← Back to Reviews
in
Cast: Rita Hayworth, Frank Sinatra, Kim Novak
Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
Length: 1h 51min
A rather amusing film, I enjoyed it. Frank's got the pipes and belts out some smooth tunes. He's got the right role for himself here too. Years back Sinatra played the put-upon-man, the skinny lad who was always fidgeting and wasn't a hit with the ladies. But the Frank we all know and love...or at least know...is a wild boy, booze and women, women and booze...and in Pal Joey, Ol' Blue Eyes gets to shine. He's a cad, well what did you expect? The ladies love him and guys want to emulate him. This is the real Sinatra as far as I remember.
But what broke my heart was seeing Rita letting herself go so badly. There's rumors about why she looked so tired in this film, but I'm not going to speak of those. One thing is for sure, some things never change...Rita might be shy in private, but when those lights come up and the cameras role, that woman knows how to shine iridescent. It's been awhile, but she'll always have a soft spot in my heart.
This review wouldn't be complete without notice of one certain young lady, Kim Novak. Miss Novak is a directors dream, she combines a unique beauty with a fragileness that's seldom seen on the screen. But it's her sinuous movements that catch my eye. When she moves, she leads with her head and her shoulders and voluptuous body follows. Miss Novak moves like a gazelle and that throaty sensual, but shy voice....mark my words, she has a bright future.
And what about the film you say? Well it was fine in a Hollywood type of way. Thought if I had my druthers I would have dug the camera into the floor, used a wide angle lens with deep focus when Rita does her big stage number, but that's just me.
Pal Joey (1957)
Director: George SidneyCast: Rita Hayworth, Frank Sinatra, Kim Novak
Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
Length: 1h 51min
A rather amusing film, I enjoyed it. Frank's got the pipes and belts out some smooth tunes. He's got the right role for himself here too. Years back Sinatra played the put-upon-man, the skinny lad who was always fidgeting and wasn't a hit with the ladies. But the Frank we all know and love...or at least know...is a wild boy, booze and women, women and booze...and in Pal Joey, Ol' Blue Eyes gets to shine. He's a cad, well what did you expect? The ladies love him and guys want to emulate him. This is the real Sinatra as far as I remember.
But what broke my heart was seeing Rita letting herself go so badly. There's rumors about why she looked so tired in this film, but I'm not going to speak of those. One thing is for sure, some things never change...Rita might be shy in private, but when those lights come up and the cameras role, that woman knows how to shine iridescent. It's been awhile, but she'll always have a soft spot in my heart.
This review wouldn't be complete without notice of one certain young lady, Kim Novak. Miss Novak is a directors dream, she combines a unique beauty with a fragileness that's seldom seen on the screen. But it's her sinuous movements that catch my eye. When she moves, she leads with her head and her shoulders and voluptuous body follows. Miss Novak moves like a gazelle and that throaty sensual, but shy voice....mark my words, she has a bright future.
And what about the film you say? Well it was fine in a Hollywood type of way. Thought if I had my druthers I would have dug the camera into the floor, used a wide angle lens with deep focus when Rita does her big stage number, but that's just me.