After ten years together Martin and Lewis were calling it quits, and even today some 56 years later we are still wondering why they broke up. The common perception was that Dean Martin was the lazy one. He wanted to take it easy and play golf. Jerry Lewis was the fiercely driven workaholic, who never wanted to stop performing. There may be some truth to those rumors but through the research I have done I think there was something much deeper.
Dean Martin was the one who initiated the split, although Jerry Lewis knew it was happening. Dean was sick and tired of being knwon as the "straight man" and even "stooge" for his partner. The performing the team did was okay but Dean had grown to hate the Martin and Lewis films, claiming he played an "idiot"in all of them. By 1956, the plots had become pretty much the same. Dean sang two songs in the film and got the pretty girl, but Jerry got all the laughs and best scenes and storylines. The reviews for the boys'movies were becoming startlingly similar as well. While all of the critics raved over Jerry's brilliant comedy, Dean was mostly looked upon as a mediocre singer who was an afterthought in the film.
So after filming their final picture picture together Hollywood Or Bust the previous June, Dean and Jerry announved to a shocked public that they were going to split up and go their separate ways. (Supposedly during the filming of this final film, Martin and Lewis did not even speak to each other unless they were filming. The anger was also evident in their performances. During the last engagement at the Copa, during one of their comedy routines, Dean slammed his foot down on Jerry's foot with the force of a piledriver, and Jerry had to peform in bedroom slippers for the next several performances. Dean told the press it was an unfortunate accident though.
During their final engagement at the Copa, every celebrity possible was there such as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, and Jackie Gleason - to just name a few. The showgirls who performed with Martin and Lewis had tears in their eyes, and all eyes were on the comedy duo for this last performance. They did their usual act - Dean singing a few songs, and Jerry clowning around. Their final bit singing the title song from their movie Pardners, and they walked off of the stage. Jackie Gleason jumped up on the stage ,and yelled "Folks, this can't be allowed to happen!"-but after ten years together it was the end.
The general consensus was that Jerry rellat was devastated by the split, but that Dean was actually relieved. Martin was anxious to move on to a solo phase of his career. On that night, Lewis supposedly had to be sedated, but Martin went home and had fried egg sandwiches with his wife.
Jerry Lewis would gone on to be one of the most popular movie comedians of the 1960s, and he directed many of his own movies he made for Paramount. Everyone predicted that Dean would fade away, but for the next two decades Dino was one of the most popular television and recording stars of his generation.
Mutual friend Frank Sinatra would orchestrate a reunion exactly twenty years after their split when he brought Dino out during Jerry Lewis' MDA telethon show. They had not spoke to each other in twenty years. Lewis was moved by the reunion. He claimed that he and Dean kept in touch after that reunion, but from what I know about Lewis he is a history revisionist, and his versions of events often are told as to make him look better. Publicly they would be seen together one more time. For Dino's 75th birthday in 1992, Jerry Lewis brought out a cake during one of Dean's performances. It was one of Dean's last performances, and it was a final end to an association that only lasted ten years, but it has entertained audiences for nearly six times that amount. Dean Martin died on Christmas Day in 1995, and Jerry Lewis is still making appearancesand even working on a movie, despite failing health. I like to remember the two as great entertainers, great performers, and as the song says "best pardners, buddies, and pals"...
A moving tribute to this comedy duo. Thanks for providing us with more of their story.
ReplyDeleteHey pallie, likes David, what a wonderful accent on the break up of our most beloved Dino and Mr. Lewis. Very timely as Mr. Lewis last night and tonight is performin' shows based on his superb bio, "Dean And Me." Know that your reflections are bein' shared this very day with all the pallies gathered 'round ilovedinomartin.
ReplyDeleteYep. Dean wanted out. Jerry was getting all the laughs because he was kind of angling during production to get all the laughs. He definitely didn't take care of Martin. Now maybe that was Dean's fault for not taking the process of making movies seriously. But at the same time since the two of them built this thing together you'd hope your partner would watch out for you.
ReplyDeleteThat and Jerry by his own admission was constantly crowding Dean. That will wear on you as well
Wasn't there a biographical movie made about them? I swear a saw a piece of it when I was young.
ReplyDeleteThe bio I recall was a CBS TV movie called Martin and Lewis (film)
ReplyDeleteI had always heard they broke up because Dean didn't want to be associated with a "Stooge" anymore. He was tired of working with Jerry, demanded more money than Jerry, and felt he was was the only force carrying Jerry Lewis to fame.
ReplyDeleteIn an interview Den said it was all about Jerry, he had to get out on his own without jerry.
ReplyDeleteI read (and heard in a JL interview) that Jerry said "I got rid of a cancer". When the interviewer (on You tube somewhere, can't remember which interview) Jerry denied remembering saying it, but I know JL could be quite mean too. I have 'Scared Stiff' playing as I write this. Always been a massive Deano fan. Jerry, I can take or leave.
