Scared Stiff

Scared Stiff


Paramount, 1953, B/W, 108 minutes

Released April, 1953



Bob Hope had done it before in the 1940's The Ghost Breakers. But in 1953, it was Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis' turn to make a spooktacle of themselves. They were scared silly in Scared Stiff, the sixth screen version of a Broadway hit originally penned by Paul Dickey and Charles W. Goddard. Of course, what mattered most to audiences was not the time-honored storyline but the all-new spin it was given by the stars' special blend of songs and comic mayhem. Laugh-happy moviegoers made Scared Stiff one of the year's top box-office hits.



Film noir queen Lizabeth Scott costars, portraying the heiress who leads the lads to her Caribbean castle. And, in her last film, Carmen Miranda joins the fun for several musical numbers.


Produced by: Hal B. Wallis

Directed by: George Marshall

Assistant Director: C. C. Coleman, Jr.

Screenplay by: Herbert Baker and Walter DeLeon

Additional Dialogue by: Ed Simmons and Norman Lear

Based on a Play by: Paul Dickey and Charles W. Goddard ("Ghost Breakers")

Music Direction: Joseph J. Lilley

Music Score: Leith Stevens

New Songs by: Mack David and Jerry Livingston

Musical Numbers Staged by: Billy Daniel

Art Direction: Hal Pereira and Franz Bachelin

Set Decoration: Sam Comer and Ross Dowd

Costumes: Edith Head

Makeup Supervision: Wally Westmore

Sound Recording by: Hugo Grenzbach and Walter Oberst

Director of Photography: Ernest Laszlo

Special Photographic Effects: Gordon Jennings and Paul Lerpae

Process Photography: Farciot Edouart

Editorial Supervision: Warren Low



Cast: Dean Martin [Larry Todd], Jerry Lewis [Myron Myron Mertz], Lizabeth Scott [Mary Carroll], Carmen Miranda [Carmelita Castina], George Dolenz [Mr. Cortega], Dorothy Malone [Rosie], William Ching [Tony Warren], Paul Marion [Carriso Twins dual role], Jack Lambert [Zombie], Tom Powers [Police Lieutenant], Tony Barr [Trigger], Leonard Strong [Shorty], Henry Brandon [Pierre], Hugh Sanders [Cop on Pier], Frank Fontaine [Drunk], Chester Conklin [Spaghetti Victim], Percy Helton [Hotel Guest at murder site], Bess Flowers [Nightclub Extra], Bob Hope [Himself], Bing Crosby [Himself]



Musical Program: [0:04] I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine (sung by Dean Martin, sung and danced by Chorus Girls); [0:07] You Hit the Spot (sung by Dean Martin); [0:12] What Have You Done for Me Lately? (sung by Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis); [0:53] San Domingo (sung by Carmen Miranda and Band); [0:55] The Bongo Bingo (sung and danced by Carmen Miranda, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis); [1:00] When Someone Wonderful Thinks You're Wonderful (sung by Dean Martin); [1:12] Mama, Yo Quiero (sung by Jerry Lewis impersonating Carmen Miranda); [1:14] The Enchilada Man (production number sung and danced by Dorothy Malone, Dean Martin, Carmen Miranda, Jerry Lewis and Chorus)