Dean and Me

A Love Story

By: Jerry Lewis, James Kaplan

Narrated by: Stephen Hoye

Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

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, 10 years from the day when the two men joined forces, it all ended.

After that traumatic day, the two wouldn't speak again for 20 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 50-year friendship, from the springtime, 1945 afternoon when the two vibrant young performers destined to conquer the world together met on Broadway and 54th Street, to their tragic final encounter in the 1990s, when Lewis and his wife ran into Dean Martin, a broken and haunted old man.

©2005 Jerry Lewis (P)2005 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"Fans will be surprised and entertained by Lewis' honesty and diminished ego and bitterness." (Publishers Weekly)

Ah-may-zing!

What an amazing life! So great to go back in time with Jerry... and Stephen Hoye did such a great job reading as Jerry AND as Dean... I enjoyed this book completely.

Insights into both men, but in very different ways

After listening to Kaplan’s two books on Sinatra, I decided to give this one a try even though I barely knew anything about the comedy partnership of Martin & Lewis. The book provides a revealing history of their hugely successful 10 years together, along with a few chapters on their lives following the break-up.

I must say however, even though co-writer Jerry Lewis occasionally acknowledges some of his own faults, the book leaves you with an overwhelming sympathy for Dean Martin for having put up with Lewis for 10 years. And I don’t think this is entirely intentional.

Each story is enjoyable but always includes a subtle stab at Martin while failing to address what becomes obvious with each chapter – Lewis was needy, manipulative, controlling and pathologically self centered. The kinda guy who makes everything about himself – from being a diva on set, to sulking off dramatically, to extravagant apologies and the instant forgiveness they demanded.

When the laid back Martin eventually gives Lewis the briefest taste of his own medicine – the partnership virtually ends on the spot. And Martins famous brutal put-down becomes oh so understandable.

Still, it’s a very good book and the final chapters are especially moving if a little skewed by the man recalling them – but by then you’ll be used to it. For example [spoiler ahead] – at one point Lewis recalls sitting in the bathroom with a gun in his mouth ready to kill himself, only to hear his infant son playing in the nearby bedroom. Lewis reflects on how his child saved his life, but doesn’t spare a thought on the horror of a father blowing his brains out within earshot of his entire family.

So you get to know Dean Martin from the story, and Jerry Lewis from between the lines. Fascinating in its own twisted way.

Endearing insight

Always loved Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis. Never knew the backstory and this explains so much. I’m also indebted to Jerry for the many years he devoted to helping those with muscular dystrophy. I was a recipient of the lifesaving medical breakthroughs brought about through the funds he raised for research. I wouldn’t be here had it not been for him. What a wonderful individual.

Ten Stars!

I loved this book! I have always been a fan of the Lewis and Martin team but this book gave them heart and soul. Jerry Lewis does not shy away from stating his love for Dean and there was nothing phony about his approach to their story. I've listened to it several times now and still think it is great. The narrator uses his voice beautifully to reflect accents and emotions throughout the book. Many thumbs up!

Great Purchase

After checking out reviews and comments, I decided on the unabridged version because the fellow that narrates, Stephen Hoye, does a wonderful job of catching Jerry & Dean's personality. This audio book is definitely a Jerry Lewis driven vehicle. He, with the help of James Kaplan, wrote this in 2005, well after Dean's death, so obviously, Martins not around to confirm nor deny anything said here but I have no doubt that this is the way Jerry remembers their time together.
Lewis mainly covers the 10 years they were partners, the families, Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, The Rat Pack, Mafia, Vegas, The Cabana and other major clubs of the time, the unavoidable Martin & Lewis break up, reunion on the 1976 Telethon that Frank Sinatra orchestrated without Jerry's knowledge, Dean's son's death and eventually the death of Dean himself. Much more then I'm willing to take the time to type.
I can sense Jerry's extreme love for Dean throughout, his bitterness of how not only the partnership but also the friendship dissolved, his jealousy of Dean's wife and how, even though I don't think the author himself sees it this way but I sure do, how toward the end of the partnership Dean must have felt Jerry to be a big pain in his you know what. My own personal thought is that Lewis smothered the guy.
Listen and let me know if you feel the same way.
Titled correctly, this is what I believe to be a true love story between these fellows. Jerry Lewis loved Dean Martin. PERIOD!, and if a fan, you'll love this audio book.

Excellent Listen

I found the unabridged version to be excellent. This is one of few books I actually listened to more than once.

Dean and Me

Wonderful review of their lives, couldn't put it down. Really worth it!

great book

This is an excellent book. I'm not a big Jerry Lewis fan but I found his stories heartwarming, funny, and honest. He was candid about the bad times but was still able look back at the good times with fondness and a sense of humor. A very entertaining read. I had a hard time turning off my IPOD.

A Must Listen !

I had reservations about listening to Jerry's perspective on the events that happened to his and Dean's relationship. I find Jerry's kind of humor grating after awhile so I couldn't understand how Dean put up with Jerry for 10 years. But Jerry draws you into the heart of their story and you gain a much clearer insight of their electrifying chemistry and love for each other. I now have a new found respect for Jerry and his genius and can see him now as a gifted flawed unique being. The narrator is amazing, seamlessly capturing Dean's soft sexy tone and Jerry's voice in all it's crazy nuances. This is one book I think is better to listen to than read as the narrator brings layers that I don't think I would have picked up from reading the book.

Maybe is should be called ME and dean....

good read. Not GREAT but good. You understand why Dean and Jerry did go there own ways, even in this book it will always be all about Jerry :)