Grade: B
Synopsis: A writer’s (Frank Sinatra) return to his hometown causes complications for all those around him.
Some Came Running is a somewhat typical small town story lifted by top-notch performances and great production values.
Frank Sinatra carries the film well. His performance as a tortured writer is, for the most part, believable, and what he lacks in credibility he more than makes up for with sheer charisma.
Shirley MacLaine won an Oscar for her performance as a somewhat ditzy floozy who follows Sinatra’s character home, and while she borders on annoying early in the film, she shines in the second half.
But in the end, it’s Dean Martin who really steals the show. His performance as gambler Bama Dillert is both believable and entertaining and ranks as one of his best. His scenes with Sinatra are a joy to watch, as the chemistry between the two men is undeniable.
Director Vincente Minnelli gives the film a very polished look, and his excellent use of light and color make the film a visual treat.
If Some Came Running has a flaw it’s that its 137-minute length is feels wrong. A longer running time could have fleshed out Shirley MacLaine’s character a bit more, and a shorter one would have moved the story along better. Either choice would have made for a better film.
Bottom Line: Great performances (especially Dean Martin) and great production elevate a solid script to something special. Recommended.
3 Responses on “Some Came Running (1958)”:
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Bryan said:
Grade: B+
It’s a superb drama. Totally agree with that. Sinatra gives one of his last really good performances, Martin is terrific, and MacLaine is endearing. She was nominated for an Oscar, but lost to Susan Hayward in “I Want to Live!” The film actually received 4 additional nods, including Best Original Song (”To Love and Be Loved”), Costume Design, Supporting Actor (Arthur Kennedy) and Supporting Actress (Martha Hyer). A good case could have been made for the Cinematography, Vincente Minnelli’s direction and both Martin and Sinatra, as well. The carnival sequence alone is worth viewing the film.
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Robert Gilmore said:
Grade: B
I has held off watching “Some Came Running” due to some negative reviews and was pleasantly surprised when I pick up the recent DVD release. Sinatra’s acting career is often overshadowed by his singing career but this is an extremely well written and acted film even if Vincent Minnelli has little control over the Rat Pack cast. Shirley McClaine would do better work two years later in “The Apartment” but she isn’t half bad in this early role.
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Allen said:
Grade: F
Are you folks kidding? Took the movie seriously for about 1/2 hour, then my mouth was agape for most of the rest. Talk about stereotypes. The characters are all caricatures. The tortured writer, the floozy with a heart of gold, the ice princess, the hard drinking gambler that fleeces the hick suckers, the venemous sister in law, the small town yokul who thinks he`s a bigshot and pretends his home life is happy, etc etc. The movie flounders like a narwhal brought ashore with the tide unable to get back to the ocean, wriggling and slithering in it`s attempt to find a direction after a promising start.Sinatra with no change of visual expression, same with Hyer for that matter, except for that shadowed seduction scene. Of course she had to feel guilt and shame after having sex with Frankie, after all a 35 year old is still supposed to be a virgin. I know it`s 1958 morals but come on none of this drivel didn`t feel contrived and fresh or original.MacLaine learned from her overacting and produced a much better tramp 10 years later in “Sweet Charity”, yeah she was dumb and cheap and sweet but ANNOYING as hell!I cheered when she took 2 in the back near the end of this fiasco sensing the end of this awful mess was finally within reach{Yeah}.
I guess to sum it up, I loved this crap…………..when the ” the end” words hit the screen.
