Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1137035 in Books
• Published on: 2003-11-25
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 20
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

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

Customer Reviews

Ain't That a Kick in the Head?
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.

not bad...but
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

Martini Man - The Boring Story of Dean Martin
I was anticipating a great book about Dean Martin as I was pleased with Schoell's work on The Rat Pack book he co-authored with Quirk. This book was highly disappointing. It delved way too much into details about the movies Dean made and the people involved in those movies. I was hoping that it would examine Dean's life, his attitudes, his relationship with the Rat Pack, mob and of course, all those women. The book, Living in the Dirty Business of Dreams. by Tosches is by far a better examination of Dean's life. Sorry Schoell but: Everybody don't love your writing sometimes. Ooooh, how's all these people get into my room?