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Scared Stiff

Play trailer Poster for Scared Stiff Released Apr 27, 1953 1h 48m Musical Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
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.
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Scared Stiff

Critics Reviews

View All (7) Critics Reviews
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

Audience Reviews

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Dave K It may be that humour has moved on from the 50s. but there's still much to enjoy in this movie. The chemistry between Lewis and Martin is spot on, some good jokes and laughs along the way, with the wonderful Carmen Miranda featuring as well. Echoes, obviously, of Bob Hope but stands well in its own right. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/30/24 Full Review 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 Read all reviews
Scared Stiff

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Cast & Crew

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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
Hal B. Wallis
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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