The Kissing Bandit
Directed byLászló Benedek
Written byIsobel Lennart
Produced byJoe Pasternak
Starring
CinematographyRobert Surtees
Edited byAdrienne Fazan
Music byGeorge Stoll
Color processTechnicolor
Production
company
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • November 18, 1948 (1948-11-18)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3,291,000[1][2]
Box office$1,381,000[1]

The Kissing Bandit is a 1948 American comedy musical Western film directed by László Benedek. It stars Frank Sinatra and Kathryn Grayson, with J. Carrol Naish in a supporting role, and Ricardo Montalbán, Ann Miller and Cyd Charisse in cameo roles.

Plot

In the early nineteenth century, Ricardo, the son of a robber known as the Kissing Bandit, is a shy, Boston-bred young man who does not know how to sit on a horse. He falls for the daughter of the Spanish Governor of California.

Cast

Songs

  • "Tomorrow Means Romance" (music by Nacio Herb Brown; lyrics by William Katz) – Sung by Kathryn Grayson
  • "What's Wrong With Me?" (music by Nacio Herb Brown; lyrics by Earl K. Brent) – Sung by Kathryn Grayson, Frank Sinatra
  • "If I Steal a Kiss" (music by Nacio Herb Brown; lyrics by Edward Heyman) – Sung by Frank Sinatra; reprised by Kathryn Grayson
  • "I Like You" (music by Nacio Herb Brown; lyrics by Edward Heyman) – Sung and danced by Sono Osato
  • "Siesta" (music by Nacio Herb Brown; lyrics by Edward Heyman) – Sung by Frank Sinatra
  • "Dance of Fury" (music by Nacio Herb Brown) – Danced by Ricardo Montalban, Cyd Charisse and Ann Miller
  • "Señorita" (music by Nacio Herb Brown; lyrics by Earl K. Brent) – Sung by Frank Sinatra and Kathryn Grayson
  • "Love Is Where You Find It" (music by Nacio Herb Brown; lyrics by Earl K. Brent) – Sung by Kathryn Grayson

Reception

The film was a financial disaster, earning $969,000 in the US and Canada and $412,000 overseas, resulting in a loss to MGM of $2,643,000. This made it one of the least successful musicals in MGM history.[1][3][4]

It was reviewed unfavorably in Picturegoer: "The progress of [the] romance is uninspired and very dull. The one worthwhile performance comes from J. Carrol Naish as The Kissing Bandit's henchman."[5]

Australian armed robbery

On December 10th, 1950, a 19-year-old Estonian Australian immigrant named Peeter Pedaja hijacked a motorcycle whilst brandishing a toy gun somewhere on the road near Gympie, Queensland. Heading further south, he then forced a car to stop between Landsborough and Nambour and demanded money from the driver, before speeding off and eventually being arrested by Queensland police. He later told the court he meant no harm and was inspired to "do something unusual" after watching The Kissing Bandit.[6][7] Pedaja was released on a suspended sentence, and was later proclaimed "The Kissing Bandit in Real Life" by the Australian media.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Glancy, H. Mark (1992). "MGM film grosses, 1924–1948: The Eddie Mannix Ledger". Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television. Los Angeles. 12 (2): 127–144. doi:10.1080/01439689200260081.
  2. ↑ Another source puts the cost at $2.5 million Variety February 1948
  3. ↑ Variety says it earned $1.8 million see "Top Grossers of 1948", Variety 5 January 1949 p 46
  4. ↑ "Top Grossers of 1949". Variety. January 4, 1950. p. 59.
  5. ↑ Picturegoer, 4 June 1949, p. 16
  6. ↑ "Kissing Bandit Was His Model, Youth Explains". Brisbane Telegraph. February 23, 1951. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Film Inspired Hope in Young New Australian". The Herald, Melbourne. February 23, 1951. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  8. ↑ "'Kissing Bandit' in Real Life". Maryborough Chronicle. February 24, 1951. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
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