Either Dean Martin was really drunk in every scene of the movie, or it's the most convincing performance of a drunk man I've ever seen.
Not even just his slurred speech. His face is red and his eyes are always half closed.
He's awesome in this movie regardless.
i assumed he was a lifelong drunk. it was certainly his persona in the 70s and 80s.
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Go away, or I shall taunt you a second time!
Dean Martin had a rep as a heavy drinker/party guy long before "Cannonball Run."
In the MAD Magazine parody of "Airport," which was released at least ten years prior to "Cannonball," the artist drew a cocktail glass in Martin's character's hand in every single panel.
But yeah, he is clearly stewed to the gills during several scenes in this movie. Sammy Davis Jr. too.
I get the feeling that a lot of partying must've gone on behind the scenes while making this movie. I wonder how much of the budget was set aside for booze?
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---In the MAD Magazine parody of "Airport," which was released at least ten years prior to "Cannonball," the artist drew a cocktail glass in Martin's character's hand in every single panel.
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That is awesome
It was actually an act most of the time. He played up the reputation of heavy drinker as his public character, but actually wasn't that big of a drinker when compared to some of his contemporaries. He was actually more the type to go home to his family than stay out drinking.
shareWhen you saw him on TV or in public with a glass in his hand, chances are he was merely drinking apple juice on ice to look like scotch or bourbon or rye. He was just keeping up his public persona.
"'Extremely High Voltage.' Well, I don't need safety gloves, because I'm Homer Sim--" - Frank Grimes
It's interesting, how convincing his performance is - he HAS to be actually drunk at least in some scenes - it's hard to be that convincing without actually being drunk.
However, remembering the lines and being able to say them coherently and in-character is an achievement a drunkard might not be able to pull off, so it's hard to tell.