Over more than a dozen films, the comic duo of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis established a bromantic relationship the likes of which Hollywood has rarely seen since. As TIME critic Richard Corliss writes, “The intimacy they shared was intense and startling in the ’50s and remains so today.”
Just take a look at this clip from their first film together, 1949′s My Friend Irma. Skip ahead to about the two-and-a-half minute mark, when Lewis comes on to join Martin in a song. We’re not sure why Lewis starts pawing at Martin before tousling his own hair and licking his hand, but it’s the wacky start to a beautiful (too beautiful?) cinematic friendship.
