Friday, March 4, 2011

RAT PACK REVUE: "AIN'T THAT A KICK IN THE HEAD" ~ By Robert J Randisi


 
"Kate,
 Here's another one for the Lounge."
 RJR
  

  
AIN’T THAT A KICK IN THE HEAD
By ~ Robert J Randisi

      OCEAN’S 11 is seen, by and large, by movie critics over the years as a bad film.  And by that I mean, the original “Ocean’s 11.” In fact, in recent conversations with a producer who is interested in turning the books into a TV series he mentioned George Clooney’s Ocean’s 11, I mentioned the original film. He asked, “You mean, there was another one?” This man claims to be a Rat Pack fan.

     Well, there was an original Ocean’s 11 film and, as a Rat Pack film, it’s the best. (You wanna talk about bad films? Try “Robin and The 7 Hoods,” and Sergeant’s 3.” Fun? Yes. Good films? No.)  As for Ocean’s 11 being a bad film, I contest that finding.
     Peter Lawford found the script and brought it to Frank, who saw it as a great opportunity for them all to make a film together.  The story of Danny Ocean and his former military unit robbing three Vegas casinos is clever.  The sub-plots—Danny’s relationship with his wife, Tony Bergdorf’s heart condition and his desire to leave something behind for his son, are compelling.  And the relationships between the characters are heart warming.  Even Duke Santos’ impending marriage to Josh’s (Lawford’s) mother and the way it brings Duke into the robbery is clever.

     There are two songs in Ocean’s 11. Dean sings “Ain’t That a Kick In The Head,” and Sammy does a cool rendition of “Eee-o-eleven” Both songs work in a way I believe many songs in a musical don’t.
     I think the pieces of this movie fit together perfectly, and it’s because my opinion of the film is higher than most critics I decided to make it the centerpiece of not only one Rat Pack book, but the second, as well.  In both books the movie is the reason the Rat Pack is in Vegas, where they ultimately need Eddie’s intervention to save the day.
     As a result of the books “Ocean’s 11” means even more to me today.

  Eee-o-eleven, pally.  
(c) 2011 AT THE BIJOU debut ~ Author Robert J Randisi
          

"Absolutely*Kate said you'd be swingin' Randisi.  
Man oh man, you know your stuff."
~ Frank, Dean, Sammy, Joey, Peter and the six other cool guys
~ with a luscious wink from Angie and Shirley

RJR under that hat? Or Eddie G?
So Absolutely*Kate heard from pit boss Eddie G that reading all six of Robert J Randisi's RAT PACK MYSTERIES until lucky number seven rolls out, is a real good gamble.
Bet your bottom dollar she'd blow on another man's dice over that tip. Luck be that lady tonight. She's hosting the RAT PACK REVUE . . . AT THE BIJOU. How lucky does it get?   

       

F O O T N O T E  ~  W A L K S   T H E   W A L K
There's more Robert J Randisi musings,
with the razz-a-ma-tazz of BIJOU authors
Eric Beetner,  Paul D Brazill, 
Kevin Michaels,   Julie Morgan, 
Sean Patrick Reardon, Anthony Venutolo 
and that Absolutely*Kate 
  These are tough guys to get tough with.
Now ain't that a kick in the head?

RAT PACK SHOWS 
PLAYING AT THE BIJOU
         
RATPACKREVUE

Tuesdays.

Thursdays.
Saturday Matinees too.

Be there or be square.

RATPACKREVUE 
AT THE BIJOU

Always swell to see you here.

~ Absolutely*Kate,
and our swanky staff of renown



THE PACK DON'T WANT YA TO MISS A SHOW:

Sinatra: "If power doesn't mean that you have the opportunity to work with the people that you love, then you haven't really got any."

Opening Night: "RAT PACK REVUE TO YOU"

RAT PACK REVUE: "How Did All These People Get Into My Room?"  By Robert J Randisi,
working the lounge before he hits the main room

RAT PACK REVUE:  "Who's Got The Action" By Kevin Michaels, knowin' more than the night club scene 

RAT PACK REVUE:  "STAR" By Julie Morgan,  hitchin' TinselTown to a dick's star

RAT PACK REVUE:  "OH SOUL O'MIO" By Absolutely*Kate,  mirroring more than Dorsey
 

RATPACKREVUE 
  
~ ON OUR SWANKY STAGE ~



BIJOU AUTHORS ~  ERIC BEETNER ~ PAUL BRAZILL ~ KEVIN MICHAELS ~ ANTHONY VENUTOLO ~ and ABSOLUTELY*KATE

BIJOU DEBUT ~ JULIE (LEWTHWAITE) MORGAN ~ SEAN PATRICK REARDON

PLUS STAGE AFTER PAGE AGAIN ~ OUR HEADLINER ~
MORE OF RAT PACK MYSTERY AUTHOR ROBERT J RANDISI

WITH A FINALE OF AN RJR INTERVIEW (or Roast?) AT THE BIJOU


~ ~ ~ ~

STAY TUNED. 
PLAY GOOD TUNES.
POUR. ENJOY.

~ ~ ~ ~
 

Presentation by ~ humble promoter Absolutely*Kate, AT THE BIJOU
Photos and songs to swing to from the ORIGINAL Ocean's 11, the best one!

7 comments:

Paul D Brazill said...

I think it's a beaut of a film and in the early '80s I played bass in a band called Oceans 11. Although, I do really like what Soderbergh's done with the concept.

Sean Patrick Reardon said...

I like the original OE as well as all three of the Clooney ones. I hope they continue making them. Vegas is such a great setting for a movie and of course Rat Pack novels!

seana graham said...

Just by sheerest coincidence, they were playing the only known recorded version of the Rat Pack concert from St. Louis, circa 1965 on PBS last night. It's a great show, so catch it if you can. Sometimes the Rat Pack legend obscures what talented performers they really were. Incredible, really.

Kate Pilarcik ~ absolutely said...

Ah Seana, you know there's no such thing as a coincidence - no matter how it sheers. When I was doing the spiff & design on this piece, the actual song Ain't That A Kick In The Head played on the radio of its own volition.

Kevin Michaels caught that same act, marvelling at the synergistic timing too.

These are the times we snap to, and howzabout Paul Brazill playin' a mean bass in Oceans 11? Who woulda guessed that one?

Meanwhile Sean Patrick Reardon, runs for kingpin diplomat of all that is RatPack. That Mindjacker sure has my vote.

So does RJR, natch.
The man just breathes in the time, place and out&out feel of RatPacking and delivers it back so real (with subtle zeal?)

~ Absolutely*Kate

The Spiritual Hobo said...

Hi,
I am a hobo that was just passing through and I like your site so now I'm following you.
Thanks!
Signed, hobo

Unknown said...

Eee-o-eleven!!

... Indeed...

RJR said...

The St. Louis show was great, even if it was Carson and not Joey.

I like all the Rat Pack love that goes on in this place.

RJR