"SUDDENLY" 1954 Sinatra/Hayden SPOILERS

Wow! I was explaining to colleagues on Friday how this film was hushed up. What a cool movie....

"Say Officer, is this town called Suddenly?"

 

It's a great little movie with one of Frank's best dramatic performances - and it's still nearly unknown even now!

I always thought it would make a swell double feature with the somewhat similar "The Desperate Hours".

 

Sinatra apparently wanted it hushed up after JFK was shot.

 

For fans of classic cartoons, you can see veteran voice actor Paul Frees in this movie in a bit part. You've heard him many times, but how often have you seen his face?

 

Frees appeared on camera occasionally. He was one of the scientists in the original 1950 version of "The Thing". When they first find the saucer under the ice and spread out to determine its size, he gets the classic line, "Why, it's *round*."

 

Sir, you have the wrong film, it was "The Manchurian Candidate" 1962, with reference to JFK, which came out in 63, "SUDDENLY" produced in 1954, came out in 1955.

BTW: Doran, Thanks for bring this Sinatra film up, I have never heard of it, just read reviews, sure to be on my list, sounds great, Thanks!

 

No, no.... I am right about this :

Read the first trivia piece here http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047542/trivia

 

Oh trick trivia huh? You may be correct now that you said the film "Lee Harvey Oswald" watched, you didn't say that in your post

Yes! Interesting!

 

Actually, I think I've seen him in small roles in a lot of 50's Sci Fi flicks. The voice jumps out at you.
Yes, I've seen that flick! VERY claustrophobic! I didn't quite buy the premise, but Frankie was great. My mother's instant reaction whenever Sinatra's name was mentioned was "thug!", but I learned to appreciate him when I heard his early Dorsey work. No wonder they called him "The Voice". His later post 50's work does have a certain slickness to it, but Jonathan Schwartz has completely convinced me of Frank's greatness. But anybody can feel free to disagree with me on that topic!
But, yes, very interesting flick. Visually, it's very 50's, sharper photography than a 40's noir, and the clean cut little kid is reminiscent of the Beaver. Quite odd.

 

Yeah, Paul Frees has bit part in The Thing From Another World. (A great "commercial" for the fairly new US Air Force.) To me me he'll always be the voice of Disneyland's now defunct Adventures Through Innerspace ride -- "MAGNIFICATION!"

Suddenly is great, although the ending is a bit silly. Unfortunately the only version of this I've been able to locate is a cheap DVD transfer from the 99 Cent Store.

 

I have an old cassette that someone made for me of a triple album (vinyl, shows how old it is) of all 81 songs Sinatra recorded with Tommy Dorsey from around 1940 to 42. He also sang with Harry James before that. Beautiful light voice, and impeccable musicianship.