THE KISSING BANDIT

The Kissing Bandit
MGM, 1948, Color, 101 minutes, ***½
Released January, 1949

Set in 19th Century California under Spanish rule. Farcical musical-comedy about a bandit who always "leaves his mark" by kissing the prettiest girl in any group he robs. When he dies, his son (Frank Sinatra) is called in to take his place. Frank has been studying Hotel Management in Boston, but dutifully returns to California to take his father's place, thinking he was an inn keeper. But when he finds out who his father really was and what he's expected to do, he's not overly enthusiastic, though he does ride with his father's gang on one heist (a spoof of "El Zorro"?).

On his first and only heist he and the gang rob a stagecoach with the Governor's daughter (Kathryn Grayson) aboard. Though Frank is completely enchanted, he is too shy to kiss the girl, and she returns home to sing "What's Wrong with Me?" completely upset that the Kissing Bandit (apparently) didn't find her pretty enough to kiss.

Meantime, the King of Spain has sent Count Belmonte (Carleton G. Young) and General Torro (Billy Gilbert) to collect the taxes long overdue from the Governor. Learning of this, J. Carrol Naish and Frank Sinatra hijack the two travelers, tie them up in the inn and take their place. They ride to the governor's palace to collect the taxes and the girl. Things are going well enough until the real Count Belmonte manages to escape and show up at the palace.

Really fun film with a wonderful cast. Kathryn sings "Love Is Where You Find It," Frank sings "Siesta," Sono Osato sings and dances a very provocative "I Like You," and Ricardo Montalban, Cyd Charisse and Ann Miller dance the "Dance of Fury."

The film begins with the statement, "Long ago, when California was a colony of Spain, it was customary to deliver the mail by horse. However, after a great many complaints, the Post Office decided to put a man on the horse. Then the service became somewhat better."

Produced by: Joe Pasternak
Directed by: Laslo Benedek
Original Screen Play by: Isobel Lennart and John Briard Harding
Music by: Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by: Earl Brent and Edward Heyman
Musical Direction by: Georgie Stoll
Arrangements by: Leo Arnaud
Musical Score: Georgie Stoll, André Previn, Scott Bradley and Albert Sendrey
Dance Direction by: Stanley Donen
Fiesta Dance Specialty Created by: Robert Alton
Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Randall Duell
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis
Associate: Jack D. Moore
Costumes Designed by: Walter Plunkett
Hair Styles Designed by: Sydney Guilaroff
Make-Up Created by: Jack Dawn
Recording Director: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: Robert Surtees
Special Effects: A. Arnold Gillespie
Color by Technicolor
Technicolor Color Director: Natalie Kalmus
Associate: Henri Jaffa
Film Editor: Adrienne Fazan

Cast: Frank Sinatra [Ricardo], Kathryn Grayson [Teresa], J. Carrol Naish [Chico], Mildred Natwick [Isabella], Mikhail Rasumny [Don Jose], Billy Gilbert [General Torro], Sono Osato [Bianca], Clinton Sundberg [Colonel Gomez], Carleton G. Young [Count Belmonte], Edna Skinner [Juanita], Vincente Gomez [Mexican Guitarist], Ann Miller [Teresa's Maid / Fiesta Dance], Ricardo Montalban, Cyd Charisse [Fiesta Dance], Additional Cast: Henry Mirelez [Pepito], Nick Thompson [Pablo], Joe Dominguez [Francisco], Alberto Morin [Lotso], Pedro Regas [Esteban], Julian Rivero [Postman], Mitchell Lewis [Fernando], Byron Foulger [Grandee]

Musical Program: [0:00] Main Title (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:13] Tomorrow Means Romance (sung by Kathryn Grayson); [0:32] What's Wrong with Me? (sung by Kathryn Grayson then sung by Frank Sinatra); [0:37] If I Steal a Kiss (sung by Frank Sinatra serenading Kathryn Grayson); [0:43] I Like You (The Whip Dance) (sung and danced by Sono Osato); [1:01] If You Steal a Kiss ("If I Steal a Kiss" reprised by Kathryn Grayson); [1:09] Siesta (sung by Frank Sinatra and Chorus); [1:16] Dance of Fury (instrumental danced by Chorus; then danced by Ricardo Montalban, Cyd Charisse and Ann Miller); [1:21] Señorita (sung by Frank Sinatra and Kathryn Grayson); [1:26] Love Is Where You Find It (sung by Kathryn Grayson); [1:38] If You Steal a Kiss (sung by Kathryn Grayson serenading Frank Sinatra)