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The Kissing Bandit (film)

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The Kissing Bandit
Directed byLászló Benedek
Written byIsobel Lennart
Produced byJoe Pasternak
Starring
CinematographyRobert Surtees
Edited byAdrienne Fazan
Music byGeorge Stoll
Color processTechnicolor
Production
company
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • November 18, 1948 (1948-11-18)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3,291,000[1][2]
Box office$1,381,000[1]

The Kissing Bandit is a 1948 American comedy musical Western film directed by László Benedek. It stars Frank Sinatra and Kathryn Grayson, with J. Carrol Naish in a supporting role, and Ricardo Montalbán, Ann Miller and Cyd Charisse in cameo roles.

Plot

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In the 19th century, a timid and effeminate young man named Ricardo (Frank Sinatra) rides from Boston to California, in the midst of its Spanish colonial period, to inherit what he thinks is his deceased father's former job as an innkeeper. Ricardo arrives and is shocked to discover that the inn was in fact a front for his father's criminal activities as "The Kissing Bandit", robbing women and kissing them before fleeing, and that he is now expected to carry on this legacy. Chico (J. Carroll Naish), his father's former sidekick, takes Ricardo under his wing to help him overcome his reluctance and become the new Kissing Bandit.

Teresa (Kathryn Grayson) is the local governor's daughter. On her final day of schooling, she reflects on her dreams of future romance in her adult life ("Tomorrow Means Romance"). As she is escorted back to the governor's residence, Chico and Ricardo rob Teresa's carriage with the gang. After a mishap in which he falls off a cliff, Ricardo and Teresa come face to face and he instantly falls in love, indicated with a "boing" sound effect. However, he is too scared to kiss her. Later, she reflects on this moment, blaming herself, while Ricardo also wonders why he lacks courage ("What's Wrong with Me?").

Ricardo rides over to the governor's mansion and sings "If I Steal a Kiss" beneath Teresa's balcony. The guards intercept him and fire on him, and Chico arrives to save Ricardo. Back at the inn, Chico tells Ricardo he should not attempt to seduce her as it will ruin their plans, and that romantic commitment cannot be a part of a bandit's life. He also arranges for Bianca (Sono Osato), a woman implied to be a sex worker, to seduce Ricardo. She performs a dance with a bullwhip ("I Like You") and invites her to kiss him, but he nervously rebuffs her, saying he has to "put a flower in some water."

Count Belmonte (Carleton G. Young) arrives at the inn seeking a room for the night, accompanied by General Torro (Billy Gilbert) who is sick with a cold and frequently sneezing. Belmonte catches Ricardo and Chico attempting to plunder his luggage at night, and a swordfight ensues which Torro sleeps through, ending in Belmonte and Torro being tied up with rope. Colonel Gomez (Clinton Sundberg) arrives at the inn, searching for the Kissing Bandit, but returns home to the governor once he is told that Belmonte and Torro are staying at the inn and are "all tied up." Ricardo finds a letter of introduction to the King in Belmonte's luggage and decides that he and Chico will visit the governor's mansion, posing as Belmonte and Torro themselves.

The ruse works and they are formally welcomed to the governor's mansion. When Ricardo (posing as Belmonte) is introduced to Teresa, she recognises him but does not say anything, sharing a knowing look as she sings a reprise of "If I Steal a Kiss" at a harpsichord. Later in a private moment, she confronts him about why he did not kiss her earlier. Chico is also planning to rob the governor's stockpile of taxes, and gives Ricardo a pep talk about women when he realises the Kissing Bandit's reputation will suffer otherwise. During a siesta, Ricardo attempts to shoo a fly ("Siesta").

At a fiesta in their honour, Ricardo is discussing his family history and remembers that his father abducted his mother. This gives him the idea to attempt an abduction of Teresa to prove his sincerity, which pleases her greatly and leads her to sing a brief reprise of "What's Wrong with Me?" - "There's nothing wrong with me/He tried to abduct me." A dance is then held in the mansion's courtyard ("Dance of Fury") and while the crowd is distracted, Chico attempts to raid the governor's riches and Ricardo sings "Señorita" as a duet with Teresa. Ricardo wishes to marry her, but Chico tells him that "This is not a book, Ricardo mio. This is not a dream you are dreaming. This is a bandit's life. Hard. Sometimes very short." He reluctantly accepts that marriage is not a possibility with his lifestyle, until he sees Teresa singing "Love is Where You Find It."

