In what universe was this film even set?! Full-time loser Frank Sinatra runs a hotel in Miami Beach that somehow doesn't make any money. He hasn't paid his rent in over 5 months or even paid his employees in 5 weeks(!!!), but instead of trying to get some cash together he's out partying like it's 1999. A closet full of "
$200 suits", dancing at clubs, driving around drunk in his shiny Cadillac convertible with a sloshed beatnik bimbo in his lap. Oh yeah, he also has an 11-year-old son that seems to pretty much raise himself. The film opens with Frank finishing up a long night of partying, he comes in at 4 a.m. to find his kid holding an eviction notice. So what does he do? Nothing. Just goes crying to his older brother, Edward G. Robinson, about needing some money. After a short eternity of pointless talking, Robinson finally agrees to give him some dough
if Frank will agree to marry sexy and sweet Eleanor Parker and run a department store that Robinson owns!!! The story just goes on and on like this until the inevitable happy ending. It's terrible.
Fantastic cast (except for that annoying little kid), talented director, costume design by Edith Head, nice photography...I was really hoping to like this movie, but holy fook that story was horrendous!!! It seemed like every single decision that Sinatra made was bad. How did so many talented people sign up for this hokum?
Negatives aside, I did enjoy watching Edward G. Robinson and Thelma Ritter. The Miami locations were cool too. I was also interested in Carolyn Jones' beatnik character with her blue nail polish, bongos and free spirit. Kinda unique for a mainstream movie from 1959.