ReplyDeleteThey had absolute magic. They left a legacy and I am grateful to them both. I don't think anyone has been able to explain their beautiful, unbelievable chemistry... even when they weren't speaking. That is just crazy talent, perfect opposite roles, great acting and great synergy by both. I miss Martin and Lewis tremendously.
ReplyDeleteI just found out about them....When I realized they broke up, tears did come down my face. Surely, they were both successful on their own. However, I would have loved to see their legacy - none would have ever touched it -- if they could have performed 1-2x per month, or even 4x per year. On the otherhand, doing 16 movies and 4- performances, really is more like 20 years all compacted.
I wish, wish they could have gone out on their own & reduced their 1-2x month/4 performances per year. We would have all died to see it.
There are so many, many factors that went into this breakup, and super sad.... very, very different work ethics. It seems Jerry needed to include Dean more in the business/movies, and Dean needed to want to be at that movie writing table instead of golf. They both had strong identities/egos. They both wanted to grow in different ways..Dean singing, Jerry directing/more writing.
Both lashed out in the press... You can see in the news some really harsh things Dean said out the first three years - "Jerry should not be in show business." Both at each other...
When they reunioned at the telethon, after, Jerry wrote Dean a love letter and called. Dean did not return it..so not sure why he came out on the stage - was itto make the audience/world feel better? Does anyone know...
It just would then seem the next natural step, they converse and meet as friends to heal after the Telethon reuunion.. So something seemed very sad or cruel or off here.
Jerry loved Dean so deeply, and hurt. Dean I think loved Jerry deeply but perhaps could not let himself access that until after his son'as death. He needed space from everyone. Both the heart, and the space, need to be respected...very different personas.
And one thing that is not talked about a lot is that Dean's fame came at 29; he had a chance to have a normal adult life. Jerry shot into fame as a late teenager. How to handle that success.... would be tough. There was no normal teen/early adulthood. How does that shape you?
And the press stating that Jerry is the greatest, and not the partnership being the greatest? That is just wrong, wrong, wrong. The press needed to accurately state the magic of these two, and if that had happened, the breakup might not have occurred. They both would have received the mutual respect they deserved for one of the most unique partnerships on earth. I really think, and Jerry said this, Dean was amazing to last through that so long. It really is injustice to Martin and Lewis to not accolade them both equally. It's horrible.
The factors tearing them apart were so so many.... it was so complex. Not just one thing.
Finally I will say if they had been a little less successful, and needed to keep their A game up, and needed each other more, then they might have stayed together longer. But then they would not have been the wildly talented duo they were.
Still, with such a special friendship, such a special friendship, such a chemistry on stage...I would hope one would do anything to preserve it. I know it can't be that easy, with all the above and more going on.
I was never alive during their time, and it stills moves me.
Relationships like that are rare.
It's a lesson to all to improve them and keep them and cherish them in all stations in life.
I miss them together. They were and are so special. Comedy and excellent writing! that holds us for 60 years?
Amazing.. and so I must be grateful.
I love Martin and Lewis. I am grateful for everything they give us today.
Beautiful comment. I loved Martin and Lewis. What a talented team they were. I saw an interview with Martin Daughter. She spoke very highly of Jerry Lewis. Much of what this author has said of Lewis is untrue. Dean Martin love Lewis very much, and Jerry did not write those movies. Jerry Lewis was the comic I believe the Colgate Comedy hour is a good example of their great chemistry. Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin were friends prior to becoming a comedy team. Dean Martin was not doing well and his career and Jerry Lewis was very young 10 years younger. The fact is, they did see each other didn’t notify the press every time they did. This was confirmed by members of Martins family. Dean and Jerry had a very deep bond and I’m sure outside factors try to break them up the myth about them not seeing each other for 20 years is strange and you can find video of them together going to nightclubs and even jumping on the stage in one of Jerry Lewis‘s acts.
DeleteThrough this whole pandemic what kept me going was watching the Colgate Comedy Hour Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis's interviews and their movies. They still make me laugh out loud.
ReplyDeleteThe truth about those two, in my opinion, is much deeper, much more personal and has NEVER been revealed. They were magical together. No one will ever be able to replace them.
ReplyDeleteDean didn't initiate the breakup, Jerry did. Dean was quoted a few weeks later that he thought the partnership was over, not the friendship. Jerry wanted out worse than Dean did. Dean would spend the next few years bashing Jerry and Jerry's name couldn't stay out of Dean's mouth throughout the 60s. He referenced him very often in his show and performances. He even chased Jerry around the studio lot once in 1960, with Jerry ducking behind corners. Those two are a study in mystery and confusion. But all I've read and studied is that Dean missed Jerry like crazy and Jerry was just too hurt to take a chance again.
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