Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 791.092273
EAN num: 9780767920865
ISBN number: 0767920864
Label: Doubleday
Manufacturer: Doubleday
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 352
Printing Date: October 25, 2005
Publishing house: Doubleday
Release Date: October 25, 2005
Sale Popularity Level: 193203
Studio: Doubleday
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Product Description:
They were the unlikeliest of pairs—a handsome crooner and a skinny monkey, an Italian from Steubenville, Ohio, and a Jew from Newark, N.J.. Before they teamed up, Dean Martin seemed destined for a mediocre career as a nightclub singer, and Jerry Lewis was dressing up as Carmen Miranda and miming records on stage. But the moment they got together, something clicked—something miraculous—and audiences saw it at once.
Before long, they were as big as Elvis or the Beatles would be after them, creating hysteria wherever they went and grabbing an unprecedented hold over every entertainment outlet of the era: radio, television, movies, stage shows, and nightclubs. Martin and Lewis were a national craze, an American institution. The millions (and the women) flowed in, seemingly without end—and then, on July 24, 1956, ten years from the day when the two men joined forces, it all ended.
After that traumatic day, the two wouldn’t speak again for twenty years. And while both went on to forge triumphant individual careers—Martin as a movie and television star, recording artist, and nightclub luminary (and charter member of the Rat Pack); Lewis as the groundbreaking writer, producer, director, and star of a series of hugely successful movie comedies—their parting left a hole in the national psyche, as well as in each man’s heart.
In a memoir by turns moving, tragic, and hilarious, Jerry Lewis recounts with crystal clarity every step of a fifty-year friendship, from the springtime, 1945 afternoon when the two vibrant young performers destined to conquer the world together met on Broadway and Fifty-fourth Street, to their tragic final encounter in the 1990s, when Lewis and his wife ran into Dean Martin, a broken and haunted old man.
In Dean & Me, Jerry Lewis makes a convincing case for Dean Martin as one of the great—and most underrated—comic talents of our era. But what comes across most powerfully in this definitive memoir is the depth of love Lewis felt, and still feels, for his partner, and which his partner felt for him: truly a love to last for all time.
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Rated by buyers 
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I was a bit surprised by this book. I had expected it mainly to be some anecdotes and fluff, strung together as a history of Martin and Lewis. While it is no heavyweight biography, it is much more substantive than I had expected, and really brings the Martin & Lewis era to life.
Jerry Lewis, often known for his oversized ego, is very restrained here. He succeeds in keeping the book's focus on the team instead of pointing the spotlight squarely at himself.
Had this book been written immediately after the breakup, or at some point during the 20 years they weren't speaking, it might have taken on quite a different tone. Written many years after reconciling, and long after Dean's death, Lewis was able to write this book with a great deal of perspective on their friendship, career, and breakup. He speaks fondly of their years together, and with some sadness, not bitterness, of the breakup in 1956.
The talents and faults of both men share equal billing throughout the book - there is no villain and no hero.
When people yesterday think of Dean Martin or Jerry Lewis, we usually think of their individual careers. The team of Martin & Lewis has become something of an afterthought, so it's wonderful to see those years in the spotlight again.
Rated by buyers 
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Good book, I enjoyed it. Jerry Lewis wrote of alot of personal experiences that I had never heard of before. I read it in a few days, was very interesting.
Rated by buyers -
I have the Audible version and have to say it again...WOW.
This is one one heck of a memoir/bio delivered by the only person that could deliver it in such great detail and depth...Jerry Lewis himself.
I am way too young to have known or viewed their comedy "act", but this book brings it all to life so vividly that I am on my second listen just so I didn't miss anything on the very first listen and also it was really just a great story.
I went ahead right away and purchased "DINO" by Nick Tosces so I can continue to learn about everything that occured in that era including the Rat Pack.
I was very surprised that the book was so well written. To be honest, I only bought the audio because I had a credit towards a book and I figured "what the heck". Now I'm wondering what took me so long.
Rated by buyers -
Amazing book. I love Dean and Jerry, and couldn't put this down. I literally laughed and cried. This was a very enjoyable book.
Rated by buyers -
With candid portrayal of his start and 10 year "gig" with Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis captivates us and we can't put the book down. This is no white wash flowery story; he tells the imperfections of both of them. You know it's love, even after their breakup of the team because Jerry reveals allot about his partner Dean Martin that we never knew of.
In short the Jew did good. Jerry always wanted to mix comedy with tears. Dean didn't like the sad mixing stuff; just make 'em laugh. However Jerry got his last wish with Dean, 'cause in the end of the book the clown made a full grown man cry. Jerry instead of making me laugh, at the end, warmed my heart about his love for his partner and made me grab a tissue. That was low pool Jerry.
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