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A Hole in the Head

  • 19591959
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Edward G. Robinson, Frank Sinatra, Carolyn Jones, Eleanor Parker, and Thelma Ritter in A Hole in the Head (1959)
Widower Tony is trying to keep a small Miami hotel afloat while raising a 12-year-old son. He's forced to ask his harried brother Mario for help, but he'll only bail Tony out if he quits his bohemian lifestyle and marries a sensible woman.
Play trailer2:55
1 Video
44 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama

Widower Tony is trying to keep a small Miami hotel afloat while raising a 12-year-old son. He's forced to ask his harried brother Mario for help, but he'll only bail Tony out if he quits his... Read allWidower Tony is trying to keep a small Miami hotel afloat while raising a 12-year-old son. He's forced to ask his harried brother Mario for help, but he'll only bail Tony out if he quits his bohemian lifestyle and marries a sensible woman.Widower Tony is trying to keep a small Miami hotel afloat while raising a 12-year-old son. He's forced to ask his harried brother Mario for help, but he'll only bail Tony out if he quits his bohemian lifestyle and marries a sensible woman.

IMDb RATING
6.2/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Frank Capra
  • Writer
    • Arnold Schulman(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Frank Sinatra
    • Edward G. Robinson
    • Eleanor Parker
Top credits
  • Director
    • Frank Capra
  • Writer
    • Arnold Schulman(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Frank Sinatra
    • Edward G. Robinson
    • Eleanor Parker
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 36User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 1 win & 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:55
    Trailer

    Photos44

    Edward G. Robinson, Eleanor Parker, and Thelma Ritter in A Hole in the Head (1959)
    Edward G. Robinson, Frank Sinatra, Eddie Hodges, and Thelma Ritter in A Hole in the Head (1959)
    Frank Sinatra and Carolyn Jones in A Hole in the Head (1959)
    Frank Sinatra and Eddie Hodges in A Hole in the Head (1959)
    Frank Sinatra and Carolyn Jones in A Hole in the Head (1959)
    Frank Sinatra and Eddie Hodges in A Hole in the Head (1959)
    Frank Sinatra and Eddie Hodges in A Hole in the Head (1959)
    Frank Sinatra and Keenan Wynn in A Hole in the Head (1959)
    Frank Sinatra, Eleanor Parker, and Dub Taylor in A Hole in the Head (1959)
    Edward G. Robinson, Eddie Hodges, Thelma Ritter, and Dub Taylor in A Hole in the Head (1959)
    Frank Sinatra and Eleanor Parker in A Hole in the Head (1959)
    Frank Sinatra and Eddie Hodges in A Hole in the Head (1959)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Frank Sinatra
    Frank Sinatra
    • Tony Manettaas Tony Manetta
    Edward G. Robinson
    Edward G. Robinson
    • Mario Manettaas Mario Manetta
    Eleanor Parker
    Eleanor Parker
    • Eloise Rogersas Eloise Rogers
    Carolyn Jones
    Carolyn Jones
    • Shirlas Shirl
    Thelma Ritter
    Thelma Ritter
    • Sophie Manettaas Sophie Manetta
    Keenan Wynn
    Keenan Wynn
    • Jerry Marksas Jerry Marks
    Joi Lansing
    Joi Lansing
    • Dorineas Dorine
    Connie Sawyer
    Connie Sawyer
    • Miss Wexleras Miss Wexler
    James Komack
    James Komack
    • Julius Manettaas Julius Manetta
    • (as Jimmy Komack)
    Dub Taylor
    Dub Taylor
    • Fredas Fred
    George DeWitt
    • Mendy Yalesas Mendy Yales
    Benny Rubin
    Benny Rubin
    • Abe Diamondas Abe Diamond
    Ruby Dandridge
    Ruby Dandridge
    • Sallyas Sally
    B.S. Pully
    • Hoodas Hood
    Joyce Nizzari
    • Aliceas Alice
    Pupi Campo
    • Master of Ceremoniesas Master of Ceremonies
    Eddie Hodges
    Eddie Hodges
    • Ally Manettaas Ally Manetta
    Selma Minden Grenald
    • Mrs. Tessleras Mrs. Tessler
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Frank Capra
    • Writer
      • Arnold Schulman(screenplay) (play)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Tony Manetta runs an unsuccessful Miami hotel, on which he can't meet the payments. Another liability is his weakness for dames (Shirl, his sexy current flame, is even less responsible than Tony). But a solid asset is Ally, his sensible 12-year-old son. When Tony wants stolid brother Mario to bail him out again, Mario makes conditions: give up Ally, or at least get married to a "nice, quiet little woman" of his selection. Tony and Ally just play along to be diplomatic, but when the woman in question proves to look like Eleanor Parker... —Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
    • miami florida
    • bankrupt hotel
    • bare chested male
    • hairy chest
    • possessive female
    • 5 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • A Frank Hug...A Frank Squeeze...And Zing Will Go the Strings of Your Heart!
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When Abe complains about the $1.25 for the cup of coffee, that would equate to $10.60 in 2017. And when Tony asks Mario for $5,300, that would equate to nearly $45,000 in 2017.
    • Goofs
      The final scene includes several shots looking out across the beach towards the ocean and there are some hills evident along the distant coastline which does not match the topography near Miami Beach, Florida. This was shot at Hollywood Beach, Oxnard, California.
    • Quotes

