Danny G's Sunday Serenade with Dino: "Turn To Me"

Hey hey pals! Found us a fun fun "Dean bein' Dean" vid for today's Serenade! "Turn To Me" is such a great great jam when youse feelin' a little bit blue pallies.

We ALL have hard times once in a while. Days when the world in on your shoulders & youse just can't seem to get out from under that dark dark cloud. Well pallies...I think I can help! Or should I say...I KNOWS that Dino CAN help!
Just watchin this vid lifts my spirits so so high pals...It gives me a BRIGHT burst of sunshine on even the mostest dreery of days!

 Listen to the words that Dean is preachin' pals! He's talkin' right to youse! ANYTIME...Night or Day...Dean's only a push of the button away!


So pallies just remember...whenever you feel that life's got you down...Dino will ALWAYS be around! Always.

If ever you need warmth and affection
Love and protection turn to me
If ever you want someone who's tender
Darling, remember turn to me.

Whenever you find that life's got you down I'll be around
Any time night or day I'm only your phone call away
I waited for you a half of my lifetime but I'll wait a lifetime
If that's how it must be till you turn to me.

(If ever you need warmth and affection
Love and protection) turn to me
(If ever you want someone who's tender
Darling, remember) turn to me.

Whenever you find that life's got you down I'll be around
Any time night or day I'm only your phone call away
I waited for you a half of my lifetime but I'll wait a lifetime
If that's how it must be till you turn to me...

That '67 Dino-winter-month Special

Hey pallies, likes one of our Dino-devoted pallies tagged Mellie recently puts ilovedinomartin on to the fact that that fab-u-lous of fab-u-lous Dino-shows featurin' family Martin and family Sinatra has been put up in it's entirety by a chick tagged "honeybee7700."  This is likes one of the most desired of desired episodes of the Dean Martin Show, first airrin' on the peacock network on December 21, 1967 and yet to be released to the masses on DVD.

Ain't gots no idear on long this one will last on youtube, so watch it while you can dudes.  Likes of course all us Dino-holics keeps hopin' that said episode....a classic of Dino-classics will one day find it ways into public release so we can enjoys it any ol' Dino-times that we wants.

ilovedinomartin salutes Miss "honeybee7700" for gettin' this up on youtube to the ab-so-lute pleasure of Dino-philes every-Dino-where!  And, likes we also hugely hugely  thanks our new pallie Mellie for puttin' us on to this Dino-treasure of Dino-treasures  Likes you will have to clicks on the screen to be transported to youtube where you can views it in all it's Dino-glory!   Dino-awed, DMP

.....the cigarette-smoking, Scotch-drinking ladies man played by Dean Martin.

Hey pallies, likes fewer and fewer Dino-'lerts are comin' up from our pallies at google, but likes every now and then a true Dino-treat does come up and today's Dino-post is one of 'em.  Today we takes all youse Dino-holics to a new-to-ilovedinomartin-pad tagged "Classic Film and TV Cafe," where Administrator Rick just shared  his wise words on Helmer numero quatre, "The Wrecking Crew."

Tagged, "Dean Martin Ogles the Ladies in 'The Wrecking Crew,'" likes we love how Rick tags this Dino-flick a "guilty pleasure" and further states, " Guilty pleasures don't get much guiltier than this fourth entry in Dean Martin's Matt Helm series."   Our newest Dino-devotee has scribed a remarkable review of said big screen Dino-effort and we knows you will enjoys readin' all of Rick's patter.

We here at ilovedinomartin are particually smitten with Rick's Dino-description of Helm, and we couldn't resist taggin' our post with it....."cigarette-smoking, Scotch-drinking ladies man played by Dean Martin."
And likes we knows that Rick is truly very very Dino-wise when he states, "......A follow-up, Murderers Row, appeared later that year. It's probably the best of the four films."  We simply couldn't 'gree with him more.

Well, likes 'nough said by us, simply enjoys readin' Mr. Rick's ruminatious review of the last of the spyster Matt Helm flicks.  We salute Mr. Rick of  "Classic Film and TV Cafe," for addin' to the Dino-devotion of his readership by sharin' this total total guilty Dino-pleasure with 'em.  To checks this out in it's original format, simply clicks on the tag of this here Dino-gram.  Always Dino, DMP

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2014

Dean Martin Ogles the Ladies in "The Wrecking Crew"

I was in the mood for a guilty pleasure recently and up popped The Wrecking Crew(1968) on TCM. Guilty pleasures don't get much guiltier than this fourth entry in Dean Martin's Matt Helm series. With spy movies all the rage in the 1960s, Columbia tried to posture Helm as a poor man's James Bond, Well, sort of. The Helm pictures were actually spoofs--not clever ones like Our Man Flint--but broad tongue-in-cheek efforts. That approach suited Dean Martin, who appeared as the turtle-necked protagonist while still doing his weekly variety TV series on NBC.

The plot resembles Goldfinger with Matt's agency, Intelligence and Counter Espionage (ICE), sending the secret agent to recover $1 billion in stolen gold bullion. Villain Count Contini (Nigel Green) plans to flood the financial markets, thus devaluing the economies of Great Britain and the U.S. Throw in some chases, fistcuffs, and plenty of pulchritude and you have The Wrecking Crew.

Dean sniffs Sharon Tate.

It's a far cry from Donald Hamilton's 1960 novel, the second of 27 Matt Helm spy thrillers. Indeed, the only resemblance is that Helm's cover was as a photographer in both the book and film. Otherwise, Hamilton's tough-minded hero had little in common with the cigarette-smoking, Scotch-drinking ladies man played by Dean Martin.

