favorite movie #99 - holiday edition: robin and the 7 hoods

Favorite movies that have had an impact on me - #99 - Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964) - Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack buddies Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. have fun with this Robin Hood-inspired musical. There are fun musical numbers, lots of mobster-inflected dialogue, and a general devil-may-care attitude that makes the good guy gangster romp fun. Sinatra introduces the hit song "My Kind of Town,' but my favorite numbers are Sammy Davis, Jr. shooting up a speakeasy with "Bang! Bang!" and Bing Crosby presiding over "Mr. Booze." Crosby, Sinatra, and Martin also do a great rendition of "Style". All of the songs are by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen.

Sammy shoots and taps his way through the speakeasy

Sinatra belts "My Kind of Town"

How to hide a speakeasy

Link to Christmas:

you've either got or you haven't got style

We watched the movie Robin and the Seven Hoods last night and it was, as always, a lot of fun. What really struck me as I watched Frankie, Dino, and Der Bingle was the absolute joy and ease they had in performing, which was translated directly to the audience. It's impossible to watch them do this number and not smile.

I don't think that their style should or could really be copied (no matter how many try), or that it would even sound right in today's world as anything contemporary. But it seems that so many entertainers today are so labored, so overdone. So many cheerleader-style synchronized dancing and microphone headsets. It's all such a production. There's lots of pyrotechnics, but little joy.

I really enjoy Lady Gaga, but was exhausted after watching her recent special on HBO with all of the elaborate stage sets and back-up dancers. I realize that's what a concert is these days, but the most powerful moments of the program were the a capella version Gaga and her company did of "Born This Way" over the closing credits. She has been doing some more soulful renditions of her songs lately, without all of the sturm und drang, so she must realize too, that sometimes simple and easy is best.

And if any of today's performers would like to see how a relaxed performance can yield high results, all they have to do us take a look at these three guys:

dino does rudy

Does anyone have a lazier, more delightful inflection than Dean Martin?



"Poor Rudy"

"Rudy the red-beaked reindeer"

a marshmallow world

When you have a kid, you've got to shed some of your coolness factor and embrace the all-day, all-night Xmas music station. At least now that she's old enough to want to hear the music. Don't worry, I'm also passing on my misspent youth - she likes to sing along to Should I Stay or Should I Go.

I have to admit that I am actually enjoying listening to the station this year (but only in the car, not at home - I'm not completely mental.) Most of the fun comes from watching my daughter light up when Rudolph or Frosty plays, or learning what other holiday ditties float her boat, like Jingle Bell Rock. I am also relieved that she can't stand Mannheim Steamroller or the Trans-Siberian Orchestra ("Too sad - I don't like it!") I'm right there with you kid. I think it's sort of creepy music, actually. I prefer vocals. Always.

What I enjoy is not the umpteenth time that White Christmas is played, although it's definitely a classic, but when they play some obscure version of either a traditional song or some weird, forced holiday tune, like Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by the Pretenders - I had to use Shazam on my iPhone to find out who was strangling the cat. Unbelievably painful. What was Chrissie Hynde drinking that day? I actually like the song, and the best version is by Judy Garland from the film Meet Me in St. Louis, but James Taylor does a pretty good one, too.The song actually captures what it's like to be away from your loved ones at the holidays and has a poignant wartime reference, whether originally in post-war 1944 or today.

Sometimes I end up liking holiday songs by an artist that I don't like when they do their own material. I find Sarah McLachlan too twee most of the time, but I like the version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen she does with Barenaked Ladies.


While I was sipping hot cocoa at lunch this afternoon with the ubiquitous holiday music playing in the background, I was treated to a Rat Pack Christmas. Most of it was pretty awful, especially from Sinatra, with his "hey youse guys, I can style any song you can trow at me!" delivery. And don't even challenge me on this. I'm from Joisey. But I do have to 'fess up to a fondness for Dino's version of Rudy...