Dean Martin, portraying himself, is stranded in Climax, Nevada, and becomes the subject of a plot to have him buy the songs of service station operator, Barney (Cliff Osmond) and piano teacher Orville J Spooner (Ray Walston of My Favorite Martian).
Orville is married to Zelda (Felicia Farr) and so jealous when he learns the extent of Dino’s swinging, that he gets rid of her and hires a substitute (Kim Novak as a floozy cocktail waitress called Polly the Pistol).
Orville and Polly are eventually paired and ditto for Zelda and Dino. And the song is sold.
Ray Walston stepped in to replace Peter Sellers, who had completed four and a half weeks of filming before suffering a near-fatal heart attack (pictured at right).
The US National Legion of Decency condemned the movie on its release as unfit for Catholic moviegoers and blasted the film industry for laxity in self-censorship.
Dino
Dean Martin Polly the Pistol
Kim Novak Orville J Spooner
Ray Walston Zelda
Felicia Farr Barney
Cliff Osmond Big Bertha
Barbara Pepper Mrs Pettibone
Doro Merande Mr Pettibone
Howard McNear Johnnie Mulligan
Tommy Nolan Mrs Mulligan
Alice Pearce Rev. Carruthers
John Fiedler Rosalie Schultz
Arlen Stuart Mack Gray
Cliff Norton Milkman
Skip Ward Waitress
Bobo Lewis
Director Billy Wilder
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Ray Walston stepped in to replace Peter Sellers, who had completed four and a half weeks of filming before suffering a near-fatal heart attack (pictured at right).