Martin's film series kicked off in 1966 with The Silencers, which co-starred Stella Stevens as Matt's klutzy cohort (the poster proclaimed: "Girls, Gags & Gadgets! The best spy thriller of Nineteen Sexty-Sex!"). A follow-up, Murderers Row, appeared later that year. It's probably the best of the four films, simply on the basis of a cast featuring Ann-Margret and an over-the-top Karl Malden as the bad guy. Still, the formula was wearing thin by the time The Ambushers(with Senta Berger) was released a year later.

Elke Sommer's "come hither" look.

What redeems The Wrecking Crew is its cast. Tina Louise and Nancy Kwan have to little to do other than look glamorous (or, in Kwan's case, also manage a few karate kicks). However, Elke Sommer and Sharon Tate are perfectly cast. Sommer's European sultriness poses a perfect counterpoint to Martin's lecherous looks. In addition, she has a grand time playing a villain and (spoiler alert!) "dies in perfect beauty" (as she described in her interview with the Cafe). In contrast, Tate mixes kooky charm with buckets of sex appeal as Matt's female sidekick. I'm not sure that Tate would have evolved into a major star, but she shows her potential as an appealing comedienne in The Wrecking Crew.

While the karate fights leave much to be desired, they were still choreographed by a young Bruce Lee (granted, he didn't have much to work with). Also, if you look closely at the henchmen in the House of 7 Joys fight, you may notice Chuck Norris (in his film debut).

Dean takes a look at Sharon.

Although the closing credits ofThe Wrecking Crew promise a fifth installment to be called The Ravagers, another Matt Helm film was never made. Weak boxoffice receipts doomed the franchise and Martin, tired of the series, wanted out. Sharon Tate's murder, which occurred just a year after The Wrecking Crew, also cast a shadow over the series.

Still, decades later, the spirit of Dean Martin's Matt Helm movies lives on. It's hard to watch Mike Myers in his Austin Powers spy spoofs without concluding that he's channeling a lot of Matt Helm.

Or have you thought that dry martini and Dean Martin have the same initials by any chance?

Hey pallies, likes today's  Dino-devotion goes international as we transports all you Dino-addicts to the blog pad, "The Time Stopped," where our Spanish Dino-devoted pallie Mr. Marcos Callau shares "Music Sunday: Dean Martin, to feel good."  Well, likes of course dudes, who 'mong us woulda disagree with Marcos' notion that our most beloved Dino's croonin' always, always, always makes us "feel good"?!?!?!?

And, likes Callau asks the powerfully provocative quire, "Or have you thought that dry martini and Dean Martin have the same initials by any chance?"   Indeed feelin' good is  synonymous with our perfect Dino and with a perfect dry martini.  And, then likes dudes, pallie Mark offers us the pleasure of the most perfect of perfect renditions of "Gentle On My Mind" by our perfect crooner Dino!

ilovedinomartin salutes our pallie Marcos Callau for addin' to our deep Dino-pleasure and helpin' his blog readership to ever more put the accent on our great great man.  To checks this out in it's original format, simply clicks on the tag of this Dino-gram.   Feelin' Dino-good, DMP



Music Sunday: Dean Martin, to feel good



Feelin 'good!
We will feel, for a moment, as well as easy Dino feels good here in that blue sofa with orange cushions. Let us feel as if we were drinking, like him, a Dry Martini to Dean Martin style , that is, in the solitude of a bar quiet half-light, in the quiet sadness (away from the dramas) for a moment to the recapitulation. Or have you thought that dry martini and Dean Martin have the same initials by any chance? In this regard, I will talk to Dani Martín ...

Currently we enjoy Gentle on my mind



Posted by Mark Callau in 8:00

Domingos musicales: Dean Martin, para sentirnos bien

Feelin' good!
Vamos a sentirnos, por unos instantes, tan relajadamente bien como el bueno de Dino se siente aquí, en ese sofá azul, con cojines naranjas. Vamos a sentirnos como si bebiéramos, como él, un Dry Martini al Dean Martin style, esto es, en la soledad de una barra de bar tranquila, a media luz, en la tristeza sosegada (lejos de los dramas) de un momento para la recapitulación. ¿O es que pensaban ustedes que dry martini y Dean Martin tienen las misma iniciales por casualidad? A este respecto, hablaré con Dani Martín...

De momento disfrutemos de Gentle on my mind


Publicado por Marcos Callau en 08:00

Pat Cooper shares his thoughts about Dean Martin.....

Hey pallies, likes we are delighted today to likes takes you back 'gain today to our pallie Billy Ingram's blog pad, "TVparty! - Classic TV and Pop Culture blog from your pal Billy Ingram." Yesterday's Dino-devotion from Billy's swingin' site was simply super, and likes we just know that we coulda mine some more Dino-treasure from our in-the-Dino-know pallie Billy.

So, likes today we shares with all youse Dino-holics a post that Ingram created from a phone interview conversation that he had with super star Pat Cooper back in '11.   Comedian Cooper has some very interestin' insights into our most beloved Dino....some givin' Dino kind kudos, some bein' "brutal" in Billy's perspective.




We here at ilovedinomartin woulda loves to hear your thoughts on Pat's perspective.  In our Dino-opinion, Cooper simply has failed to understands that our Dino (in the words of brilliant Dino-biographer Nick Tosches) was first, last and always a "menefreghista" (Italian for someone who simply did not give a fuck). And, in addition our Dino was an enigma....likes totally totally unknowable.  But, likes we so so craves to hear your Dino-reflections on Cooper's thoughts.

ilovedinomartin 'gain strongly salutes our pallie Billy Ingram for creatin' 'nother Dino-honorin' post helpin' all us Dino-philes grow in understandin' the life and times of our King of Cool.  To view this at Billy's pad, simply clicks on the tag of this here Dino-report.   Dino-psyched, DMP

Comedian Pat Cooper on Sinatra, Dean Martin & Las Vegas Today

This is the first part of a phone conversation I had in 2011 with legendary comedian Pat Cooper, one of the few links we have to the greatest era of entertainment Las Vegas - and the world - will ever know. He shares his thoughts about Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and how Las Vegas has changed since the 1960s & 1970s.