Teresa says she will run away with Ricardo, and he asks to dance with her just once. The real Belmonte and Torro then arrive and identify Ricardo and Chico, who are immediately arrested and are slated to be executed at dawn. Gomez visits them in jail, and they are able to confuse him enough to escape and imprison Gomez in the cell in their place. Belmonte also attempts to seduce Teresa but is interrupted by Ricardo, who fights him and wins. Fed up, Ricardo decides to pack up and return to Boston and relinquish his title as the Kissing Bandit, until he is interrupted by Teresa singing "If I Steal a Kiss" under his balcony. He tells her that he was never a bandit and didn't inherit anything from his father, but then strongly kisses her and she faints - implying that he is the Kissing Bandit after all.

Cast

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Songs

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  • "Tomorrow Means Romance" (music by Nacio Herb Brown; lyrics by William Katz) – Sung by Kathryn Grayson
  • "What's Wrong With Me?" (music by Nacio Herb Brown; lyrics by Earl K. Brent) – Sung by Kathryn Grayson, Frank Sinatra
  • "If I Steal a Kiss" (music by Nacio Herb Brown; lyrics by Edward Heyman) – Sung by Frank Sinatra; reprised by Kathryn Grayson
  • "I Like You" (music by Nacio Herb Brown; lyrics by Edward Heyman) – Sung and danced by Sono Osato
  • "Siesta" (music by Nacio Herb Brown; lyrics by Edward Heyman) – Sung by Frank Sinatra
  • "Dance of Fury" (music by Nacio Herb Brown) – Danced by Ricardo Montalban, Cyd Charisse and Ann Miller
  • "Señorita" (music by Nacio Herb Brown; lyrics by Earl K. Brent) – Sung by Frank Sinatra and Kathryn Grayson
  • "Love Is Where You Find It" (music by Nacio Herb Brown; lyrics by Earl K. Brent) – Sung by Kathryn Grayson

Reception

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The film was a financial disaster, earning $969,000 in the US and Canada and $412,000 overseas, resulting in a loss to MGM of $2,643,000. This made it one of the least successful musicals in MGM history.[1][3][4]

It was reviewed unfavorably in Picturegoer: "The progress of [the] romance is uninspired and very dull. The one worthwhile performance comes from J. Carrol Naish as The Kissing Bandit's henchman."[5]

On an episode of the radio show, Light Up Time, Sinatra referred to himself as "star of The Kissing Bandit, the script of which somebody should have put a match to."[citation needed]

Australian armed robbery

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On December 10, 1950, a 19-year-old Estonian Australian immigrant named Peeter Pedaja hijacked a motorcycle while brandishing a toy gun somewhere on the road near Gympie, Queensland. Heading farther south, he forced a car to stop between Landsborough and Nambour, and demanded money from the driver before speeding off, eventually being arrested by Queensland police. He told the court that he meant no harm, and was inspired to "do something unusual" after watching The Kissing Bandit.[6][7] Pedaja was released on a suspended sentence, and was eventually proclaimed "The Kissing Bandit in Real Life" by the Australian media.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Glancy, H. Mark (1992). "MGM film grosses, 1924–1948: The Eddie Mannix Ledger". Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television. 12 (2). Los Angeles: 127–144. doi:10.1080/01439689200260081.
  2. ^ Another source puts the cost at $2.5 million Variety February 1948
  3. ^ Variety says it earned $1.8 million see "Top Grossers of 1948", Variety 5 January 1949 p 46
  4. ^ "Top Grossers of 1949". Variety. January 4, 1950. p. 59.
  5. ^ Picturegoer, 4 June 1949, p. 16
  6. ^ "Kissing Bandit Was His Model, Youth Explains". Brisbane Telegraph. February 23, 1951. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  7. ^ "Film Inspired Hope in Young New Australian". The Herald, Melbourne. February 23, 1951. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  8. ^ "'Kissing Bandit' in Real Life". Maryborough Chronicle. February 24, 1951. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
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