Watching the Detectives: Frank Sinatra is Tony Rome
After FrightFest it seems strange not to be watching four films a day and to be watching something other than a horror movie.
Writer Richard L. Breen takes the dysfunctional family from Hawks’ The Big Sleep and crafts a more lightweight thriller round it. Some of the dialogue really snaps but there are a few moments of silliness that detract from the atmosphere. Gordon Douglas pedestrian direction doesn’t do the film any favours and the swinging ‘60s setting dates it badly.
On the plus side we have Sinatra whose laconic delivery is made for playing gumshoes. He may not be Bogie but given some decent lines, as he is at times in this, he shines. None of the supporting cast make much of an impression, with Jill St John’s Ann Archer there as much to supply key plot details than provide a love interest for Frank.
Sinatra deserved a better movie, even if you do get the impression he really didn’t want to try too hard.
