MovieChat Forums > The Pride and the Passion (1957) Discussion > Sinatra was ridiculous in this movie...

Sinatra was ridiculous in this movie...

posted 16 years ago by FilmVintage
10 replies | jump to latest

"Out of place" doesn't even begin to describe it. If there ever was an epic miscast, this was it. A note should have been attached to his resume that said, "Does not do lavish period-piece, costume dramas requiring ridiculous Spanish accents and absurd coiffures." Honestly, Sinatra is an incredible actor with a great range, but this was just a no-no. I couldn't help but feel embarrassed for him watching it. What are you doing, Frank? Even Cary Grant (who, if we all remember The Howards of Virginia, does not fare well in colonial ponytails, waistcoats, and buckled shoes) looked more like he belonged in a revolution than Ol' Blue Eyes. Sinatra belongs in Guys & Dolls. Sinatra belongs in The Manchurian Candidate. Sinatra belongs in The Man With The Golden Arm. Sinatra belongs in Von Ryan's Express and Ocean's Eleven and From Here To Eternity. But he does not belong in The Pride and The Passion. You might as well have cast him as Cyrano de Bergerac.

[–] bradford-1 12 years ago

Do you think Brando would've been any better? I doubt ANYONE could've done the part in a straightforward manner. When I watched it, I could only think of Billy Crystal as "Fernando," crooning to Sophia: "You look mahhvahlous, darlink."

"We're fighting for this woman's honor, which is more than she ever did."

[–] streetlegal 12 years ago

Sinatra himself used to joke about his performance and accent in this film however I think he was being too harsh on himself. It's initially a shock to see and hear Sinatra and perhaps the fact that his usual screen persona and 'normal' voice are so familiar mean he was miscast in the role but in my opinion he was fine in the movie.

I'm a big Brando fan but I agree with the previous post, if Marlon had played the part the unintentionally funny elements in the role would still be there-any well known American screen actor would not have been taken entirely seriously in the part.

Incidentally I have a book about Sinatra's movie career and apparently this film was both a big hit and received mostly positive reviews from the critics.
Sinatra hated making it and did not get on well with Kramer during filming, eventually leaving the location and then insisting his scenes be completed in the studio so perhaps that's the reason he ridiculed the finished film.

[–] gribfritz2 11 years ago

Brando, Sinatra... I don't know what they were thinking. Just get Anthony Quinn and be done with it. He would have been absurdly over the top, but it suits him.

[–] stephtastrophe 10 years ago

I thought Frank Sinatra was pretty good actually and mainly why I watched it (I watched Von Ryan's Express the other week) and I thought his Spanish accent was quite good.

real human being and a real hero

[–] Jes' Sayin' (5948) 2 years ago

It was good. At least he was trying to have one. Sophia didn't really.
Sinatra was also willing to appear in that awful hair cut. He was certainly trying here.

[–] tseybert 9 years ago

Sinatra may be the most ridiculous thing in this movie but he's not the only ridiculous thing.

I'm enjoying it anyway. It's not boring. I'm a sucker for the epic films of classic Hollywood, as long as they have anything at all going for them. And The Pride and the Passion has Cary Grant and Sophia Loren.

And also the scenes where the French troops are marching by and the cannon and several hundred Spaniards are just off the road, hiding behind a bush. I find these scene hilarious.

Janet! Donkeys!

[–] tony1970 9 years ago

and so was Grant,probably more.

[–] john-wheat 9 years ago

It sounds like Sinatra was a real jerk during filming. He insisted that his own car be airlifted to Spain at the studio's expense? Also heard he hated Spain and gave Stanley Kramer a hard time about it. I would have fired him on the spot and replaced him.

I would have cast Ricardo Montalban in his role. I think he would have done good. I agree with the person who suggested Anthony Quinn.

[–] tireless_crank 8 years ago

The advantage of Montalban would have been lower costs and ego.

[–] spookyrat1 7 years ago

If there ever was an epic miscast, this was it.

Yep, to the max!🐭