HotToastyRag As famous as this movie is supposed to be, I don't really recommend watching it. Chances are, you'll only be watching it because you like Frank Sinatra and want to join the Rat Pack, but if you manage to sit through this two-hour debacle, you'll try to withdraw your membership application.To put it simply, everyone involved in this movie was having a really bad day. The songs, written by Sammy Cahn and James Van Heusen, were unspeakably awful and universally too slow in tempo. The one famous song to come out of it, "My Kind of Town", felt like it had been slowed down by fifty percent. Dean Martin, though never accused of being a good actor, looked like he didn't know what was going on and that he could barely remember the minimal choreography. And if Sammy Davis, Jr. can't sell a song, nobody can. During the one horrible song he was given, he looked like he was giving a Jerry Lewis impression. Finally, Frank Sinatra, who once was full of pep and vigor as he tap danced alongside Gene Kelly, looked incredibly tired and angry. In nearly every scene, he looked like he'd rather be anywhere else in the world. I wondered what could have happened to him during the filming, since it was obvious his mind was elsewhere, and after the film was over I read the backstory behind his very noticeably grumpy performance. I'm sure if you read up on the film as I did, you'll cut him some slack.Robin and the 7 Hoods takes place during the 1920s, and Frank Sinatra and Peter Falk head up rival factions of a Chicago gang. While Frankie has the Rat Pack on his side, Peter has classic old timers like Harry Wilson and Allen Jenkins at his table. The best part of the film is the beginning, when the gang celebrates the birthday of gang-leader Edward G. Robinson. It really is a great five minutes, but the movie tumbles downhill immediately after that.

SnoopyStyle It's the prohibition era in Chicago. Guy Gisborne (Peter Falk) with the help of the Sheriff takes over after assassinating Big Jim. Robbo (Frank Sinatra) was Big Jim's friend and refuses to go along. Will (Sammy Davis Jr.) is Robbo's right hand man in the north side. Pool hustler John (Dean Martin) is new in town and Allen A. Dale (Bing Crosby) is the director of an orphanage for boys. Gisborne starts a war with Robbo. Marian (Barbara Rush) is Big Jim's secret daughter and tries to hire Robbo to avenge his father's murder.This film is more notable for what happened behind the scenes. The music is old fashion Rat Pack. It's great for fans of their style but none of it is really catchy. There is little energy and considering the circumstances, it's perfectly understandable. The camera style is rather pedestrian and the whole movie lacks pace.

writers_reign This, the last of the so-called 'Clan/Rat Pack' movies was also marginally the best; the first entry, Ocean's Eleven, was a stylish caper movie with laffs, the second, Sergeants Three, and third, Four For Texas, were strictly for die-hard fans but Robin And The Seven Hoods has the style and polish of Ocean's and a much larger score by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen which is also far superior to the two numbers they wrote for Ocean's Eleven. This is an integrated score in the sense that the songs aren't meant to stand alone but to support and/or advance the plot which they do to a fare-thee-well but nevertheless one of them, the last, My Kind Of Town, performed by Sinatra to celebrate his being exonerated on trumped-up charges went on to become one of his signature songs, performed in his live concerts ever after. There's a great cameo from Eddie Robinson that kickstarts the plot and fine ensemble playing throughout. Recommended.

Spikeopath After Chicago mob boss Big Jim is gunned down on his birthday, shifty Guy Gisborne takes control of operations. But Big Jim's favourite man, Robbo, is having none of it, and along with his loyal North Side Crew and a drifter known as Little John, set about stopping Gisbourne and his corrupt government pals in their tracks.Easily the best of the Rat Pack pictures, Robin And The 7 Hoods is a piece that is more befitting their respective talents. Containing great songs courtesy of Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn, and boasting big time stars seemingly enjoying their respective roles, it is however a picture that possibly should be far far better. Perhaps it buckles under the weight of expectation with the names on show? Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis Jr and Peter Falk, now that is some roll call in star appeal, or maybe it called for a better director other than safe and steady, Gordon Douglas? But what we get is a mostly enjoyable experience that almost comes dangerously close to outstaying its welcome.Personally to me it's a film that I rate higher than it deserves because I get such a kick out of watching these great entertainers enjoy themselves so much, Crosby and Falk in particular are having the time of their lives, with Crosby walking in and stealing the film from under the other's noses. There is also something special to me in a sequence as the gang ham it up gospel style for "Mr Booze", check out the looks on some of the guys faces, priceless cinema, whilst watching Old Blue Eyes sing "My Kind Of Town" will forever be a cherishable moment to me. There is a fair bit of interesting trivia attached to the picture which is readily available on this and many other internet sites, so I'll just move on a quickly surmise that Robin And The 7 Hoods should have been a classic, but for me personally I'll settle for hugely enjoyable. 7/10