HOLLYWOOD OR BUST tells of conman Dean Martin rigging a raffle for a new car (it to be sold to pay for a gambling debt), only to have the actual ticket holder -movie nut Jerry Lewis, who plans to drive the car out to Hollywood in order to meet actress Anita Ekberg- challenge Dino's claim. Both men are forced to share the car, and Dino agrees to travel across country with Jerry -plotting to ditch him along the way. Dean's plans are spoiled by Jerry's enormous Great Dane, Mr. Bascomb! Along the way, the boys find themselves helping stranded singer Pat Crowley, she also heading for Hollywood. Directed by former Warner Brothers cartoon man Frank Tashlin, the film is a long series of wild gags and fun musical numbers. The film also features what may be the single most beautiful assortment of girls ever seen on film, as the boys drive by farmlands filled with perfectly-shaped young women waving them along. It's literally dream-like, and in gorgeous Technicolor. The film's opening tribute to movie fans around the world is also a hoot. Dean and Jerry are at the top of their game, but unfortunately, this was to be their final team picture. Critics figured Jerry to be a sure-fire success on his own, while they largely wrote off Dean. Though Dean enjoyed a healthy career throughout the 60's, it wasn't until his triumphant turn in the all-star disaster vehicle AIRPORT that he finally won the critics' favor -for what that's worth. Though still heralded as a comic genius, Lewis' solo films never once reached the enjoyability level of his work with Dino.
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