That's Amore: A Son Remembers Dean Martin [Paperback]

Ricci Martin (Author), Christopher Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 16, 2004

As fascination with the Rat Pack thrives in films and on television, Dean Martin remains one of the group's most enigmatic members. The Hollywood image of Dean Martin with a martini in one hand and a woman in the other continues to dominate public perception. Now, Dean's son Ricci reveals the husband and father few people knew, a man who hated parties, adored his mother-in-law, and found utter contentment in a slice of buttered bread. In That's Amore: A Son Remembers Dean Martin, Ricci Martin takes readers on a tour through his childhood, from the star-studded parties to the exploration of "three marriages, eight kids, one family," to the treasured one-on-one time he shared with his father. He also discusses Dean's first meeting with Jerry Lewis and divulges his father's version of the Martin and Lewis breakup. Ricci Martin addresses the key relationships in his father's life, allowing readers to view the Rat Pack years, "The Dean Martin Show," and Dean's divorce from Jeanne through a son's eyes. That's Amore reveals the triumphs, tragedies, and escapades that colored Ricci's childhood, including his brother Dean Paul's death. More than 100 photos from the private Martin family album enhance Ricci Martin's portrait of his father, creating a complete, honest picture of the Rat Pack legend.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Celebrity-watchers keep tabloids in business hoping to catch a glimpse of the "real" side of favorite movie stars. This scattershot memoir by Dean Martin's youngest son proves that sometimes the image on the screen is a lot more colorful than the father who comes home and enjoys a slice of bread before dinner. Martin's affectionate, innocuous and slightly dull book of memories will be a treat only for true Dino fans, affording them an intimate look at the performer at home. The anecdotes have an "I guess you had to be there" flavor ("One of Dad's favorite jokes, which he would pull when we went out to dinner, was to be having a conversation and absent-mindedly butter his big hands as if they were pieces of bread") that should appeal to those who enjoy the humor in Reader's Digest. The younger Martin's focus is strictly Dino-as-Dad, with very few peeks into his father's work on screen or in the recording studio. Life at 601 Mountain Drive was pretty idyllic, with parents who didn't mind their kids shooting guns inside the house and who were blas‚ when older son Dean Paul bought a tank. The latter part of the book is sparked to life by a too-close-for-comfort association with Charles Manson and the tragic fatal plane crash of Dean Paul, which precipitated Dino's health deterioration. More than 100 b&w photos. (Feb.)Forecast: Those looking for a companion to Nick Tosches's definitive Dino: High Living in the Dirty Business of Dreams (1992) won't find much juice here.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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

Review

I love this book...First part choked me up. (Regis Philbin )

I cried, I laughed as I read the real story of Deano-the-Dad recorded so lovingly by his son Ricci; a heart-warming legend. (Phyllis Diller )

This book is too good. (Tony Curtis )

The book brought back wonderful memories of those magical happy times; well done. (Janet Leigh )

Martin sang, danced, and joked his way past the Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis routine into the Rat Pack and starring roles in a number of movies. His son reminisces about their home life and his father's career in this illustrated memoir. (Richmond Times-Dispatch )

Ricci Martin invites readers into his Beverly Hills childhood home... (Los Angeles Times )

...a warm, affectionate portrait of the popular performer... (The Orange County Register )

Ricci, an entertainer himself, chronicles life at home in That's Amore: A Son Remembers Dean Martin. The book reveals the true Martin: the Beverly Hills family man. (Tv Guide )

Ricci, an entertainer himself, chronicles life at home in That's Amore: A Son Remembers Dean Martin. The book reveals the true Martin: the Beverly Hills family man. (Tv Guide )

The son of the Rat Pack's most mysterious member creates a complete, honest protrait of his father, bringing to life his childhood and revealing the trials, tribulations, and exploits that colored the life of this legend. (The Lima News )

...proves that sometimes the image on the screen is a lot more colorful than the father who comes home and enjoys a slice of bread before dinner ... an intimate look at the performer at home. (Publishers Weekly )

"That's Amore" reveals the triumphs, tradgedies and escapades that colored Ricci's childhood. (Cedar City Daily News )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing; 1st Pbk. Ed edition (September 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 295171176X
• ISBN-13: 978-2951711761
• ASIN: 1589791401
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #250,487 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( M ) > Martin, Dean

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining read, like spending time with the family, March 23, 2002

By 

Merritt Andrews (Midwest) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: That's Amore: A Son Remembers Dean Martin (Hardcover)

Ever since I can remember, I have been a fan of Dean Martin, and after reading this book I no longer wonder why. Ricci tells us what I always suspected, that Dean was real, he was a loving person, a good Dad and his son reports he didn't put himself above anyone else. I like that in a person. I remember seeing the lovely Olympic Ice Skater Dorothy Hamill interviewed on TV, shortly after Dean's death several years ago and she said he was one of the kindest people she ever met. Dorothy had been married at one time to Dean's son, Dino, of the 1960's Rock'N Roll Band, Dino, Desi & Billy. There are some wonderful photos in the book, heart-warming memories from his son and an insight to life must have felt like having a super star for a father, although I got the impression Dean was very much a regular guy once he arrived home after work. The book has some great (funny!)stories about Ricci and his brother, Dean Paul (Dino). How I wish I could have seen Dean in Vegas with his buddies on stage. This book could have been a few hundred pages longer! Good job, Ricci, thanks for sharing memories of your father and your family with us. Funny I could write this review without mentioning Dean's wonderful singing voice, and who in the world didn't love to listen to Dean!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great reading, February 7, 2002

By 

dolores t. petersen - See all my reviews

This review is from: That's Amore: A Son Remembers Dean Martin (Hardcover)

I always felt he was a loving father and husband even though many bios on Dean portrayed him as a cold, unfeeling human being. Ricci Martin finally allowed the world to know what a sensitive, loving man he really was. My heart went out to the family when Dean Paul was killed and it appears that that was the beginning of the end for Dean. How heart breaking it must have been for all of the Martin family. I would recommend this book not only for the good reading, but its always nice to read a beautiful tribute from a son to his father. I just wish it could have been a much longer book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Fantastic, January 22, 2003

By 

bonny (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: That's Amore: A Son Remembers Dean Martin (Hardcover)

If you love Dean Martin this is definetly the book for you!! I actually put the book down and stopped reading it to make it last longer. It was wonderful! Ricci takes you to their home and places you right there to watch their life unfold. I laughed at the good times and cried with the sad times. Makes me want to turn back the clock of time. This book is well written. The love of a son for his father & family is apparent. Now that I have read it, I will definetly read it again. This is a must read!!!!