Famous for his hot-headedness it's no surprise that Pat Cooper is brutally honest in his assessment of his late performing partners. Coming soon I'm going to bring you some very rare recordings with Dean & Frank, stay tuned! 



For more on classic Las Vegas Entertainment go to VegasLegends.net

Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin - The Rat Pack Tour 1977

Hey pallies, likes man-o-man dudes, likes today's Dino-gram to youse makes us yearn ever more for the days when Dino-walked the earth....to have been able to be in the immediate presence of our most beloved Dino while he was performin' live on a stage woulda have been likes the mostest of most Dino-experiences that any Dino-phile coulda desire!

While we never ever can return to those days of full Dino-glory, we are ever ever grateful that through today's technology and the thoughtfulness of Dino-holics everywhere, we indeed do have so so many recordin's of our Dino for our Dino-edification and likes total total Dino-pleasure o'pallies of ours.

Today we turn to the beau-ti-ful  blog, "TVparty! - Classic TV and Pop Culture blog from your pal Billy Ingram," where likes it states Mr. Billy Ingram holds forth with fabulous features from the small screen and the culture of pop.  And, indeed Mr. Billy has shared with his readership some amazin' prose and youtube vid clips accentin' that tremendous tour that our most beloved Dino and his bestest of best pallie Mr. Frank Sinatra took in the year of our Dino 1977.

As Billy relates our great great man was not the sort of fella who liked to go on the road tourin'....after all why ought our King of Cool goes to the masses when the masses thronged to him?!?!?!  Well as Ingram relates below, Sinatra was able to convince our Dino to go on the road with him in the summer of 77 for a month's gig in three locations 'round the country.  You can read all the details below.

Below are sound clips from both Dino and Frank's gigs at  the Westchester Premier Theater in Tarrytown, New York and The Latin Casino.  While hearin' our most beloved Dino croonin' live is always a thrill, but likes gotta say hearin' our cool, hip, and ever randy Dino's monologues is the mostest of the most!

ilovedinomartin salutes Mr. Billy Ingram for collectin' these sound clips and addin' some powerful prose for all our Dino-delight.  To checks this out at Billy's pad, simply clicks on the tag of this Dino-report.  Dino-always, ever, and only, DMP

Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin - The Rat Pack Tour 1977

 In the summer of 77 Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra did something they had never done before - they went on tour together. This is a little known fact, I've never read about the experience in any of the books on the guys. If you want to read in detail about it check out my oral history of the time,Beyond Our Wildest Dreams wherein the Alberici Sisters and other former Golddiggers share stories working with Dean Martin (and Frank Sinatra on this tour).

Sinatra was on the road a great deal but Dean stayed put in Las Vegas, he had no desire to travel, he lived to play golf.

As a request from the owner of The Latin Casino in Cherry Hill, NJ Frank asked Dean to accompany him for a month of shows starting with 2 weeks at the Westchester Premier Theater in Tarrytown, New York on May 17, 1977. Next they performed a week at The Latin Casino and ended the tour at Chicago’s fabled Sabre Room.

Both entertainers were at the top of their game, though people complained that Sinatra had lost his voice at the time he sounds amazingly vigorous here. These selections were recorded from the table at the Latin Casino & Westchester Premier.

Dean from the 1977 Rat Pack tour: “Here’s a song that maybe six or seven of you might remember. And I hope I’m one of ’em.”

Here from the Westchester is Dean's opening comedy monologue:

Frank sings his favorite 'saloon song' Here's That Rainy Day - he never sounded better than he does here. This is an incredible performance from the Westchester Premier.

From The Latin Casino Dean clowns around, sings his signature tune - then Frank buts in.

Dialogue from the 1977 Rat Pack tour: 

Frank: I want to ask you a question. What the hell were you doing drinking 7-Up? How dare you, you’re out of the club.

Dean: I wasn’t drinking 7-Up.

Frank: What were you cleaning with it? Your lighter?

Dean: No, I was pouring it for Rocky.

Frank: Oh, Rocky. I didn’t know he drank 7-Up either. You go out with him now?

Dean: Yeah, what the hell? I’m gettin’ tired of them girls.

(Dean was dating a girl named Rocky at the time.)

From The Latin Casino Dean & Frank do their Rat Pack schtick for the show's conclusion. Boy is Dean drunk here, they did 2 shows a night.

While Dean stuck to the same songs every night Frank switched things up a bit as the tour progressed. Sinatra began the engagement opening with a disco version of 'All Or Nothing At All,' a tune he introduced on Sinatra and Friends, his TV special from April of that year. He must have realized the song was a stiff because by the time you arrived at the Latin Casino he dropped 'All Or Nothing At All' and replaced it with a more traditionally arranged 'I've Got You Under My Skin' which was a real crowd pleaser.

The Westchester Premier Theater was where Frank Sinatra was photographed backstage with the area’s most notorious mafia figures. That picture, taken in 1976, would haunt him for the rest of his life after the FBI got a hold of it.

For more on classic Las Vegas Entertainment go to VegasLegends.net 

For weeks now, a friend has been imploring me to check out some music by Dean Martin.

Hey pallies, likes today's Dino-gram is simply simply one that will warm the heart of each and every pallie that names the name of our Dino!  Likes today's devotion is perfectly proof positive of the impact that one Dino-devotee can make in the life of 'nother not-yet-completely-sold-out-to our most beloved Dino!

From the blog, "Anywhere The Needle Drops - FOR LOVE OF LIFE AND MUSIC" comes the post "Blue Moon" scribed by blogger Mr. Justin Flagel of Southwestern, Michigan.  The "Blue Moon" in the title is of course in reference to the classic croon by our Dino of said tag.

