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      Scared Stiff

      Released Apr 27, 1953 1h 48m Musical Comedy List
      71% 7 Reviews Tomatometer 72% 2,500+ Ratings Audience Score Accident-prone busboy Myron Mertz (Jerry Lewis) and his suave nightclub-crooner pal, Larry Todd (Dean Martin), get caught up in both a gangland slaying and a mystery involving the comely Mary Carroll (Lizabeth Scott). She has just inherited an island castle off the coast of Cuba that her lawyer, Cortega (George Dolenz), insists is overrun with ghosts and zombies. Attempting to save Mary from a mysterious stranger who wants her dead, Myron and Larry sail with her to Cuba. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Mar 20 Buy Now

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      Audience Reviews

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      robert p Please not another *Jerry Lewis* movie, I can't stand him and his sense of humor is very slapstick. Now the other guy does a great job which is why I am giving this movie only a *3* star review!!! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member "Scared Stiff" is the typical 1953 slapstick comedy. It was a remake of Bob Hope's "The Ghost Breakers." However, the movie did not feel like a remake, but more like a movie that gained inspiration from "The Ghost Breakers." Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, one of the many comedic duos of the 1950's era, play the main characters. Dean Martin plays a handsome nightclub singer Larry Todd while Jerry Lewis plays a busboy, Myron. Jerry Lewis is perfectly cast for this role. His portrayal of the lovable but clumsy and easy frightened Myron was hilarious. Nevertheless, the overuse of Myron calling out "Larry" was rather annoying. The music sets the mood for the movie well. The songs could stick in one's head even if the lyrics were simplistic, such as "Enchilada." The sound effects add to the movie and give it a spooky and suspenseful feeling. The wardrobe fit the time period perfectly the men wearing fedoras and trench coats and the dance girls in short shiny showgirl costumes. The costume of the zombie could have been improved, especially since there were close-up shots of him and the flaws were clearly visible. The cinematography in the movie was typical for the era with very few wide shots and more back and force as well as close ups. The story itself was admittedly slightly corny and had many plot holes in it, but the movie was still extremely enjoyable. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Musical remake of Paramount's THE GHOST BREAKERS is an overlong, slow-moving Martin & Lewis entry; sadly, this was Carmen Miranda's final film (she sings two songs). Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Not the best, but funny movie with Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member I wish Martin & Lewis had more like this one, the comic ghost story suits their shtick. Lewis plays the scared so much more interestingly than Costello did, though Costello did it in many more movies. Some great Carmen Miranda stuff too just as an added bonus. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member ok remake but I prefer the 1940 original, 'the ghostbreakers' Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Strictly for Martin & Lewis fans - another way of saying "not for me, thanks" - this latest of the zany partners' adventures takes them to a haunted island near Cuba. Oct 31, 2019 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews This was the ninth time Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis teamed together, and is one of their better slapstick comedies. Rated: B Sep 26, 2016 Full Review David Kaplan Kaplan vs. Kaplan Rated: 3/5 Mar 1, 2008 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 1/5 Jun 12, 2005 Full Review Steve Crum Kansas City Kansan Martin and Lewis fans, rejoice! Rated: 3/5 Jan 3, 2005 Full Review Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal Rated: 3/5 Aug 29, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Accident-prone busboy Myron Mertz (Jerry Lewis) and his suave nightclub-crooner pal, Larry Todd (Dean Martin), get caught up in both a gangland slaying and a mystery involving the comely Mary Carroll (Lizabeth Scott). She has just inherited an island castle off the coast of Cuba that her lawyer, Cortega (George Dolenz), insists is overrun with ghosts and zombies. Attempting to save Mary from a mysterious stranger who wants her dead, Myron and Larry sail with her to Cuba.
      Director
      George Marshall
      Producer
      Joseph H. Hazen
      Screenwriter
      Herbert Baker, Walter DeLeon, Paul Dickey, Charles W. Goddard, Norman Lear, Ed Simmons
      Distributor
      Paramount Pictures
      Production Co
      Paramount, Wallis-Hazen
      Genre
      Musical, Comedy
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Apr 27, 1953, Wide
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Sep 28, 2016
      Runtime
      1h 48m
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