Product Details
Dean Martin: King of the Road

Dean Martin: King of the Road
By Michael Freedland

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Product Description

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.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #401151 in Books
  • Published on: 2005-05-01
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 226 pages

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.

Review
“Freedland has written a stimulating tale, fans will enjoy the ride.” -- Publishers Weekly

About the Author
Michael Freedland is a freelance journalist and broadcaster specialising in personality interviews and acclaimed Hollywood biographies. He wrote and presented the Radio 2 series on Dean Martin, the story of a man he himself interviewed, both in London and Hollywood (a rare event for Dean did not enjoy talking to journalists). Freedland also met Jerry Lewis and numerous others quoted in this definitive biography. His previous work includes 'Jack Lemmon: Some Like it Cool' (1861055102) and 'Liza with a "Z'" (1861056818), both published by Robson Books. He lives in Elstree, Hertfordshire.

Customer Reviews

Dino deserves a better biography than this1
Dean Martin, one of the most successful entertainers in history, deserves a better biography than this hastily written, poorly edited, work of pulp.

Barely informative, terribly written1
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.

dean martin biography3
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.