Seems a pallie of Justin's had "for weeks now" been " imploring (him) to check out some music by Dean Martin."  And, as you read Justin did just that and discovered that "Of course, as I researched, I realized I’d heard quite a bit of Dean Martin in pop culture without realizing it…really, the man is everywhere, I just didn’t know I knew him."

And, likes as added encouragement Justin's Dino-diggin' "said friend gifted" him with  "an iTunes card with the instructions to enjoy as I will…as long as I purchase at least one Dean Martin song.  The song was Blue Moon."   Now likes likes how heart-Dino-warmin' better can it get then that dudes?!?!?!?!  This simply Dino-tale simply show all us Dino-philes the way to helpin' our pallies to get deeper and deeper into their diggin' of our main man.

ilovedinomartin thanks Mr. Justin Flagel for sharin' his Dino-testimonial with his readership and givin' all us Dino-holics the encouragement to share our passion for our Dino with others we know.  To checks this out in it's original format, sinply clicks on the tag of this here Dino-devotion.  Dino-always, ever, and only, DMP
btw, Flagel just happens to make mention of our Dino's only and only great MTV vid, "Since I Met You Baby"....so likes ilovedinomartin simply has to share it with our readership at the end of this Dino-gram.

 Blue Moon

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Red Chuck Productions Standard




Dean Martin

For weeks now, a friend has been imploring me to check out some music by Dean Martin.

Now, sure, I’d listened to a little Dean Martin in my day, but most of that was Christmas music, so I really couldn’t claim to have any real knowledge of the man.  Of course, as I researched, I realized I’d heard quite a bit of Dean Martin in pop culture without realizing it…really, the man is everywhere, I just didn’t know I knew him.

Speaking of knowledge, did you know he actually had a video an MTV, with his version of Since I Met You Baby?

I recently had a birthday and said friend gifted me an iTunes card with the instructions to enjoy as I will…as long as I purchase at least one Dean Martin song.  The song was Blue Moon:



Image from DeanMartin.com.

Danny G's Sunday Serenade with Dino: "In The Cool Cool Cool Of The Evening"

Well pals...here we are. Right smack in the heart of Winter. Nuthin' much to do. Nuthin' much goin' on. Now if youse is likes me...youse gets just a little bit bored this time of year.

Well there's only ONE way that I found to gets my blood pumpin' & gets this cold cold season jumpin'! Yea youse guessed it pals...throw on some swingin' tunes perfectly seasoned with Dean Martin croons! Man, Dino makes me so so poetic! Hahaha!!! I'm pushin' it now pallies!
Well I just can't help it pals...these fun & bouncy jams of Dean's just put in some CRAZY HAPPY kinda mood! Man o man...I gots to calm down!!!

Anyway pals, I plucked this week's Serenade from Dino's weekly show, but I believe the tune goes WAY back to his Capitol Records years. Truly a hidden gem for me!

 "In the Cool Cool Cool of the Evening" is PER FEC TO to gets your head back into the game & set your sights for fun days ahead! WAKE UP PALLIES!!! Dean's waitin'! Let's hitch a ride with The ONLY King of Cool & keep the cool cool cool jams flowin'! Enjoy!

In the cool cool cool of the evening
Tell 'em I'll be there
In the cool cool cool of the evening
You better save a chair
When the party's getting a glow on
Singing fills the air
In the shank of the night when the doings are right
You can tell 'em I'll be there

Sue wants a barbecue
Sam wants to boil ham
Grace votes for bouillabaisse stew
Jake wants a wienie bake, steak and a layer cake
He'll get a tummy ache too

We'll rent a tent or tepee
Let the town crier cry
And if it's RSVP
This is what I'll reply

In the cool cool cool of the evening
Tell 'em I'll be there
In the cool cool cool of the evening
You better save a chair
When the party's getting a glow on
Singing fills the air
In the shank of the night when the doings are right
You can tell 'em I'll be there

".....people looking for stuff on Dean Martin movies also find their searches directed my way."

Hey pallies, likes there seems likes simply so so little time and so so much Dino to share, that we here at our humble little Dino-home always always feel likes we are behind the Dino-times.  Case in point.  One of our most delightful Dino-devotees, Mr. Ryan Ebelt has created quite a number of Dino-centric posts at his coolest of cool self-tagged blog, "RJE'S FRIENDS OF JUNIOR."

 Ry is the most creative dude of many many talents, 'specially in the areas of art and writin' and it is always so so awesome to discover 'nother of his remarkable reviews of a Dino-flick.  We likes does try to keeps up with Ry, but recently bein' nudged by our Dino to check's out Ry's pad, we likes indeed discovered that we had missed by over half a year (so so sorry Ry) his incredible insights into one of our Dino's greatest western efforts, "BANDOLERO!"

So, here it is dudes, pallie Ry's  prose and pixs on the Dino classic, "BANDOLERO."  ilovedinomartin salutes Mr. Ryan Ebelt for his faithful to spreadin' Dino-devotion at his great blog and certainly helpin' many many to grow closer and closer to our most beloved Dino.  To checks this out in it's original format, simply clicks on the tag of this here Dino-report.  Dino-always, ever, and only, DMP

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

"Yeah, Yeah, Liars Always Start That Way..."

One of the most interesting aspect of the digital age is being able to see how people found their way to whatever you are posting. Of course, this is also how advertisers and marketers try to figure out how to shill more products to you whether you want them or not. That aside, every now and again, I like to sift through and see what it is about what I put up that brings in my audience. The one that keeps popping out to me is that my coverage of the strange tone of gang rape v. comedy in Hannie Caulder starring Raquel Welch has been a frequent tag that brings in the public. That's not so good.

A nicely laid out poster...with unfortunate whiffs of Hannie Caulder to come...

