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Frank Sinatra - The Early Years Collection (It Happened in Brooklyn / Step Lively / The Kissing Bandit / Double Dynamite / Higher and Higher) (2008) Review
Film buffs looking for examples of excellent Sinatra films are better directed to the Sinatra DVD box set, "The Golden Years", and also the individual DVDs, "Manchurian Candidate" (1962), "On the Town" (1949), "From Here to Eternity" (1953), "Guys and Dolls" (1955), "Pal Joey" (1957), and "High Society" (1956), among others. For film buffs who are also major fans of Frank Sinatra, however, this DVD box set is a real treat, as none of these films have been released in DVD format before, and many of them have been unavailable in VHS format for years.All of the following films are in B&W, except for "The Kissing Bandit":
"Higher and Higher" (1943) was Sinatra's first full-length film, and, with Jack Haley on board in the lead male role, is somewhat amusing and entertaining filmfare. The highlights, for Sinatra fans, are Sinatra singing "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening" and "The Music Stopped", along with a few other songs. The plot is thin, with Sinatra playing himself, but this film is still a must for major Sinatra fans who will want to own this dated, but rather fun romp. (2 1/2 out of 5 stars)
"Step Lively" (1944) is much more exciting fare for Sinatra fans, as Sinatra plays the lead male role and shares his first on-screen kiss (with co-star Gloria de Haven) in an amusing tale about a Broadway producer (George Murphy) trapped, with his cast, in a Manhattan hotel suite because he can't pay his bill. The plot is amusing, and Sinatra sings four songs, including "As Long as There's Music". (3 1/2 out of 5 stars)
"It Happened in Brooklyn" (1947) is easily the most interesting and entertaining of the films in this box set. Co-stars, Peter Lawford (long before he was in the Rat Pack!) and Jimmy Durante help make this film a thoroughly entertaining musical. Although the musical performances are mostly low-key and not big production numbers, the songs (by Jules Styne and Sammy Cahn) are top-notch, including "Time After Time", "I Believe", "The Brooklyn Bridge", and "It's the Same Old Dream". The high point of the film is the Durante-sinatra duet, "The Song's Gotta Come From the Heart". Also, in the 6 degrees of separation department, a young teenaged Andre Previn is featured on piano (he AND Frank Sinatra each married Mia Farrow a few decades later...)(4 out of 5 stars)
"The Kissing Bandit" (1948) Of all of Sinatra's 50-plus films, this is the film that made Sinatra BLUSH the most when reminiscing about his film career. Yes, this one nearly makes the SO-BAD-IT'S-GOOD department! Sinatra LOOKS fabulous throughout, in lovely Spanish outfits in glorious color, but his acting is at its worst (though a lot of Sinatra fans, like myself, find him rather charming in this film), and the songs are not memorable. This film is definitely worth seeing for its near-camp value, but maybe not a film most people would want to own...the far-superior "Meet Danny Wilson" from 1951 (actually, a VERY GOOD film!) would have made a better choice for this boxed set than "The Kissing Bandit" or the next film in the set...(2 1/2 out of 5 stars)
"Double Dynamite" (1951, but, apparently, filmed years earlier) has the saving grace of co-star GROUCHO MARX! However, even his considerable talents cannot save this film from having the dubious distinction of being even worse than "The Kissing Bandit"! The great Jane Russell also co-stars, but the script is very weak and Sinatra seems spaced-out throughout the film. However, for major Sinatra and Marx fans, there is some charm to be found here. There are also two songs. (2 out of 5 stars)
Now, I've judged these films AS FILMS rather harshly. But, as vehicles for Frank Sinatra in the early years of his career, "Step Lively" and "It Happened in Brooklyn" are really quite excellent. "The Kissing Bandit" and "Double Dynamite" are good for laughs (the wrong kind, but laughs they are!) and have a certain charm to them. Even at his worst, Sinatra could not help but entertain! For that, and for historical value, I rate this DVD boxed set 3 1/2 out of 5 stars, overall.
Frank Sinatra - The Early Years Collection (It Happened in Brooklyn / Step Lively / The Kissing Bandit / Double Dynamite / Higher and Higher) (2008) Overview
FRANK SINATRA: THE EARLY YEARS COLLECTION DOUBLE DYNAMITE A racetrack tip puts bank clerk Sinatra in the green – and in hot water when a substantial amount of cash is missing from the bank. With Jane Russell and Groucho Marx. HIGHER AND HIGHER Starting out – the King of Swoon's first credited feature-film role! A maid poses as a debutante in hopes of wooing wealthy bachelor Frank. With Mel Torme and Dooley Wilson. IT HAPPENED IN BROOKLYN Ex-G.I. Sinatra can't find an apartment when he returns from World War II, but he does find romance in the old neighborhood. With Kathryn Grayson, Jimmy Durante and the signature hit Time After Time. THE KISSING BANDIT He's also a singing bandit! Sinatra brings sly comic ease to the role of timid youth struggling to continue his family's bandito tradition. With Kathryn Grayson, Ann Miller and Cyd Charisse. STEP LIVELY The kid from Jersey winningly steps into his first top billing. An antic backstage farce based on the Broadway hit that also inspired the Marx Brothers' Room Service.Want to learn more information about Frank Sinatra - The Early Years Collection (It Happened in Brooklyn / Step Lively / The Kissing Bandit / Double Dynamite / Higher and Higher) (2008)?
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