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

Edward G. Robinson is best known for his roles as a gangster, especially for Little Caesar (1931), making him the perfect candidate to play Big Jim Stevens.

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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

Little John: [referring to Marian] Where did he dig that up?
Six Seconds: At the cemetery.

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Connections

Version of Robin Hood (1984)

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Soundtracks

All for One and One for All
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Music by Jimmy Van Heusen (as James Van Heusen)
Performed by Peter Falk & Chorus

User Reviews

Sinatra sings "My Kind of Town," and Sammy Davis Jr. interprets the peculiar 'Machine Gun' dance scene…

After an emotional rendition of 'For He's a Jolly Good Fellow' number one gangster, Big Jim, is shot dead at his own birthday party, and Guy Gisborne (Peter Falk) takes over the mob…

Robbo (Frank Sinatra), a rival gangster, warns Gisborne to stay out of the North Side… John (Dean Martin), a minor hood from Indiana, joins Robbo's gang just before Robbo and Gisborne destroy each other's nightclubs… Robbo rebuilds, outfitting his new gambling hall so that it becomes a new little modern casino at the touch of a button…

Marian (Barbara Rush), Big Jim's daughter, gives Robbo $50 grand to kill her father's murderers, but he orders Will (Sammy Davis, Jr.), his aide, to donate the money to an orphanage… Allan A. Dale (Bing Crosby), who runs the institution, crowns Robbo as a modern-day Robin Hood…

The action takes place in the gangland Chicago of 1928 instead of Sherwood Forest… Amusing ideas abounded… The best being a brief appearance by Edward G. Robinson as the chief hood who is shot by the mob just few seconds in the film…

Don't miss the formidable dance number "Style" performed and sung by Sinatra, Martin, and Crosby…