for a living. What a cool guy he was. The stars today or really lacking, and it is sad that there will never really be anymore superstars like Dean Martin, how can you top his act? It had everything! Wine, women, song, films, TV, and he did it all by just not giving a crap and doing what he wanted. I really loved the stories about how he got by in the lean years before he made it big. He really was just a normal blue collar guy at heart, and probibly would have been just as happy if he continued to deal blackjack in some backroom the rest of his life. We miss you Dean, I hope you are knocking them dean in that big La$ Vega$ in the sky .