Embassy Pictures
Directed by Leo Penn
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(DVD, Lionsgate)
Sammy Davis, Jr., plays a hot trumpet player with an even hotter temper. An alcoholic, he lashes out at any slight, perceived or not, eventually getting him fired from the band. He falls in love an adoring fan and their romance gives him hope. However, his old habits come back to haunt him when he encounters racist police officers while on vacation. Later, he has to go crawling back to promoter Peter Lawford, whom he had earlier humiliated, and beg for a job. He has a successful tour across the South. However, when he sees his pupil Frank Sinatra, Jr., beat up outside a club he does nothing, sending him on another downward spiral. Sammy is the whole show here, his trumpet playing dubbed by Nat Adderley, and is very convincing, if occasionally over the top. His final appearance on stage has to be seen to be believed. Louis Armstrong and Mel Torme provide diversions, basically playing themselves.
No comments:
Post a Comment