TCM Celebrates the King of Cool, Dean Martin

Thanks to my dad I’ve long loved Dean Martin. He’s one of his favorite entertainers and I grew up listening to his music and watching his movies. Whether with Jerry Lewis, the Rat Pack or solo he’s the ultimate cool cat. Of course, I’m not the only one that thinks so and this year marks the debut of the documentary Dean Martin: King Of Cool. It premiers on TCM this Friday, November 19th and I was lucky enough to get an early look.

Directed by Tom Donahue Dean Martin: King Of Cool documents the performer’s life through archival footage and interviews with numerous friends, family and fans and is a loving, yet honest, look at Hollywood’s coolest cat.

Born in1917 in Steubenville, OH, Dean Martin started singing from a young age and his mother once said, ‘if he’s not gonna be a singer, no one’s gonna be a singer.” After a series of of odd jobs ranging from boxing to card dealing he decided to pursue a career as an entertainer ultimately achieving success as one half of the duo, Martin & Lewis. Actually, success is an understatement, as the comedy team dominated the industry through their famous live act, television show and series of films.

After the duo’s bitter breakup in the late 1950’s, Martin continued to be a successful actor, recording artist and live performer. His TV series, The Dean Martin Show, dominated the air for 9 years and his tenure with the Rat Pack is iconic. He truly is the “King of Cool.” Yet, through all the fame and success he remained an aloof figure and most who knew and loved him felt they never really knew the true Dean Martin.

Dean Martin: The King of Cool lovingly depicts his professional and personal life while trying to get past his mysterious persona and find the true man inside. Whether or not it achieves that is up to the viewer but the journey is and entertaining ride that features personal anecdotes from such figures as Carol Burnett, Bob Newhart, Norman Lear and, his daughter, Deana Martin.

If you want to catch Dean Martin: The King of Cool it premiers on TCM this Friday November 19, 2021. To celebrate its debut the director Tom Donahue and producer Ilan Arboleda will sit down with Ben Mankiewicz for a discussion and there will be screenings of The Caddy and Rio Bravo. If you miss it, an encore performance will screen on Friday November 26, 2021 and will be followed by Robin and 7 Hoods and Ocean’s 11. So grab a martini, take a seat and spend an entertaining evening with the “King of Cool.”