Forgotten movie cars: the '56 Chrysler from "Hollywood or bust"
Jerry Lewis as a naïve and cheerful character and Dean Martin as a laconic jinx and womanizer – this last movie of the successful comedy duo does not deviate too much from the usual formula. Nevertheless, fans of American cars from the 1950s should have seen "Hollywood or bust" at least once. The starting point of the plot is that the two share the main prize of a raffle in New York: a brand new 1956 Chrysler New Yorker Convertible Coupe in radiant Geranium Red. Unfortunately, the two very different men also have very different plans for what they want to do with their prize.
Cinema enthusiast Malcolm Smith (Lewis) would like to go to Hollywood to meet the woman of his dreams Anita Ekberg for once in his life. Small-scale crook Steve Wiley (Martin), on the other hand, would rather sell the luxury car today than tomorrow in order to pay off his gambling debts. That's why he pretends to embark on a journey across the country in order to steal the Chrysler at the first opportunity. It goes without saying that this plan fails more than just the first time – and is mainly due to Mr. Bascomb, Malcom's alpaca-sized Great Dane, who always manages to thwart Steve's plans in time.
On the way, they pick up dancer Terry (Pat Crowley), whose old Ford has broken down on the way to an engagement in Las Vegas. Because Steve is afraid of bumping into his former gangster friends on the busy highways, they continue their journey off the beaten track. As this naturally takes considerably longer, the four of them take turns at the wheel – although Mr. Bascomb doesn't even have a driving license, as Malcolm is shocked to discover.
Of course, the movie ends as everyone expected from the beginning: Malcolm and Steve become friends (a little bit), Steve and Terry fall in love (a little more than a little bit), Malcolm is completely overwhelmed by the kiss Anita gives him – and Mr. Bascomb becomes a movie star, which is something you didn't necessarily expect from the beginning. As "Hollywood or bust" takes place largely on the street, there are many US classics to admire in the background. Even the unique 1954 Plymouth Belmont makes a guest appearance at a petrol station.
But fans of fifties cinema in general will also get their money's worth. Because Malcolm refers to numerous films in the course of the plot, Dean Martin discusses the differences between individual countries in cinema culture in the foreword – and Anita Ekberg successfully distracts from the list of contributors in the opening credits.
