Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964)

Director:

Gordon Douglas

Writer:

David R. Schwartz (writer)

Release Date:

24 June 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Musical

Tagline:

Like we've taken the Robin Hood legend and changed the bows and arrows to machine guns! ... Like with songs yet! ... Like WILD!

Plot:

In prohibition-era Chicago, the corrupt sheriff and Guy Gisborne, a south-side racketeer, knock off the boss Big Jim...

Plot Keywords:

Orphanage | Sheriff | Robin Hood | Chicago Illinois | Pun In Title

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Frank Sinatra	...	Robbo
Dean Martin	...	Little John
Sammy Davis Jr.	...	Will
Bing Crosby	...	Allen A. Dale
Peter Falk	...	Guy Gisborne
Barbara Rush	...	Marian Stevens
Victor Buono	...	Deputy Sheriff Alvin Potts
Hank Henry	...	Six Seconds
Robert Foulk	...	Sheriff Octavius Glick
Allen Jenkins	...	Vermin Whitouski
Jack La Rue	...	Tomatoes
Robert Carricart	...	Blue Jaw
Joseph Ruskin	...	Twitch
Phil Arnold	...	Hat Rack
Harry Swoger	...	Soupmeat

Also Known As:

Robin and the Seven Hoods (USA) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Spain:T | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | USA:Unrated

Company:

Essex Productions

Trivia:

Last theatrically released musical for Bing Crosby.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Will (Sammy Davis Jr) is shooting up the casino, he fires more shots than either gun holds (12 from one, 11 from the other).

Quotes:

Little John: When your opponent's sittin' there holding all aces, there's only one thing left to do: Kick over the table.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Frasier: RDWRER (#7.12)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Don't be a Do-Badder

Rat Packers spoof the Robin Hood legend, in Chicago!.

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 others 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 cherish-able 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