The Kissing Bandit

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Ronald F The movie was a box office disappointment in 1948, but 75 years later, it has a certain nostalgia for the movie buff. It has a very good cast with cameo roles of some of the biggest stars of MGM before they were stars, including Ann Miller, Cyd Charisse, and Ricardo Montalbon. And J. Carol Naish and Mildred Natwick steal the show. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Every man needs a woman to inspire him. Ricardo has left his family in Mexico to go to college in Boston and make an honest living. Unfortunately, his family makes him come back to Mexico after his father dies and pick up the family business...as the kissing bandit. Ricardo reluctantly begins the family business with the help of a family friend. "You think I enjoy meeting a man like you?" Laslo Benedek, director of The Wild One; Death of a Salesman, Namu, The Killer Whale; The Night Visitor; Sons, Mother, and a General; and Affair in Havana, delivers The Kissing Bandit. The storyline for this picture is just okay but the characters are fun and the film concludes well. The acting is awesome and the cast includes Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, J. Carrol Naish, and Mildred Natwick. "What are you, you ugly man?" I randomly came across this some time ago on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and had to DVR it. I love Sinatra and this was a fun movie from his youth. This wasn't an overly serious movie, and has some good comedic lines; but overall, this is just an average addition to the genre. "Kissing is the best part of the job." Grade: C+ Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Pretty awful and actually very insulting Frank Sinatra musical vehicle where old blue eyes plays a latino. Even if you can get by or forgive the Hollywood practice of this era of Anglo stars playing ethnic parts, it's still not a very good film. Frank plays a goofy kid who is the son of the the infamous Kissing Bandit. She's supposed to take over for his father, but Frank was raised in Boston and can't even ride a horse. Unfunny comedy ensures, followed by unmemorable musical numbers (and I do count myself as a fan of Sinatra). The only reason I watched this film is my current obsession with Ricardo Montalban, who ended up only playing "Fiesta Specialty Dancer." The film does feature the great Cyd Charisse, but there really isn't a whole lot to recommend about this film. I suppose it's probably only for Sinatra die-hards or for Ricardo Montalban completionists like myself. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The MGM musical that everybody loves to hate actually has some highlights: Grayson sings the standard "Love Is Where You Find It," Broadway dancer Sono Osato makes a rare screen appearance dancing with a whip, and - best of all - Ricardo Montalban, Cyd Charisse and Ann Miller do the "Dance of Fury." Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member one of the silliest musicals ever made even its star frank sinatra used 2 joke about how bad it was/is. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Wow, this movie was terrible! The dance with Cyd Charisse, Ann Miller, and Ricardo Montalban is the best part of this movie. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Kissing Bandit

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