My Favorite Frank Sinatra movie: SOME CAME RUNNING
Frank was never better than when he was cynical, a little mean, and ultimately the wounded warrior. Shirley acted up a storm in this one too. Great stuff.
I do like this film despite its remarkably dated sexual politics. I think my favourite Sinatra performance is probably to be found in THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE
Even though there are a bunch including Candidate, Man with the Golden Arm & Eternity, I have a soft spot for The Joker Is Wild, the story of nightclub performer Joe E. Lewis. Lewis was a friend of Sinatra and this was a passion project for Frank. It also gives us All The Way and Chicago (Toddling Town). It plays to all Sinatra's strengths
Even though there are a bunch including Candidate, Man with the Golden Arm & Eternity, I have a soft spot for The Joker Is Wild, the story of nightclub performer Joe E. Lewis. Lewis was a friend of Sinatra and this was a passion project for Frank. It also gives us All The Way and Chicago (Toddling Town). It plays to all Sinatra's strengths
MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, hands down, for me, too. He was good in a different way in his comeback role, which revived his dying career, as Maggio in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY. As I recall, SUDDENLY, was redone years later as DESPERATE HOURS, with Bogie in the Sinatra role. No way could Sinatra ever top Bogart.
Yes, “Some Came Running” is a good movie, and quite different from the book with Sinatra, Dean Martin and Shirley MacLaine as the main characters. There are also moments in Sinatra films, just a few minutes, that are great in not-so-great movies, for instance: The opening of “The Tender Trap,” when Sinatra as Sinatra walks toward the camera singing the title song; The Sinatra-Crosby duet in “High Society;" Dancing with Gene Kelly in “Anchors Away.”
I'm with you on SOME CAME RUNNING. Sinatra was at the top of his game in this one!
ReplyDeleteI do like this film despite its remarkably dated sexual politics. I think my favourite Sinatra performance is probably to be found in THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE
ReplyDeleteDefinitely one of my faves, and I did an Overlooked Movies post on it a while back. Dean's great, too.
ReplyDeleteDean is great.
ReplyDeleteI doubt Sinatra was ever in a film with progressive sexual politics, Sergio. It probably veers between awful and frightening.
ReplyDeleteI like this and THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE too. Also SUDDENLY, which is definitely ripe for a Forgotten Movies post.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that so far no one has mentioned his Oscar-winning role in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY.
SUDDENLY is excellent. I guess I think of FHTE as more Lancaster and Kerr.
ReplyDeleteMe too. I'd read about SUDDENLY but when I saw it (in the 80's) was still surprised at how good, and timely, it seemed.
ReplyDeleteEven though there are a bunch including Candidate, Man with the Golden Arm & Eternity, I have a soft spot for The Joker Is Wild, the story of nightclub performer Joe E. Lewis. Lewis was a friend of Sinatra and this was a passion project for Frank. It also gives us All The Way and Chicago (Toddling Town). It plays to all Sinatra's strengths
ReplyDeleteEven though there are a bunch including Candidate, Man with the Golden Arm & Eternity, I have a soft spot for The Joker Is Wild, the story of nightclub performer Joe E. Lewis. Lewis was a friend of Sinatra and this was a passion project for Frank. It also gives us All The Way and Chicago (Toddling Town). It plays to all Sinatra's strengths
ReplyDeleteDon't believe I've ever watched a Sinatra movie
ReplyDeleteJoe-Not sure I have ever seen that one.
ReplyDeleteCharles-I think we live in two different worlds sometimes.
MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, hands down, for me, too. He was good in a different way in his comeback role, which revived his dying career, as Maggio in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY. As I recall, SUDDENLY, was redone years later as DESPERATE HOURS, with Bogie in the Sinatra role. No way could Sinatra ever top Bogart.
ReplyDeleteSuddenly is a different one about a guy waiting to assassinate someone on a train coming through a small town.
ReplyDeleteTHE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM is another excellent Sinatra performance.
ReplyDeleteI am fairly sure I have never seen it.
ReplyDeleteYes, “Some Came Running” is a good movie, and quite different from the book with Sinatra, Dean Martin and Shirley MacLaine as the main characters. There are also moments in Sinatra films, just a few minutes, that are great in not-so-great movies, for instance: The opening of “The Tender Trap,” when Sinatra as Sinatra walks toward the camera singing the title song; The Sinatra-Crosby duet in “High Society;" Dancing with Gene Kelly in “Anchors Away.”
ReplyDelete