Main Cast: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Falk, Bing Crosby
Release Year: 1964
Country: US
Run Time: 124 minutes
Plot
The Rat Pack packed it in after this sprightly musical comedy that owes more than it should to Damon Runyon's stories and Frank Loesser and Abe Burrows's classic musical Guys and Dolls. Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen's bright and snappy score features such songs as "Style", "Bang-Bang" and the Sinatra standard "My Kind of Town". Set in 1920s Chicago, the tale begins during a birthday party for head mobster Big Jim (Edward G. Robinson) who is shot to death during the celebration. Rival gangster Guy Gisbourne (Peter Falk) immediately declares himself the chief gangster. The northside gang, headed by Robbo (Frank Sinatra) is willing to grant Guy his self-declared title as long as he leaves the northside territory alone. Guy refuses and when small time hood Little John (Dean Martin) joins Robbo's crew, turf warfare breaks out between the two gangs, resulting in the destruction of both Robbo and Guy's nightclubs. Meanwhile, Big Jim's daughter Marian (Barbara Rush) offers Robbo $50,000 to find the man who killed her father. Robbo demurs and gives the money to his henchman Will (Sammy Davis Jr.) to get rid of. Will, hoping to do a good deed, hands the money over to Allen A. Dale (Bing Crosby), who runs an orphanage. Allen, finding out that the money came from Robbo, informs the newspapers of Robbo's philanthropic enterprise and Robbo immediately becomes a local celebrity, referred to as Chicago's Robin Hood. For his part, Robbo is willing to go along with the publicity. On the romantic front, although Robbo is attracted to Marian, he gives her the brush-off when he finds she is using a charitable foundation as a front for a counterfeiting ring being run by herself and Little John. Robbo tells Marian to leave town. Instead, she hooks up with Guy, proposing that he kill both Robbo and Little John. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Review
"Breezy" isn't the first word that always comes to mind when dealing with gangster films, but it's applicable to Robin and the Seven Hoods, a decidedly lighthearted little excursion into gang territory. "Bizarre" also applies, but the film is so innocuous that the oddness doesn't get in the way. Rat Pack fans will be the most delighted by Robin, but while it certainly helps to like the kind of in-jokes that permeate the film, even those "not in the know" will find it enjoyable, if awkwardly structured and a bit long. The Sammy Cahn/Jimmy Van Heusen score has some truly atrocious lyrics, but composer Van Heusen knew how to write for this cast, and the songs fit very well with their voices and styles. Frank Sinatra is in his full mid-'60s mode, tossing off lines carelessly and giving an effortless, relaxed performance -- as do Bing Crosby and Dean Martin, leaving the field clear for Sammy Davis Jr. to supply pep and vitality. Fortunately, the relaxed nature of so much of the cast comes across as sheer ease, and the leads all seem to just be having fun. All of this allows Peter Falk to practically walk away with the film with his wonderful Gisborne, and walk he does. Robin runs out of steam before its finish and could easily have stood to lose 15 minutes, but it's a genial and amusing little time capsule. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Barbara Rush - Marian; Victor Buono - Sheriff Potts; Hank Henry - Six Second; Jack LaRue - Tomatoes; Robert Foulk - Sheriff Glick; Phillip Crosby - Hood; Robert Carricart - Blue Jaw; Phil Arnold - Hatrack; Linda Brent - Woman Derelict; Joe Brooks; Hans Conried - Mr. Ricks; Mickey Finn - Barkeeper; Joe Gray; Allen Jenkins - Vermin; Barry Kelley - Police Chief; Larry D. Mann - Workman; Maurice Manson - Dignitary; Boyd "Red" Morgan; Manuel Padilla; Tony Randall - Hood; Edward G. Robinson - Big Jim; Sig Rumann - Hammacher; Joseph Ruskin - Twitch; Diane Sayer - "Booze" Witness; Frank Scannell - Lawyer; Al Silvani - Robbo's hood; Richard Sinatra; Harry Swoger - Soup Meat; Harry Wilson - Gisborne's hood; Al Wyatt; William Zuckert; Richard Bakalyan - Robbo's hood; Bernard Fein - Charlie Bananas; Mark Sherwood - Boy; Roger Creed - Gisborne's Hood; Thom Conroy; Ronnie Dayton - Man; Chris Hughes - Jud; Eddie Ness; John Pedrini; Dick Simmons - Prosecutor; Jerry Davis
"Big" Jim Stevens (Edward G. Robinson), undisputed boss of the Chicago underworld, gets an unexpected birthday present from his ambitious lieutenant, Guy Gisborne (Peter Falk). Instead of a stripper popping out of the cake, he gets shot by all the guests. With Big Jim out of the way, Gisborne takes over. The news does not sit well with Big Jim's friend and fellow gangster, Robbo (Frank Sinatra), and a gangland war breaks out.
Even after recruiting pool hustler Little John (Dean Martin), quick-draw artist Will (Sammy Davis, Jr.) and the rest of his seven hoods, Robbo's band is greatly outnumbered. In addition, the corrupt Sheriff, Octavius Glick (Robert Foulk), is on Gisbourne's payroll.
The lovely Marian (Barbara Rush), Big Jim's refined, well-educated daughter, asks Robbo to avenge her father's death (wrongfully attributed to the sheriff). She gives him $50,000 when the sheriff disappears (killed by Gisborne), thinking that Robbo did as she had asked.
Disdaining money he did not earn, Robbo donates it to a boys' orphanage. Its director, Alan A. Dale (Bing Crosby), notifies the newspapers and a media star is born: a gangster who robs from the rich and gives to the poor. Robbo finds it useful to have the public on his side. He invites the delighted Dale to join his gang.
Marian appears to have her own agenda. She first tries to ally herself with Robbo, only to be rebuffed. Then she attempts to seduce Little John into turning on his boss, but he's not buying what she's selling. She finds a willing partner in Gisborne, only to have Robbo dispose of him. The new sheriff, Potts (Victor Buono), proves useless as well. In the end, Marian finds a most unexpected accomplice in Alan A. Dale.
Between them, they are too smart for Robbo and his old-fashioned tactics. They turn public opinion against Robbo by framing him. When the dust settles, they end up in control of the city, while Robbo and his merry men are reduced to dressing up as Santa Claus to solicit charitable donations.
Peter Lawford was originally cast as Alan A. Dale, but when Lawford's brothers-in-law, John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, opted to stay at Lawford's house during a West Coast trip instead of at Sinatra's as originally planned -- Sinatra had built a helipad and made countless other arrangements for the eagerly awaited presidential visit -- a furious Sinatra ostracized Lawford from the Rat Pack. Crosby ended up cast in Lawford's role.
Music
Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen wrote the score. Crosby, still a major movie star at the time, wound up singing more songs than Sinatra. The memorable rendition of "Style" by Sinatra, Crosby, and Martin consists of the three singing about a hat not being a hat 'til it's tilted, but at the conclusion of each verse, Martin untilts his hat and wears it straight across his forehead!
"My Kind of Town" is the centerpiece number of the film. Orchestral versions of the song are the primary element of the opening and closing credits. A dance band also plays the song in Robbo's speakeasy. Sinatra sings the song to the citizens outside the courthouse after having been framed for, and acquitted of, murdering the sheriff.
Songs
"My Kind of Town", performed by Frank Sinatra
"Mr. Booze", Bing Crosby and others
"All for One and One for All", Peter Falk and others
"Don't be a Do-Badder", Crosby and the Mitchell Boy Singers
