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Martin and Lewis is a 2002 CBS TV film written and directed by John Gray, portraying the lives of the comedy team of Martin and Lewis. It starred Jeremy Northam as Dean Martin and Sean Hayes as Jerry Lewis.

Martin and Lewis follows the tumultuous relationship between entertainers Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, the most famous comedy act of their time. Beginning with their early rise to stardom, the movie examines the forces that brought them together and inevitably pulled them apart.

Their first meeting in 1945, appearing on the same bill at the New York City Havana Madrid nightclub, foretells the dynamics of a relationship and rivalry that would last for the next decade and end with a heart-wrenching breakup. Martin (Jeremy Northam), already a rising young singing sensation, was smooth and self-assured, yet emotionally detached from everyone around him. The notorious ladies man, with his trademark cigarette in one hand and a drink in the other, embraced the carefree life of celebrity from the get-go. But success didn't come as easily for the self-doubting Lewis (Sean Hayes), who spent years chasing fame and adulation with a comedy act with little success. It wasn't until Lewis, desperate for acceptance, set his eyes on singer Martin that he would begin to realize his own potential…and limitations. Martin's ability to captivate an audience was something Lewis would come to revere…and ultimately resent.

Their partnership began in 1946 when Lewis abruptly crashed Martin's performance at a New York club with a slapstick comedy routine. The spontaneity was a big hit with the audience and before they knew it, Martin and Lewis had the makings of a hit. Their chemistry and repartee--Hollywood's first true odd couple--would provide the makings of a long career, resulting in 16 hit films, numerous appearances on radio and television and recognition as one of the highest-paid nightclub acts of their time. Ironically, the magic that brought them together would eventually tear them apart.

As their fame and fortunes increased, so did the conflict between the two. Despite achieving great stardom, Lewis' feelings of insecurity never faded. His need for love and validation--especially from his partner--soon began to take a toll on the relationship, pushing Martin, who was never very open to begin with, even further away. As Lewis' attention-getting stunts became more persistent--stealing Dean's lines during performances and showering stagehands with expensive gifts--Martin withdrew even further, growing more indifferent by the day.

To the profound dismay of their legions of fans, a decade after the two performers first came together, the legendary team called it quits.

Cast

Awards

• 2003, Nominee, Art Directors Guild

• 2003, Nominee, Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards

• 2003, Nominee, Cinema Audio Society, USA

• 2003, Nominee, Emmy Awards

• 2003, Nominee, Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA

• 2003, Nominee, Screen Actors Guild Awards

22 Comments »

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An entertaining and seemingly factual TV movie that leaves you wanting more…

MARTIN & LEWIS was the 2002 TV movie that traced the rise and eventual
destruction of one of the greatest show business teams in Hollywood
history. Even though I have always felt Martin and Lewis are worthy
subjects of a theatrical biopic, I will take this over nothing. This
movie starts in the 1940's and showcases the beginning of both of these
show business legends and implies that both were struggling and about
to go under when, according to this film, both were booked at the same
club and Lewis inserted himself into Martin's act and the audience
thought they were so funny together that they became an act that sold
out nightclubs and eventually segued into a lucrative movie career. I
don't know for sure how close it is to the truth, but this film depicts
Jerry Lewis as an insecure, career-driven ego maniac who sincerely
thought he was the brains of the act and that they would be nowhere
without him and Martin is the guy who just sort of allowed Lewis to
push and prod him through their success until Lewis' ego got to be too
much for Dean to take. Whether or not this is what really happened, I
guess only Dean and Jerry can say for sure, but it made for an
immensely entertaining TV movie that had me riveted from start to
finish. Sean Hayes received an Emmy nomination for his nearly flawless
recreation of Jerry Lewis, from an insecure unknown comic begging for
his dad's approval to the egomaniac whose insecurities, paranoia, and
control issues drove Martin and everyone else to the edge. Jeremy
Northam's powerhouse turn as Dean Martin matches Hayes note for note.
Martin's singing voice is dubbed in for the musical sequences, but the
rest is Northam, who brings Martin's easy and laid back persona
beautifully to life here. He may not really resemble Martin physically,
but Martin's personality, spirit and even his speaking voice were on
the money for me here and the interaction between Northam and Hayes is
kinetic here…a joy to watch. Mention should also be made of Paula
Cale as Dean's first wife, Bettya and to Kate Levering as Dean's second
wife, Jeanne. This TV movie was a triumph and one of the few times I
wished a film could have been longer. This one definitely left me
wanting more. I'm still hoping it will inspire a theatrical look at
this legendary team.

Isaac5855 from United States - 28 March 2007

above average TV fare if you're interested in the 50s

I was pulled into this movie, despite a clichéd and standard TV movie
type script. This was probably due to the performances and good
recreation of the times.Sean Hayes does not look like Jerry Lewis but made a good stab at
recreating his manic energy and routines. Only in the dramatic scenes
did I feel a lack of insight in his performance.Jeremy Northam convinced admirably with his laid back Dean Martin,
unfortunately he had little material to work with script wise but got
across Dino's couldn't care less attitude which rolled along for years
with Lewis until he could take no more.I think the fault with the movie was that it was made when only one of
the duo has passed on, so perhaps there were Lewis traits that had to
be down graded at the expense of Martin. However to be fair they did
show some of Lewis's control freakery and joke stealing that led to the
final breakup.Still for a TV movie it was definitely above average, these 2 stars
were huge successes in their partnership days, and each went on to show
their own brand of showbiz genius as they went their separate ways
afterwards. In the end a rather sad story.

fcasnette from United Kingdom - 26 May 2006

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