On the lighter side, people looking for stuff on Dean Martin movies also find their searches directed my way. And now, I've been provided an opportunity to bring both those tastes together (...although, I'm not sure how to feel about this...) as well as close the book on Raquel's trilogy of western films with a look atBandolero! (1968).

The posters for Bandolero! promise a new fangled look at the old fashioned oater, which makes perfect sense as Sergio Leone had breathed new life into the Western in the U.S. following the release of A Fistful of Dollars in 1967. Try as they may, Hollywood never quite figured out the spaghetti western formula, and they shouldn't have: spaghetti's reflect an outsider's view of the media version of the Wild West, and Hollywood's spaghetti imitators were trying to reflect that reflection while being unable to escape the ties to the culture they themselves came from. Make sense?

Dino does not buy my convoluted explanations...

Casting Dean Martin and Jimmy Stewart seems to me a stab at trying to bring in an older audience to this new, grittier version of the West. Casting Raquel...well...I think we all know that was a stab at bringing anything with a Y chromosome to the theater. In the movie, Martin plays Dee Bishop, an outlaw gunslinger formerly of the Confederacy, who ends up caught with his gang after a bank robbery goes south by Sheriff July Johnson (George Kennedy). During the skirmish, Dee's gang shoots the husband of Maria Stoner (Welch), which opens a relationship door for the amorous sheriff. Former Union soldier turned drifter Mace Bishop (Stewart), discovering that his brother's misdeeds will be leading him to the gallows, launches a plan that will free his brother and end up in kidnapping the young widow. This leads to the Sheriff going on a long chase after the gang into bandit country in Mexico where Mace will try and convince Dee to leave his life of crime.

This is the Jimmy that was sent after bad Jimmy impersonations...which is most of them...

The opening third of the movie, from the bank robbery to the eventual escape, is pure, thrilling movie adventure, but unfortunately the middle third sags from too much time in the saddle and a few too many heart-to-hearts between the brothers in between brush-ups between Mace and Dee's surly gang. The final third picks up the pace but is unfortunately a little too predictable from the moment we see, or rather, don't really see the bloodthirsty arrival of the Mexican bandits who slaughter the Sheriff's posse. And while Welch and Martin have the makings of some fun onscreen chemistry, the "falling for the bad boy" angle isn't quite enough to sell her falling so soon for the man who was responsible for her husband's death. Without getting into the details, there wasn't necessarily a lot of love lost in Mr. Stoner's death for Mrs. Stoner, but for a girl who worked her way up from nothing, to prostitution, to some creature comfort, doesn't quite add up to her going for the guy who murdered her meal ticket.

Having said all that, the movie works more than well enough, and I had a fine time watching it. While Raquel doesn't get a whole lot of screen time, Maria was definitely one of her better dramatic roles, and certainly of greater depth than the beautiful harpy she would play the following year in 100 Rifles. Martin and Stewart are, of course, old hands at this sort of thing. While they don't look anything like brothers, their natural ease of delivery sells it well enough, and they are a joy to watch together even when the riffs of their dialogue grows a little tired. The standout in many ways is Kennedy as July Johnson, an intriguing figure for a movie sheriff, who seems more interested in giving chase to these outlaws due to his love or lust for Mrs. Stoner than the sense of justice he keeps touting. In fact, it must've made an impression on Larry McMurtry who also named a sheriff in Lonesome Dove, July Johnson.

And this is the George Kennedy that could put Cool Hand Luke's George Kennedy in jail...

So if early Westerns are a little too white hat v. black hat for you, and spaghettis are a little too operatic v. nihilistic for you, then Bandolero! might provide a nice middle ground between the two: it's matured from the former, and doesn't strain itself trying to be the latter. For comparison, I would also recommend The Professionals (1966) starring Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, and Claudia Cardinale, which also featured a long chase into Mexico that involves a woman. It too features a cast of familiar and enjoyable old hands, but also has a few more twists to the plotting.

"Volare" -- the Italian song made famous by Dean Martin

Hey pallies, likes how cool is this dudes?!?!?!  With all the great Dino-devotion to share with all youse Dino-philes, today's Dino-topic slipped by us, but not by our ever-faithful-to-Dino pallie Scotty over at his ever cool blog, "BlueisKewl."   As you will note below our pallie Scotty has reported 'bout a lawsuit accentin' one of our great man's greatest hits..."Volare."

Likes you can read all the details below, courtesy of our Scotty dude.  And, likes ain't it a kick in a head that even a lawsuit is helpin' lift up the name of our Dino to a wider and wider audience.  Gotta wonder dudes likes just how many tons of folks will come the Dino-way as they learn of this latest legal battle.   Likes our most beloved Dino can simply use anythin' to draw those he desires to join him in his world!

ilovedinomartin salutes our most Dino-devoted pallie Scotty at "BlueisKewl" for spreadin' not only this most recent Dino-news but for his faithful attention to helpin' his blog readership develop deeper and deeper appreciato for our King of Cool.  To checks this out in it's original format, simply clicks on the tag of this here Dino-gram.  Always In Dino, DMP     btw Scotty, might we say you have excellent taste in postin' such cool cool Dino-images!

Volare Lawsuit - Okay, Everybody - Vooo Lar Eh

"Volare" -- the Italian song made famous by Dean Martin -- is the centerpiece of a nasty legal battle ... and it will determine who gets to sing it ... and where.

You know the song -- Voooo lar e  oh oh oh oh ....

Part of the fight is over who controls the rights to the American version -- the music publisher or the family of the guy who co-wrote it when it was first recorded in Italy in 1958.

There's a lot at stake ... "Volare" is still a big hit -- and not just in karaoke bars. There've been at least 40 different covers  -- from artists like Frank Zappa, Paul McCartney, and David Bowie.

And whoever owns the song will have the power to decide who can record it.

Whatever happens in the lawsuit .... Volare -- the shower version -- is still okay to sing.

