Reviews and commentary for movies with Frank Sinatra.
Tuesday, September 30th 2008
Grade: C+
Synopsis: In World War II France, two American soldiers (Frank Sinatra and Tony Curtis) vie for the affections of a young woman (Natalie Wood) with a secret.
Kings Go Forth is a solid war melodrama highlighted by a great cast and good production.
Tony Curtis and Frank Sinatra are really good opposite each other, so much so, you’ll wish they had made more films together. Then again, Curtis has a way of making all of his costars look great, but regardless the Jersey-born Sinatra and Bronx-born Curtis look and feel like a couple of Joes from the neighborhood, and they work perfectly as American soldiers trying to make the best of the situation in war-torn southern France. MORE »
Posted at 2:02 PM in Movie Reviews and Frank Sinatra.
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Thursday, September 25th 2008
Grade: D-
Synopsis: A fast-talking producer (George Murphy) tries every angle to get a writer’s (Frank Sinatra) show made.
Step Lively marked star Frank Sinatra’s second credited Hollywood role, after Higher and Higher (1943). This time around, he’s actually got a decent supporting role that has an effect on the story, but unfortunately, once again the filmmakers seem determined to hand the film over to less capable individuals, in this case George Murphy.
Despite Sinatra’s top billing, this is really Murphy’s movie as the entire story revolves around him and there are only a few moments when he’s not on screen; which makes you wonder why Sinatra’s even around at all. He’s cast as a bumpkin songwriter, not the central character, and the film itself is more screwball comedy than musical, which doesn’t play to his strengths. MORE »
Posted at 11:19 AM in Movie Reviews and Frank Sinatra.
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Wednesday, September 24th 2008
Grade: A-
Synopsis: A group of ex-paratroopers (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Peter Lawford) set out to rob five Las Vegas casinos on New Years Eve.
Ocean’s Eleven is a genre of film unto itself. Though it’s structured like one, it’s not a heist film. Though Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. both sing songs, it’s not a musical. Though it’s got some laughs, it’s not a comedy. Though it’s got some thrills, it’s not a thriller. No, Ocean’s Eleven is none of these really, it’s simply a performance.
It’s Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. at their best, playing off each other and oozing an easy cool that makes it look effortless. It’s decades of performances on stage, on screen, and on record distilled into a two hour show. It’s the showpiece of the Rat Pack’s impact on the pop-culture lexicon. It’s a time capsule. It’s charisma personified. MORE »
Posted at 5:04 PM in Movie Reviews and Frank Sinatra.
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Wednesday, September 24th 2008
Grade: F
Synopsis: A bankrupt man joins his valet (Jack Haley) in a scheme to pose his maid (Michèle Morgan) as his daughter in a bid to marry her off to rich man.
Higher and Higher is notable as Frank Sinatra’s first credited role in a motion picture. Prior to this, his Hollywood résumé consisted of musical numbers in other star’s films. Granted, in this film, he still plays “Frank Sinatra,” but at least it’s a fictionalized version of himself in which he gets to do a bit of acting, with dialog and everything. For this reason, Higher and Higher will be worth a look for die-hard Sinatra fans, but they would do well to keep the fast-forward button within reach. MORE »
Posted at 12:37 PM in Movie Reviews and Frank Sinatra.
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Wednesday, July 16th 2008
Grade: C+
Synopsis: A cynical composer (Frank Sinatra) falls for his friend’s fiancée (Doris Day).
Young at Heart starts off as a light, romantic comedy, but then gradually gets darker and darker until it ends with a very odd message.
Though he has second billing, Frank Sinatra doesn’t actually turn up for quite a while, as the first part of the picture deals introduces Gig Young’s character and his effect on Doris Day’s character and her musical family. This is all, more or less, lighthearted fun, but once Sinatra’s character shows up things get darker.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as Sinatra’s early scenes with Ethel Barrymore make for a fairly smooth transition, and Day seems equally comfortable with the drama as the comedy, but it’s the ending that’s puzzling. MORE »
Posted at 2:25 PM in Movie Reviews and Frank Sinatra.
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