      Tony Manetta: [voice-over] That's my hotel right there, The Garden of Eden. But like good old Adam, my weakness is Eves. My current Eve is a lulu. She woulda made the serpent eat the apple.

    • Crazy credits
      The title and the names of Frank Capra and the leading actors appear as an aerial advertisement attached to the Goodyear blimp.
    • Connections
      Featured in Frank Capra's American Dream (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      All My Tomorrows
      (1959)

      Written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen (as James Van Heusen)

      Sung by Frank Sinatra (uncredited) behind credits, instrumental version played on radio in Tony's suite and heard in the score

    User reviews36

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    There is Better Carpra, Sinatra, and Robinson Out There
    Read all my reviews at www.midnitcafe.blogspot.com

    I received A Hole in the Head for my birthday in a Frank Sinatra double pack with the original Manchurian Candidate. I had put off watching it because it did not seem like a movie I would particularly enjoy. But in my quest to watch and review all of my movies, I had no choice but to put it in the player. Of course the fact that my wife wanted to watch it prompted me a little further even to the point of watching it out of alphabetical order.

    Frank Capra is the great godfather of sentimental movies. Many of these are deservedly hailed by fans and critics. From Mr Smith Goes to Washington to It's a Wonderful Life Capra made movies about the little guys fighting the system and coming out on top. These movies are sentimental enough to be dubbed "Capracorn" by the system, but are handled with masterful hands that rise above the schmaltz created by so many others. Besides little guys he also flooded his movies with eccentric characters standing out in a world full or normal folk. Arsenic and Old Lace and You Can't Take it With You are standouts of this form. Sadly, A Hole in the Head tries to mix both of these Capra types and fails on both accounts.

    The film is the second to last picture ever made by Capra and was the beginning of an attempted comeback from a few years break from making Hollywood pictures. But instead of a comeback this film serves only to remind us of what Capra used to be. Frank Sinatra plays a down on his luck big dreamer who is about to be evicted from his hotel business in Miami, Florida. He calls up his brother, Edward G Robinson and sister-in-law Thelma Ritter for help pretending his son is sick. Robinson and wife quickly head down from New York to see what's going on. Hilarity and sentimentality ensue. Swinging Sinatra butts heads with button down Robinson until a quick ending and easy solution are found.

    The performances of the stars are fine. At this point in their careers Sinatra and Robinson are essentially playing themselves. Although Sinatra is more up and coming to the declining Robinson. There are some good jokes and the simple story is fair enough as it is. Capra fills Sinatra's hotel with an odd collection of eccentrics that seem to have no other purpose but to fill up some time and tell a few jokes. The ending of the movie seems tied on and creates changes to some characters without any real provocation. The cheese factor is high even for a Capra film and it's not subdued by any superb performances. The drama is not elevated above the schlock you would see in a made for TV movie.

    The stand out of the film is Sinatra and son singing the classic "High Hopes." Being a fan of Sinatra more as a singer than actor this amusing break in the middle of the picture helped keep my hopes up for a decent picture. Those hopes were not shattered, nor were they completely fulfilled. For beginners of "Capracorn" you should pick out some of his earlier, superior films. But for a lonely night in need of some corny sentiment, this is some fluffy candy that just might fill.

    More reviews at www.midnitcafe.blogspot.com
    helpful•26
    13
    • MatBrewster
    • May 3, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 15, 1959 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • All My Tomorrows
    • Filming locations
      • Cardozo Hotel - 1300 Ocean Drive, South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida, USA
    • Production company
      • SinCap Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $11,000,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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