But, this song was made for one man – Dean Martin.

Hey pallies, likes we didn't plan to 'gain go back to Dino-wintery activities here at our little Dino-conclave, but likes dudes the post below simply beckoned us to share one more Dino-seasonal croon with all you Dino-philes!   From the brit blog, "all that's left - a guide to surviving the coalition," scriber Charlie_East_West has created such wondrously wise prose praisin' our Dino's croonin of "Let It Snow" that we just knew that we couldn't wait for the next Dino-winter-month to shares it with youse.

By now, all regular readers of ilovedinomartin know that our Dino's ver-si-on of "Let It Snow" was certified by the pallies at ASCAP as the numero uno placed winter tune of 2013, and Charlie simply loves loves loves our most beloved Dino's recordin' of it.....meanin' the alternative version recorded by our great great man in 1966.

 Charlie proudly professes his adulation by sayin', "But, this song was made for one man – Dean Martin. And, he continues his powerful praise with these wise words, "Just look at the record cover – Dean Martin looks like a man who is extremely comfortable in his own skin – white socks, loafers, logs on the fire. Well played Dino – You didn’t give a shit. Well played indeed."

ilovedinomartin gives kudos to pallie Charlie for "all that's left" for spreadin' so so much Dino-love in his powerful post that of course will help many of his readership to simply digs our Dino to the mostest.   To checks this out in  it's original format, simply clicks on the tag of this here Dino-gram.  Dino-always, ever, and only, DMP

#822: 1966, Dean Martin, Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! (Alternate Version)

by CHARLIE_EAST_WEST on DECEMBER 19, 2013

Ring-A-Ding-Ding! It’s Dino time.

This song is one of my favourite festive related songs of all time. Or rather, one of my favourite seasonal songs of all time. Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! was originally written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne in July 1945. It was written in California during one of the hottest days ever recorded. The song therefore, is laced in irony. The song was then recorded in 1945 by Vaughn Monroe – reaching No. 1 on the Billboard music chart in 1946.

It is now one of the best-selling songs of all time, Let It Snow! has been covered hundreds of times. Due to its seasonal lyrics, it is generally regarded as a Christmas song. However, the song has no Christmas references and is therefore a seasonal song shared by those who do not join in the celebration of Christmas.

But, this song was made for one man – Dean Martin. Who recorded the song twice – in 1959 and 1966. But, for me, the best version of his Let it Snow!recordings – is his alternate version of the song in 1966. He smoothed the song out, added a sprinkling of gospel, and a great big dollop of lounge.

Just look at the record cover – Dean Martin looks like a man who is extremely comfortable in his own skin – white socks, loafers, logs on the fire. Well played Dino – You didn’t give a shit. Well played indeed.

DUDE OF THE WEEK: Dean Martin

Hey pallies, likes dudes, likes you just never ever know where our most beloved Dino is goin' to shows up next.  Today ilovedinomartin takes you to 'nother new-to-our-waterin'-hole blog, "DUDE OF THE WEEK," where dude-in-charge, Mr. Dominc DeAngelo, has declared none other then our main man as their man dude for the week of 12/29/13.

 DeAngelo, who hails from Philadelphia, PA,  is in the communications/media biz where he employs his talents in acting, marketing, and graphic design....and in promotin' his delight in our Dino!  His post is likes oh ,so very short in words, but oh, so very very long in Dino-devotion!  Seems Dominc is totally totally smitten by our Dino's seasonal croonin' as he proudly proclaims, "Christmas time just isn't the same without a little Dean Martin."

Seems that DeAngelo didn't get nearly 'nough of a Dino-fix  durin' the holiday season, so is usin' this op to "induct" our great great man as his "Dude Of The Week."  And likes no one is more deservin' of that tag than our amazin' Dino.  Gotta 'fess up pallies how much we hear at ilovedinomartin digs that Dominc has chosen one of the dude-ist poses of our Dino, from "Robin And The Seven Hoods" to homage our Dino-dude!

ilovedinomartin salutes Mr. Dominc DeAngelo for so so stunnin'ly stellarly salutin' our most beloved Dino and helpin' his dude readership grow in their deep deep devotion to our Dino!   To checks this out in it's original format, simply clicks on the tag of this here Dino-message.  Dino-only, DMP

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2013

12/29/13: Dean Martin

Christmas time just isn't the same without a little Dean Martin.  Unfortunately, due to the hugely awesome family Christmas bash that occurred in Harmony, PA, I barely got to listen to any of him this season so I'm using this induction as a substitute. Cheers, pally.

leaders of the Rat Pack--Frank, Dean, and Peter Lawford--at the movie's Las Vegas premiere

Hey pallies, likes doin' a little Dino-perusin' of Miss Kimberly's blog featured here yester-Dino-day, "GlamAmor," likes we discovered that she had 'nother "Ocean's 11" post that we just had to feature this very day here at ilovedinomartin.  The post by it's tag, "Cinema Connection--It's Black and White for Angie Dickinson in 1960's OCEANS 11," puts the accent on Miss Angie and her little "sophisticated wardrobe" in O11....but Kimberly shares two very delightful Dino-shots that are worthy of Dino-note.

The first shows our most beloved Dino genteelly offerin' a light to Miss Angie.....showin' our great great man always and ever the greatest of gentlemen!  The truth 'bout our Dino is that on or off the set, be it stage, screen, or television.....our Dino were ever ever the gent!

