I had little or no respect for Frank Sinatra as a man. I did, however, have a great deal of respect for his recording career from 1954 - 1965, and occasionally after that; many of those recordings are, quit simply, the best recordings of those songs ever made. And, at least from time to time, I greatly respected Frank Sinatra's acting. And this is one example of that.
Sinatra could do on film what he could rarely do on television -- reach out and grab the audience, particularly when the role called for the character to be ingratiating...as this film does. Few could match his talent at doing that. We see it in a number of his films, particularly including "The Joker Is Wild". Sinatra was, quite simply, perfect for his role in this film. I can't imagine another actor doing it half as well.
It's interesting also that this is directed by Frank Capra. So, yes, Capra Corn...but really good corn! I'd go so far as to say that this was Capra's last great film, and perhaps his only great film of the 1950s.
Aside from Sinatra's excellence here, the performance of Edward G. Robinson as Sinatra's brother is terrific...funny as heck. And Robinson's wife is played by Thelma Ritter...again, just tremendous. Eleanor Parker was great as the eventual love interest. And wonderful little Eddie Hodges as the son...remarkable (go online and look for a pic of him as an older adult...quite a change!).
I wasn't as thrilled with the performance of Carolyn Jones as the the sort of hippie first love interest...and now that I think of it, I'm not sure I was ever very impressed with Jones. Keenan Wynn plays a not very sympathetic character, but he is good in the part. Dub Taylor as the desk clerk at the hotel was, I thought, just a little over the top.
If you want to see Sinatra at his best in film, this is ONE of the films I'd recommend. And, it's fun!
Sinatra could do on film what he could rarely do on television -- reach out and grab the audience, particularly when the role called for the character to be ingratiating...as this film does. Few could match his talent at doing that. We see it in a number of his films, particularly including "The Joker Is Wild". Sinatra was, quite simply, perfect for his role in this film. I can't imagine another actor doing it half as well.
It's interesting also that this is directed by Frank Capra. So, yes, Capra Corn...but really good corn! I'd go so far as to say that this was Capra's last great film, and perhaps his only great film of the 1950s.
Aside from Sinatra's excellence here, the performance of Edward G. Robinson as Sinatra's brother is terrific...funny as heck. And Robinson's wife is played by Thelma Ritter...again, just tremendous. Eleanor Parker was great as the eventual love interest. And wonderful little Eddie Hodges as the son...remarkable (go online and look for a pic of him as an older adult...quite a change!).
I wasn't as thrilled with the performance of Carolyn Jones as the the sort of hippie first love interest...and now that I think of it, I'm not sure I was ever very impressed with Jones. Keenan Wynn plays a not very sympathetic character, but he is good in the part. Dub Taylor as the desk clerk at the hotel was, I thought, just a little over the top.
If you want to see Sinatra at his best in film, this is ONE of the films I'd recommend. And, it's fun!