Entertaining film that brought me memories from childhood
Fernando Silva | Santiago de Chile. | 01/20/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This one is by no means a great musical, but is an amiable, entertaing music-comedy from Hollywood's and MGM's Golden Era, produced by the Joe Pasternak Unit (not the more "artistic" Freed Unit), which usually produced the musicals which starred such performers as Kathryn Grayson, Jane Powell, Mario Lanza, Esther Williams, June Allyson, Van Johnson, etc.
I first saw this film as a small kiddie on a local TV channel and was highly amused by it, on one of those boring winter afternoons after school (I didn't do my homework, watched this movie instead and I haven't regretted it in over 21 years).
Sinatra stars as the highly-impressionable, shy, mild, bandit of the title, who's unwilling to inherit his father's credits as one of the most notorious rogues of California. Grayson looks very pretty as the Governor's daughter and gets to sing some nice songs. J. Carrol Naish more or less steals the show as Sinatra's mentor and sidekick and Mildred Natwick, as Grayson's aunt, is equally funny. Clinton Sundberg is also quite funny as the Governor's (Mikhail Rasumny) Colonel, who's continually being "demoted" by him.
Musical Highest point: The highly energetic dance-ensemble by the great Ann Miller & Cyd Charisse, who "confront" each other, over Ricardo Montalban's affections.
"
The Kissing Bandit
Fernando Silva | 01/07/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The reviews I had read about this film were not very good and it had put me of purchasing it, but I'm glad I did as I find it a very funny film that is everything a good musical should be. I think Frank Sinatra is good in the film even though it is said that this film destoyed his career, but then maybe my tastes are different from most."
Stealthisreview
Fernando Silva | 06/21/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"It seems to me that the studios found themselves with an enormous talent on their hands named Frank Sinatra, but did not know what to do with him. So they stuck him in these silly films that would appeal to his bobby soxer fans (who'll see anything he's in good or bad) to make a fast buck. The studio was really doing him and his audience a disservice by not making better use of his talents with excellent scripts and songs. Wasted talent. Anyway, Frank sings nicely and looks adorable in his period costumes, but why must they keep casting him as the innocent lunkhead--very repititious casting. There is no reason a romantic comedy couldn't be better written. This is still a fun film to watch for Frank fans (and I guess Grayson fans and other minor character actors)."