A Hole in the Head

A Hole in the Head (1959) is a DeLuxe Color comedy film, in CinemaScope, directed by Frank Capra, featuring Frank Sinatra, Edward G. Robinson, Eleanor Parker, Keenan Wynn, Carolyn Jones, Thelma Ritter, Dub Taylor, Ruby Dandridge, Eddie Hodges, and Joi Lansing, and released by United Artists.[2][3] It was based upon the play of the same name by Arnold Schulman.

This article is about the 1959 film. For the Sugababes song, see Hole in the Head.
A Hole in the Head
Directed byFrank Capra
Produced byFrank Capra
Screenplay byArnold Schulman
Based onA Hole in the Head
1957 play
by Arnold Schulman
StarringFrank Sinatra
Edward G. Robinson
Eleanor Parker
Keenan Wynn
Carolyn Jones
Thelma Ritter
Dub Taylor
Ruby Dandridge
Joi Lansing
Eddie Hodges
Music byNelson Riddle
CinematographyWilliam H. Daniels
Edited byWilliam Hornbeck
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • July 15, 1959 (1959-07-15)
Running time
120 min
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$5.2 million (est. US/ Canada rentals)[1]

The film introduced the song "High Hopes" by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen, a Sinatra standard used as a campaign song by John F. Kennedy during the presidential election the following year.[4] Wynn plays a wealthy former friend of Sinatra's character who expresses interest in his plan to build a Disneyland in Florida (the film predates Walt Disney World by twelve years)—until he notices that Sinatra seems too desperate as he cheers for a dog upon which he'd bet heavily. The movie ends with Tony, Eloise and Ally singing "High Hopes" on the beach. Sinatra sings "All My Tomorrows," another Cahn/Van Heusen song, under the opening titles.

Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "High Hopes".

Plot

Tony Manetta moved from the shabby area of the Bronx, New York to Miami, Florida with two friends, searching for wealth and success. One friend became prosperous over the next 20 years (owning luxury hotels) and is a promoter, while his younger friend drives a local taxi. Tony manages a small hotel called Garden Of Eden. He grew up poor but spoiled, spending money on expensive suits and a Cadillac, despite always being in debt and refusing to become more responsible. He is also a widowed father of an 11-year-old son named Alvin (nicknamed Ally).

In debt, the rent five months in arrears, Tony is given 48 hours by his landlord, Abe Diamond, to raise $5,300 or else lose the hotel. Tony, in desperation calls his older brother Mario, who owns and operates a clothing store and has already loaned Tony money multiple times. Tony lies and says he needs a loan because Ally is ill. Mario and wife Sophie promptly fly from New York City to Miami and discover the truth.

In Mario's eyes, Tony is a bum who wastes money on fanciful dreams rather than honest, hard work. He agrees to stake Tony the funds but only for a sensible small business, not dreams of fancy hotels or casinos. Mario also sets him up with Eloise Rogers, a widow and an acquaintance of Sophie, who is considered a more appropriate companion for Tony than his current girlfriend, Shirl.

To his surprise, Tony is impressed with Eloise. Ally also takes an immediate liking to her. Mario offends her, however, with prying questions about her late husband's will and finances, causing Tony to confess why they were introduced. Eloise reveals to Tony that having lost both her husband and son, she appreciates the notion of being with someone who needs her.

The old childhood pal, Jerry Marks, now a wealthy promoter, invites Tony to a party. Pretending to be prosperous, Tony explains his scheme to buy land in Florida and open a second Disneyland there. Jerry seems interested in being his partner again.

He takes Tony to a greyhound racing track, where Tony uses the $500 he earned from selling his Cadillac to match Jerry's large bet. His dog wins, but he lets it ride in the next race on a dog called Lucky Ally. The obvious desperation in Tony's voice as he roots for the dog to win indicates to Jerry that he is not a man of means. Jerry chastises him afterwards and tries to brush him off by insultingly handing him some cash. When Tony throws the cash handout back in Jerry's face, Tony is punched by one of Jerry's bodyguards.

Literally a beaten man, Tony decides it would be best if Ally lived in New York with Mario and Sophie, telling the unconvinced boy that he is unwanted. Tony goes off to the beach by himself, but Ally finds him, and soon Eloise happily joins them. Mario and Sophie decide to take a long, overdue vacation.

Cast

Broadway play

The film was based on the Broadway play of the same name by Arnold Schulman.[5] It debuted at the Plymouth Theatre on Broadway on February 28, 1957 and featured actor Paul Douglas in the lead role. The play earned a Tony Award for Boris Aronson in 1958 for Best Scenic Design. On July 13, 1957, the show closed for a total of 156 performances.[6][7] Sinatra's agent, Bert Allenberg, bought the film rights for $200,000 plus 5% of the profits.[5][8]

The play/film was re-adapted a decade later as a Broadway musical, Golden Rainbow, a theatrical vehicle for Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme.

The play had originated as a one-act play called The Dragon's Head in written by Schulman during Robert Anderson's playwriting course of the American Theatre Wing in 1949. It was expanded and tried out by the Theatre Guild in Westport, Connecticut under the name My Fiddle Has Three Strings. Schulman wrote a completely new version called The Hearts A Forgotton Hotel and shortened this to a one-hour version which was broadcast as part of the Playwrights '56 anthology television series in 1955. The show drew the attention of Garson Kanin who asked Schulman to convert it for Broadway.[9][8]

Production

The screenplay was adapted by Schulman, whose father was the operator of a Miami, Florida hotel. The protagonist of A Hole in the Head is a Miami hotel operator of "The Garden of Eden." The actual hotel used for the exterior shots was the Cardozo Hotel, located on Miami Beach's Ocean Drive. Shot over 40 days from 10 November 1958 to 9 January 1959, the film did not enjoy the smoothest of productions, especially during the location filming at Miami Beach. Sinatra's relations with the press were problematic, the media seizing on every anti-Sinatra rumor they could find.[5]

Aided by William Daniels, Capra completed the film a full 80 days ahead of schedule, its final production cost of $1.89 million well under the allotted budget.

Release

The film opened on June 17, 1959. Although having some positive reviews, the film was a modest box-office success, earning theatrical rentals of $5.2 million in the United States and Canada.[5][1]

Schulman wrote a novel based on the film containing additional material.[8]

Accolades

The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:

See also

References
  1. "1959: Probable Domestic Take". Variety. January 6, 1960. p. 34.
  2. Arneel, Gene (May 20, 1959). "Film Reviews: A Hole in the Head". Variety. p. 6. Retrieved January 7, 2021 – via Archive.org.
  3. Harrison's Reports film review; May 23, 1959, page 83.
  4. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum Archived September 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  5. O'Brien, D. The Frank Sinatra Film Guide, Butler & Tanner, London. ISBN 0-7134-8418-7
  6. Broadway play info
  7. Time magazine article from 1957
  8. "'Hole in the Head,' Born 10 Yrs. Ago, Earns Author Arnold Schulman $300,000". Variety. May 6, 1959. p. 1. Retrieved January 7, 2021 – via Archive.org.
  9. A Hole in the Head at the American Film Institute Catalog
  10. "AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-07-30.
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