A Hole in the Head (1959)

Regista:

Frank Capra

Sceneggiatore:

Arnold Schulman (play)

Data di uscita:

15 luglio 1959 (USA)

Genere:

Comedy

Slogan:

The most wonderful entertainment in the whole wide wonderful world!

Plot:

An impractical widower tries to hang onto his Miami hotel and his 12-year-old son.

Plot Keywords:

Father Son Relationship | Boy | Greyhound Racing | Liar | Motel

Premi:

Won Oscar. Another 3 nominations

Recensioni degli utenti:

Perfect domestic comedy/drama

Cast

Frank Sinatra	...	Tony Manetta
Edward G. Robinson	...	Mario Manetta
Eleanor Parker	...	Eloise Rogers
Carolyn Jones	...	Shirl
Thelma Ritter	...	Sophie Manetta
Keenan Wynn	...	Jerry Marks
Joi Lansing	...	Dorine
Connie Sawyer	...	Miss Wexler
James Komack	...	Julius Manetta (as Jimmy Komack)
Dub Taylor	...	Fred (the clerk)
George DeWitt	...	Mendy Yales
Benny Rubin	...	Abe Diamond
Ruby Dandridge	...	Sally
B.S. Pully	...	Hood
Joyce Nizzari	...	Alice (Jerry's secretary)

Alias:

Uomo da vendere, Un (Italy) [it]

Durata:

120 min

Nazionalità:

USA

Lingua:

Inglese

Colore:

Colore

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sonoro:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Divieti:

New Zealand:G | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:G

Luoghi delle riprese:

Cardozo Hotel - 1300 Ocean Drive, South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida, USA

Company:

Sincap Productions

Curiosità:

Average Shot Length (ASL) = 12 seconds

Errori:

Revealing mistakes: When Ally is shown running back along the street calling for his father at the end, in the distance the taxi is seen making a U-turn while a large crowd of onlookers stand on the streets behind it, obviously watching the scene being filmed.

Citazioni:

Fred: Life is just a bowl of cherries
Tony Manetta: Why
Fred: I don't know. I ain't a philosopher!

Movie Connections:

Citato in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Mole People (#9.3)" (1997)

Colonna sonora:

HIGH HOPES

Perfect domestic comedy/drama

I keep saying that Hollywood can't go wrong when it picks a PLAY as the basis for movies. This film is one more illustration of the correctness of this thesis. It's full of charm, humor, warmth, relevance and STRUCTURE. It doesn't seek to impress, just to please. And pleasing is no mean accomplishment.

The subject is taboo in most movies: economic dependence on relatives. In most movies money is no object, a purely tangential issue, when in fact it plays a huge role in real life. Sinatra plays a "loser", and to make him less despicable, he is adorned with a lovely young son. I find that a bit too manipulative, as if the writer weren't sure that a childless "loser" would be likable enough. Sinatra is very good in the role, but I would have picked an unknown actor, to make the role more believable. And, wonderful as Eddie Hodges always is, I think a childless "loser" would have been more poignant.

I liked the ending very much. It is happy, but not in the trite and trivial way. The main character does NOT overcome his limitations! This film is in the wonderful tradition of "Harvey", which also deals with an embarrassing family member. I can't recommend both films highly enough.