Watching "Martin and Lewis" last weekend, it struck me that if the film is released on DVD anytime soon — which is not uncommon for TV movies these days — that would make two.
Only one of Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis' 16 movies is on DVD . . . and that's only because Paramount Pictures let its copyright lapse.
"At War With the Army," Martin & Lewis' first starring picture, is on four different DVD labels, and each has been transferred from an inferior print with lousy sound, and scratches, pops and skips galore.
The VHS legacy isn't much better. It was only after quite a few years of turning out video product that Paramount finally began to release Martin & Lewis' movies on tape, and then only half of their titles became available. (And none are widescreen, though many of their movies were filmed in color and VistaVision, Paramount's version of CinemaScope.)
In last Sunday's CBS movie, Jeremy Northam and Sean Hayes did an admirable job of re-creating the comedy team's nightclub act during the first hour of "Martin and Lewis." But the humor still came off as rather soft.
In truth, even the Martin & Lewis movies seldom captured the electrifying energy of their live performances. (Although some of their films still have a remarkably high laugh quotient.)
But they were funny guys with tremendous chemistry, and Martin also had a string of hit records. Their popularity became a genuine phenomenon of the 1950s, with teeny-boppers screaming and chasing after them in a way that is comparable to Sinatra in the '40s, Presley in the '50s and the Beatles in the '60s.
Sadly, though DVD and videotape material is quite plentiful on Frank, Elvis, and John, Paul, George and Ringo in their prime, it's more difficult to find much of Martin & Lewis. Especially their live performances, save a few of their ad-lib-filled episodes of the old "Colgate Comedy Hour," which are available on low-quality videotape.
So here's a suggestion for Paramount Home Video: Release some Martin & Lewis movies to DVD soon, while there's still an audience for them. And, believe it or not, there is a sizable fan base (just look them up on eBay).
And if you're pondering titles, I would nominate "Living it Up," "You're Never Too Young," "Scared Stiff" and their three military pictures, "Jumping Jacks," "Sailor Beware" — and, yes, "At War With the Army." (I'm not sure I've ever seen a decent copy.)
Oh, and the "My Friend Irma" films, even though Dean and Jerry are in supporting roles, so we can see their first appearances onscreen.
If you're still not sure there is an audience for them, at least test the waters. The sales might surprise you.
PARAMOUNT HAS BEEN digging through its vaults, slowly but surely, to give Class-A DVD treatment to some of its classic titles (much more dependably than most other studios), as a pair this week testify — "Sunset Blvd." and "Roman Holiday" (1950/1953, both in black and white, not rated, and priced at $24.99).
— "Sunset Blvd." is co-writer/director Billy Wilder's dark, scathing look at Hollywood through the eyes of William Holden as a failed screenwriter. He has been shot dead in the opening scene, but he nonetheless tells the story of how his fate was secured when he reluctantly moved in with a faded silent movie star — played to the hilt by former silent star Gloria Swanson. The film is witty and smart, loaded with insight and holds up marvelously today. The DVD is also loaded with terrific extras.
— "Roman Holiday," directed by William Wyler, marked Audrey Hepburn's first starring role — and she won the best-actress Oscar as a result. Hepburn plays a cloistered princess who steps out of her identity in Rome to have an anonymous holiday, unaware that her escort (Gregory Peck) is actually a reporter who plans to expose her charade. This one is a trifle compared to "Sunset Blvd.," but it's also warm and ingratiating, boasts a pair of sparkling stars at their best, and is filled with wonderful location footage in Rome. And it's certainly easy to see why Hepburn became a huge star as a result of her delightful performance here. This disc is also filled with great extras.
E-MAIL: hicks@desnews.com