And, likes the second is one of my most fav of fav Dino-pixs....that pix of our Dino, Frank and Sammy on the streets of 'Vegas---baby-'Vegas at the premier of O11 in our Dino's playground.  Loves the pix so much 'cause it show our Dino front and center of the pack, gracefully cradlin' his ever present Kent cigarette.  Likes it is said that a picture is worth a thousands words, and this coolest of cool pose of our Dino show him to be the true leader of the pack....Rat Pack that is!

ilovedinomartin is absolutely delighted to share this great O11 post by Miss Kimberly and likes we salute her for sharin' this great great Dino-devotion with her readership.  To checks this out in it's original format, simply clicks on the tag of this Dino-post.  In Dino, DMP

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

Cinema Connection--It's Black and White for Angie Dickinson in 1960's OCEANS 11

When I went to model at NBC Studios last week, the Access Hollywood Live style segment was all about the Little Black Dress.  Thus, I chose one of my own to wear that day...a vintage 1960s black pique shift with a white collar (below).  I really love the simplicity of the lines and graphic appeal of the black and white, a look that's on trend for Fall/Winter 2011 but one that's truly timeless.  

Whenever I wear this dress, I can't help but think of Angie Dickinson in 1960's Oceans 11.  In Angie's opening scene, her character Beatrice greets husband Danny Ocean (Frank Sinatra) and friend Sam Harmon (Dean Martin) in a black shortsleeve shift with a white standup collar.  Pearls accessorize the outfit, which I wear with mine as well to really accent the white in the dress.  Though the movie is known for the smart suits and sweaters of the polished Rat Pack, Angie shines in her own sophisticated wardrobe by costume designer Howard Shoup.  Eee-O-Eleven!

Angie and Dean on the Oceans 11 set (above) and

leaders of the Rat Pack--Frank, Dean, and Peter Lawford--at the movie's Las Vegas premiere

here's Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and the rest of the Rat Pack with their iconic style

Hey pallies, likes ring-a-ding-ding dudes.  Today's postin' is so so appropo for the beginnin' of 'nother wonderous year of deliciously delightful Dino-devotion.  From the stunnin'ly stellar style  blog, "GlamAmor" comes their premier postin' for '14, "Toasting to 2014 with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack in OCEAN'S 11."

Scribed by fashion maven Miss Kimberly Truhler this "photo story" is simply simply loaded with just a ton of great screen caps from the legendary Rat Pack's 'Vegas---baby-'Vegas big screen frolic.  And, likes in the the words of Miss Kimberly..."There's no better way to kick off a stylish new year."  We likes 'fess up that we couldn't 'gree with her more.

There are a number of amazin' shots of our style icon, our most beloved Dino, included here, and if likes you clicks on the tag of this post you will be transported to Miss Kimberly's pad where you can see even more grand and glorious (ie larger) Dino-images that we simply are unable to share in their total total Dino-glory here.

Likes we have been plannin' a re-watchin' of this Dino-classic in this new year, and now Miss Truhler's huge homage of this Dino-classic simply is pushin' us to pops the dvd into the ol' player and sits back and soaks in the fun and frolic of one of our Dino's greatest and grandest efforts!  ilovedinomartin salutes Miss Kimberly Truhler for this huge huge post of "Ocean's 11" and helpin' ilovedinomartin ring in the new year in likes total total Dino-style!   Dino-awed, DMP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2014

Toasting to 2014 with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack in OCEAN'S 11

As I'm still away on vacation, I wanted to send you some folks who really know how to ring in the new year right.  And so, here's Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and the rest of the Rat Pack with their iconic style in one of my favorites from the GlamAmor archives--Ocean's 11.  Wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2014!

-----

New Year's Eve.  Las Vegas.  

Say these five little words to almost any man and watch as you evoke a near Pavlovian rush of adrenaline and excitement.  Credit this to director Lewis Milestone's 1960 classic Ocean's 11, a film that centers on a New Year's Eve heist in Las Vegas orchestrated by some of the most marvelous Men of Style ever.  Of course I'm talking about The Rat Pack--Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop, and Sammy Davis Jr.  Offscreen this close group included some of the greatest singers of all time, known for their slightly tipsy and spontaneous performances in Vegas where one would be booked and the others would follow...all the way up onto the stage.  The marquee at the Sands casino, perhaps their favorite venue in Las Vegas, would even post "Dean Martin - Maybe Frank Sinatra - Maybe Sammy Davis Jr." before a show.  The lifestyle of this band of brothers--girls, gambling, drinking, and what a wardrobe--was already in place when Lawford discovered and bought the film rights to this story.  Ocean's 11 is what shared their style with the world.  

Interestingly, the original Rat Pack goes back to Humphrey Bogart and his New York friends in the 1950s.  Upon returning to LA from one particularly party-packed trip to Vegas, wife (and den mother) Lauren Bacall allegedly affectionately pronounced, "You all look like a damn rat pack."  There is no doubt that they loved to drink for days...the group included the likes of Spencer Tracy, David Niven, andCary Grant as well as Katharine Hepburn and Judy Garland.  It also originally included Sinatra, who picked up where the old guard left off and invited Dean, Sammy, Peter, and Joey into the mix for all the fun.  When Bogart died in 1957, the new guard respectfully left the name behind and began calling themselves The Summit or The Clan instead.  But journalists would not let "The Rat Pack" go...keeping the name alive and forever associating it with their incredible 1960s style.

Most of the story of Ocean's 11 takes place on New Year's Eve as a platoon of World War II veterans set out to rob five Las Vegas casinos--the Sahara, Riviera, Desert Inn, Sands, and Flamingo--all in the course of one night.  These are no ordinary veterans either...we learn they are part of the decorated 82nd Airborne, which faced the most challenging operations of the war such as the Normandy invasion and Battle of the Bulge.  Thus, we are to understand that Lt. Jimmy Foster (Lawford), Sgt. Danny Ocean (Sinatra), and the others are extraordinarily resourceful men.  Even a caper such as this pales in comparison to those situations they have already survived.  In fact, Danny is accused by his estranged wife Bea (Angie Dickinson) of only being interested in danger.  Nevertheless, the odds are seriously stacked against Ocean's 11 both during and after the heist; we are reminded just who owns these casinos with a cameo by George Raft.  But these are smooth criminals...with a suave style that applies to both the heist itself and how they look while (hopefully) getting away with millions.

