Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964)

In Chicago, during the Prohibition, two rival gangs compete for control of the city's rackets.

Director:

Gordon Douglas

Writer:

David R. Schwartz

Stars:

Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr.

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Frank Sinatra	...	Robbo
Dean Martin	...	John
Sammy Davis Jr.	...	Will
Bing Crosby	...	Allen A. Dale
Peter Falk	...	Guy Gisborne
Barbara Rush	...	Marian
Victor Buono	...	Sheriff Potts
Hank Henry	...	Six Seconds
Robert Foulk	...	Sheriff Glick
Allen Jenkins	...	Vermin
Jack La Rue	...	Tomatoes (as Jack LaRue)
Robert Carricart	...	Blue Jaw
Joseph Ruskin	...	Twitch
Phil Arnold	...	Hatrack
Harry Swoger	...	Soupmeat

Storyline

In Prohibition-era Chicago, the murder of mob boss Big Jim Stevens leaves a vacuum at the top. As the murder was orchestrated by Gisborne - one of Big Jim's underlings - with the assistance of Sheriff Glick and Deputy Sheriff Potts, who were also in Big Jim's back pocket, Gisborne plans to take over. However, Big Jim would have wanted Robbo, who he treated like a son, to take over. As such, a gangland war ensues, with Robbo having among his men an Indiana pool hustler named Little John, and Will, a sharp shooter. What happens between the two gangs is affected by Marian Stevens, Big Jim's beautiful and sophisticated daughter, who inherited her father's ambition and has more criminal smarts than her father. Among Marian's wants is for her father's murder to be avenged. Marian's intervention into the matter leads to Robbo and his band of merry men gaining some legitimacy within the Chicago public mindset, he giving some of his profits and the profits of others to the less fortunate. But ...

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Plot Keywords:

dancing | singing | rat pack | bootlegger | crime boss | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Musical

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 June 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

Robin and the Seven Hoods

Filming Locations:

Rosedale Cemetary, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$9,810,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., P-C Productions, Essex Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording) (uncredited)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final film of Jack La Rue.

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Goofs

During Will's song and dance following the destruction of Gisborne's casino, Will kicks a tray of intact plates and cups. Most of the plates and cups are seen to be broken as they fly through the air before they hit the ground (when they should have broken), showing that they are already "broken" props.

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Quotes

Allen A. Dale: Oh boy! I'm a hood!

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Connections

Referenced in Robin Hood (2010)

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Soundtracks

Style
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Music by Jimmy Van Heusen (as James Van Heusen)
Performed by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin

User Reviews

Bing steals it!

Take the Rat Pack (an expression Sinatra hated, by the way), add some great songs, a decent story, AND Bing Crosby, and what do you get?

Well, less than you might expect-I've rated this a "7", because despite the above, Sinatra much of the time looks like he'd rather be someplace else, and Peter Falk's performance is cliche'-ridden.

The reason to see this one is Bing Crosby. He has several great songs, delivered in his inimitable style, such as "Mr. Booze". And his comedy bits, especially as a preacher to a Salvation Army-like meeting, are hilarious.