Robin and the 7 Hoods Review
By Christopher Null
Sinatra plays a low-level gangster named Robbo, and his band of merry men (with usuals Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., plus a cryptically cast Bing Crosby) battles the malicious big-time hood Guy Gisborne (Peter Falk, quite funny here). Things aren't going so well until Robbo comes across $50 grand he refuses to accept. He ends up donating the money to charity -- and suddenly, the legend of Robin Hood, who robs from the rich and gives to the poor, is born.
The film's more entertaining elements are its light moments -- Martin hustling Sinatra at pool while scamming on a cocktail waitress, Robbo's new casino, which converts to a Bible-session hall at the touch of a button should the cops come knocking. But too much of the movie doesn't work. It's way too long, repeats itself at length, and is saddled by an endless procession of awful musical numbers (one has Davis singing about how much he loves his guns, one has Crosby crooning that "do-badders" in an orphanage will go to hell), and they're all unfortunately badly dubbed.
The DVD features commentary from Frank Sinatra Jr. and a making-of documentary/promotional piece produced by Warner Bros. back in the day.
Facts and Figures
Year: 1964
Run time: 123 mins
In Theaters: Wednesday 24th June 1964
Distributed by: WARNER BROTHERS PICTURES
Production compaines: Warner Bros Pictures
Reviews
Contactmusic.com: 2.5 / 5
Rotten Tomatoes: 44%
Fresh: 4 Rotten: 5
IMDB: 6.5 / 10
Cast & Crew
Director: Gordon Douglas
Producer: Frank Sinatra
Screenwriter: David R. Schwartz
Starring: Frank Sinatra as Robbo, Dean Martin as Little John, Sammy Davis, Jr. as Will, Bing Crosby as Allen A. Dale, Peter Falk as Guy Gisborne, Barbara Rush as Marian, Victor Buono as Deputy Sheriff Alvin Potts, Hank Henry as Six Seconds, Robert Foulk as Sheriff Octavius Glick, Allen Jenkins as Vermin Witowski, Jack La Rue as Tomatoes, Robert Carricart as Blue Jaw, Edward G. Robinson as Big Jim Stevens (uncredited)
Also starring: Sammy Davis Jr