Of course the real style story of Ocean's 11 are those iconic suits.  Costume designer Howard Shoup created the clothes for the ladies in the film and also oversaw everything in the production.  But the men's suiting is courtesy of Los Angeles tailor Sy Devore.  Devore was already outfitting the Rat Pack offscreen and making a real impact when it came to changing men's style.  He should be credited with many modernizations in American menswear.  The boxier cut of 1950s suiting was quickly being replaced with those like his that were all cut closer to the body.  Then of course his suits were custom tailored to a T for clients.  In addition, he made his lapels much more narrow...Sinatra, in particular, preferred ones that were exactly 2 1/4" wide.  Devore also used other tailoring tricks that elongated the body, such as buttons that started lower on the jacket and eliminating cuffs on the trousers.  Though the men ranged in size from 5'3" (Davis) to 5'8" (Sinatra) to nearly 6' (Lawford), each one wanted to look his long and leanest.  Even 5'11" Dean preferred that his neckline end a little bit higher to maximize the effect. 

As a result of his design innovations, Devore dressed the hottest men of Hollywood.  Sidney Poitier, Richard Burton, and Rock Hudson were among those befriended by the Rat Pack and who followed their sartorial lead.  Even Lawford's stylish brother-in-law, President John F. Kennedy, chose Sy Devore as his tailor.  Being body conscious, these suits were made of soft wools and silks so they felt as good as they looked.  Even his casual wear was influential and included sweaters, such as Joey Bishop's signature sweaters throughout Ocean's 11, that alternated between adding exciting pops of color to an outfit to making a monochromatic long, lean silhouette. It is no wonder that every man in the universe still wants to emulate them.  Part of the appeal of these men is also their great friendship; they enjoyed spending time with one another at Sy's store after dining and drinking at the nearby Brown Derby.  Though the original store on Vine Street near Sunset Boulevard is now closed, you can visit Sy Devore now in Studio City where they continue to carry on the great tailor's tradition.

Ocean's 11 and the style of Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack are the very essence of cool.   Men's fashion publications like GQ, style sites like The Impossible Cool, and movies ranging from Reservoir Dogs (1992) to Swingers (1996) all show the ongoing influence of their sophisticated style and devil-may-care ways.  How many guys today still take trips to Las Vegas trying to capture some of that quintessential cool?  You'd be hard-pressed to find a man who doesn't idealize the Rat Pack in some way...I mean, these guys made it cool for men to care about clothes.  The images in this photo story only share some of its style, too.  Ocean's 11 is a movie you must watch because the whole thing is stylish, from its Saul Bass credits to mid-century modern locations to that timeless wardrobe.  There's no better way to kick off a stylish new year.

Happy 2014!

Titles by Saul Bass, 

who also did iconic credits for movies like Vertigo 

Ocean's 11 is shot a lot on location and Joey Bishop takes a stroll in a fur-trimmed trench coat 

through Drucker's in Beverly Hills

Yes, this is how we meet Lt. Jimmy Foster (Peter Lawford) and Sgt. Danny Ocean (Frank Sinatra)...
being well tended by girls

I love the color orange on men--such as on Steve McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair--

and Frank shows how to do it well with a mohair v-neck sweater

Pool is yet another one of the games these guys play

Planning to rob each of the five major casinos in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve

means nothing but the most sophisticated wardrobe for Ocean's 11

Always in sync, custom-made suits for the guys included details that made each seem taller--

closely cut to the body, narrow lapels, skinny ties, even a higher neck and French cuffs on Dean

Other members of Ocean's 11 included film noir favorite Richard Conte (above, center)

and fellow Rat Pack-er Joey Bishop in one of his signature sweaters

One of the few women allowed into the inner circles of the Rat Pack on and offscreen,

Angie Dickinson looks lovely in a belted navy shortsleeve wiggle dress and matching coat

She has such a striking silhouette that costume designer Howard Shoup

wisely kept accessories and jewelry to a minimum for Danny's classy but estranged wife Bea

Danny arrives just in time to talk to Bea before she leaves

Looking dashing in a salt and pepper wool coat and paisley pocketsquare

To separate the good girls from the bad, Shoup uses leopard trim on the jacket of jilted lover Adele...

played by Patrice Wymore, she was the wife of original Rat Pack friend Errol Flynn

Using bowling as a backdrop for last minute planning meant casual clothes,

which included sweaters for Frank (orange again), Joey, Peter, and even Norman Fell (below, far right)

Another of Bogart's original Rat Pack friends,

The Thin Man's Cesar Romero plays mafioso trouble-maker Duke Santos

New Year's Eve on the Las Vegas Strip

New Year's Eve festivities at the various Las Vegas casinos is the backdrop for the caper,

starting with the Flamingo

The Sands is another target for the heist and where much of the action of the movie takes place,

largely because this is where the Rat Pack loved to perform offscreen as well

Trouble for Danny when Adele arrives with her well-dressed entourage
 and spots him when sweeping into the casino

The third casino of the New Year's Eve heist is the Desert Inn

Garbage trucks are an integral part of the caper

as seen here going to the last two hotels of the heist--the Riviera and then the Sahara

Dean performs in the movie on location at the Sahara's Conga Room

in a perfectly tailored tuxedo for New Year's Eve

A bevy of beauties for Sam to choose from

all in dresses by Howard Shoup

The last shot of the movie starts on Sammy Davis Jr. in front of the Sands casino

and gradually reveals the rest of the Rat Pack as well

An iconic shot of the Rat Pack in their closely cut Sy Devore suits 

that would later influence others like Quentin Tarantino for Reservoir Dogs

The final moment of the movie reveals the names of the Rat Pack on the marquee for the Sands casino