Hollywood or Bust
Hollywood or Bust

Movie spotlight

Hollywood or Bust

1956
Movie
95 min
English

The last movie with Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin together, is a satire of the life in Hollywood. Steve Wiley is a deceiver who cheats Malcolm Smith when he wins a car, claiming that he won it too. Trying to steal the car, Steve tells Malcolm that he lives in Hollywood, next to Anita Ekberg's. When Malcom hears that, they both set out for Hollywood and the adventure begins...

Insights

IMDb6.1/10
Director: Frank TashlinGenres: Comedy, Musical, Western

Plot Summary

Malcolm Smith, a hypochondriac musician, inherits a ranch in Hollywood, California, from his uncle. He travels west with his friend, the aspiring actor Steve Harris, to claim his inheritance. Upon arrival, they discover the ranch is actually a rundown shack and that Malcolm's uncle was actually a notorious gangster. Malcolm must then navigate the treacherous world of Hollywood, avoiding gangsters and dealing with his own health anxieties.

Critical Reception

Hollywood or Bust was met with mixed to negative reviews from critics, though it performed moderately well at the box office. While some critics praised the comedic performances of Lewis and Martin and the musical numbers, many found the plot to be weak and the humor to be repetitive. Audience reception was also divided, with fans of the duo generally enjoying their antics, while others found the film to be a lesser entry in their filmography.

What Reviewers Say

  • Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin's signature comedic chemistry is on full display.

  • The musical numbers offer some visual flair and entertainment.

  • The plot is often considered thin and predictable, relying heavily on gags.

Google audience: Google user reviews for "Hollywood or Bust" are not readily available or aggregated in a way that provides a distinct summary of audience likes and dislikes.

Fun Fact

The film is notable for being the last of the ten films Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin made together for Paramount Pictures before their professional split.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
John Chard

John Chard

The boys sign off with unbridled joy. Malcolm Smith loves the movies and especially Anita Ekberg. Getting one of his lucky feelings, Malcolm buys a ream of raffle tickets to win a car. Sure enough he wins, but so does gigolo gambler Stev...