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Kiss Me, Stupid




  Director Billy Wilder
  Producer Billy Wilder <br> IAL Diamond <br> Doane Harrison
  Writer Billy Wilder <br> IAL Diamond <br> Anna Bonacci
  Starring Dean Martin <br> Kim Novak <br> Felicia Farr <br> Ray Walston
  Distributor The Mirisch Corporation
  Music AndrĂ© Previn
  Cinematography Joseph LaShelle
  Editing Daniel Mandell
  Released December 22 , 1964
  Runtime 125 mins
  Language English
  Imdb Id 0058265


''Kiss Me, Stupid'' is a 1964 American Comedy film directed by Billy Wilder and starring Kim Novak and Dean Martin . Martin plays a nightmare version of himself called "Dino", Novak portrays a trailer-trash prostitute, and Ray Walston took over a role originally intended for Peter Sellers as a jealous husband after Sellers suffered a heart attack. Excoriated by critics as being immoral upon its release, it has proven to be a prescient forerunner of films in which performers play unflattering versions of themselves, and includes one of Dean Martin's most fascinating performances. Ira Gershwin wrote the lyrics for the intentionally bad songs composed by Walston's hapless character. The wedded couple characters played by Walston and Felicia Farr end up having sex with other people (Kim Novak and Dean Martin respectively), manage to shrug it off, and get back together. Such adulterous behavior on film upset Roman Catholic Church officials; the Vatican's Legion of Decency banned the film at the time it was released. However, by modern "anything goes" standards, the film is quite tame and has become a charming sex-farce with the passage of time. It also provides a rare glimpse into the personal life of Dean Martin. The film's opening scenes were shot during a live Martin performance at the late Sands Casino in Las Vegas. Also, the customized Italian Ghia sports car driven by Martin in the film was the performer's own real-life automobile.

Cast

  • Dean Martin ... Dino

  • Kim Novak ... Polly the Pistol

  • Ray Walston ... Orville Jeremiah Spooner

  • Felicia Farr ... Zelda Spooner

  • Cliff Osmond ... Barney

  • Barbara Pepper ... Big Bertha

  • Skip Ward ... Milkman (as James Ward)

  • Doro Merande ... Mrs. Pettibone

  • Bobo Lewis ... Waitress

  • Tom Nolan ... Johnnie Mulligan (as Tommy Nolan)

  • Alice Pearce ... Mrs. Mulligan

  • John Fiedler ... Reverend Carruthers

  • Arlen Stuart ... Rosalie Schultz

  • Howard McNear ... Mr. Pettibone

  • Cliff Norton ... Mack Gray




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