A Hole in the Head (1959)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Frank Capra

Writer:

Arnold Schulman (play)

Release Date:

15 July 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The most wonderful entertainment in the whole wide wonderful world!

Plot:

An impractical widower tries to hang onto his Miami hotel and his 12-year-old son.

Plot Keywords:

Motel | Father Son Relationship | Liar | Greyhound Racing | Boy

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Frank Sinatra	...	Tony Manetta
Edward G. Robinson	...	Mario Manetta
Eleanor Parker	...	Eloise Rogers
Carolyn Jones	...	Shirl
Thelma Ritter	...	Sophie Manetta
Keenan Wynn	...	Jerry Marks
Joi Lansing	...	Dorine
Connie Sawyer	...	Miss Wexler
James Komack	...	Julius Manetta (as Jimmy Komack)
Dub Taylor	...	Fred (the clerk)
George DeWitt	...	Mendy Yales
Benny Rubin	...	Abe Diamond
Ruby Dandridge	...	Sally
B.S. Pully	...	Hood
Joyce Nizzari	...	Alice (Jerry's secretary)

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

New Zealand:G | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Cardozo Hotel - 1300 Ocean Drive, South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida, USA

Company:

Sincap Productions

Trivia:

Average Shot Length (ASL) = 12 seconds

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Ally is shown running back along the street calling for his father at the end, in the distance the taxi is seen making a U-turn while a large crowd of onlookers stand on the streets behind it, obviously watching the scene being filmed.

Quotes:

Fred: Life is just a bowl of cherries
Tony Manetta: Why
Fred: I don't know. I ain't a philosopher!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Mole People (#9.3)" (1997)

Soundtrack:

ALL MY TOMORROWS

Anyone knows an ant can't move a rubber tree plant!

Adaptation of Arnold Schulman's play about feckless Miami Beach widower with a young son who needs a fast loan to save his ramshackle hotel, considering the idea of marrying into money with a shy (but beautiful) young widow. Slick, but not very moving comedy-drama won an Oscar for the memorable tune "High Hopes", but--with Frank Sinatra, Edward G. Robinson, and Eleanor Parker in the cast--it should have been much better. The youngster is played by sharp, yet Hollywood-smart Eddie Hodges, who is decent with the kind of lines concocted for him. Frank Capra directed, weakly. Some good scenes, but it runs too long and has too few jokes. **1/2 from ****