The LA Italia Film Fest [2] in Hollywood honors Dean Martin [3], the legendary Italian-American famous for his sultry singing voice, comedic charm, and good looks. To pay proper homage to the 100-year anniversary of Martin’s birth, the festival, hosted in the Hollywood and Highland Center [4], is screening a film retrospective accompanied by several musical performances in his memory.

Born Dino Paul Crocetti to an Italian father and Italian-American mother in Ohio, he spent most of his adolescence working in speakeasies delivering black-market liquor and dealing games of blackjack. His upbringing polished his future character as Dean Martin, the cocktail swilling, cigarette smoking, Las Vegas game show hosting phenomena that charmed the world into falling in love with him and his work.

His speakeasy connections put him in contact with musical promoters yielding his first label, “Which Way did my Heart Go [5]” that gained speed in 1946. His sell out musical comedies in Atlantic City with comedic genius Jerry Lewis [6] not only caused national recognition, but an 11-year business partnership that yielded 16 movies together, and a remarkable friendship.

Dean Martin along with Frank Sinatra [7], Sammy Davis Jr. [8], Peter Lawford [9], and Joey Bishop [10] comprised “The Rat Pack [11].” Together they formed the Hollywood social scene and ruled the Las Vegas strip. Commemorated at the LA Italia Film Fest will be their movies such as Ocean's Eleven [12], Robin and the 7 Hoods [13], and Sergeants 3 [14].

Martin also starred in a variety of western movies with John Wayne [15] such as “Rio Bravo [16]” where he played a character named “Dude." He even received a Golden Globe [17] nomination for his 1960 acting performance in “Who is that Lady [18]?”

His other musical hits include “That’s Amore [19],” “Memories are Made of This [20],” and “Ain’t that a Kick in the Head [21].” Dean Martin was more than a silky voice with playboy characteristics that employed all aspects of the “politically incorrect” times of the mid to late 1900s. He was an Italian American, an icon who made those around him admire and accept the immigrants from the boot we know and love.

He consistently incorporated his Italian heritage into the American pop culture of his time, the culture in which he had such a great say. Italian-Americans had a sense of pride for Martin’s success. This is why the LA Italia Film fest is honoring the life of Dean Martin, a great Italian-American whose memory lives on today.