{"id":17858,"date":"2011-06-09T20:36:28","date_gmt":"2011-06-10T03:36:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=17858"},"modified":"2020-12-26T23:17:52","modified_gmt":"2020-12-27T06:17:52","slug":"scared-stiff-1953","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=17858","title":{"rendered":"Scared Stiff (1953)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;You may joke, my dear, but unfortunately, the legends about the castle are not to be taken lightly.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Poster-198x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"198\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17859\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Poster-198x300.jpg 198w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Poster-84x128.jpg 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Poster-676x1024.jpg 676w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Poster.jpg 1833w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA dimwitted busboy (Jerry Lewis) and his buddy &#8212; a nightclub singer (Dean Martin) who wrongly believes he&#8217;s murdered a gangster &#8212; stow away on a cruise ship to Havana, and befriend a woman (Lizabeth Scott) who has inherited a supposedly haunted castle on an island.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Carmen Miranda Films<\/li>\n<li>Comedy<\/li>\n<li>Dean Martin Films<\/li>\n<li>Dorothy Malone Films<\/li>\n<li>Fugitives<\/li>\n<li>Jerry Lewis Films<\/li>\n<li>Lizabeth Scott Films<\/li>\n<li>Musicals<\/li>\n<li>Old Dark House<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nGeorge Marshall remade his own 1940 comedic-horror hit <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3140\"><em>Ghost Breakers<\/em> (1940)<\/a> (starring Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard) into this tepid Martin &#038; Lewis vehicle, which will likely only really appeal to their fans. Both the original film and this later iteration essentially function as vehicles for their stars, and suffer from rather lame, unnecessarily complex screenplays &#8212; but <em>Scared Stiff<\/em>, unfortunately, is even more awkwardly paced than its predecessor, taking 80 long minutes to finally bring the protagonists to their spooky destination (and even at that point, there are precious few ghosts or zombies peppering the screen). On the plus side: Lizabeth Scott is a perky, likeable romantic heroine, and she and Martin come across as genuinely attracted to one another: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Martin-Scott.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Martin-Scott-1024x653.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"408\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59824\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Martin-Scott-1024x653.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Martin-Scott-300x191.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Martin-Scott-128x82.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Martin-Scott-768x490.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Martin-Scott-1536x980.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Martin-Scott-423x270.png 423w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Martin-Scott.png 1607w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>On the negative side, Lewis is even more neurotically annoying  and clingy than usual. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Lewis.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Lewis-1024x755.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"472\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59825\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Lewis-1024x755.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Lewis-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Lewis-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Lewis-768x567.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Lewis-366x270.png 366w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Lewis.png 1395w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Of primary interest is an early nightclub scene in which we get a glimpse of Lewis and Martin&#8217;s live &#8220;charisma&#8221; together (with assistance from Dorothy Malone as Martin&#8217;s girlfriend); it feels like an honest approximation of their esteemed on-stage career together. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> This was Carmen Miranda&#8217;s final film (she died two years later); however, while her energetic performances are always welcome:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Miranda.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Miranda-1024x758.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"474\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59823\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Miranda-1024x758.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Miranda-300x222.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Miranda-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Miranda-768x568.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Miranda-365x270.png 365w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Miranda.png 1373w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Lewis&#8217;s imitation of her (the ostensible reason for her presence here) is&#8230; depressingly unfunny. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The early nightclub comedy routine<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Malone.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Malone-1024x763.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"477\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59826\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Malone-1024x763.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Malone-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Malone-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Malone-768x573.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Malone-362x270.png 362w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Malone.png 1383w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>Lizabeth Scott as Mary<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Scott-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Scott-1-1024x766.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"479\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59828\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Scott-1-1024x766.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Scott-1-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Scott-1-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Scott-1-768x575.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Scott-1-361x270.png 361w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Scared-Stiff-Scott-1.png 1375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo &#8212; this one is definitely only must-see for Martin &#038; Lewis fans.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0046280\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/movies.nytimes.com\/movie\/review?res=9805E0D6163DE23BBC4B53DFB1668388649EDE\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fantasticmoviemusings.com\/2015\/04\/23\/scared-stiff-1953\/\">SciFilm Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.moriareviews.com\/horror\/scared-stiff-1953.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rinkworks.com\/movies\/m\/scared.stiff.1953.shtml\">At-a-Glance Capsule Film Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;You may joke, my dear, but unfortunately, the legends about the castle are not to be taken lightly.&#8221; Synopsis: A dimwitted busboy (Jerry Lewis) and his buddy &#8212; a nightclub singer (Dean Martin) who wrongly believes he&#8217;s murdered a gangster &#8212; stow away on a cruise ship to Havana, and befriend a woman (Lizabeth Scott) who has inherited a supposedly haunted castle on an island. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Carmen Miranda Films Comedy Dean Martin Films Dorothy Malone Films&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=17858\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17858","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17858"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17858\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59829,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17858\/revisions\/59829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17858"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17858"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17858"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}