Review of Love Me, Love My Doll (2007) by Nate W — 30 Jul 2011

While not a fan of musicals, I'll keep an open mind. Because it does, however, feature favorites Brando and Sinatra. Having said that, I really do hate every song in this production. And those numbers are not shot or choreographed with any particular to find interesting. And, as you can imagine, Brando can't sing. So why the three stars?

Because Mankiewicz wrote a great screenplay. A Sorkian wordsmith who had already written "A Letter to Three Wives" and "All About Eve" at this point. So, outside of the songs, especially that one about not being married causes colds, the script is full of brilliant dialogue. And is done so in a style that is without contractions. A very formal reading amoung these gambling degenerates is as hilarious as when the Coen brothers employed the technique for "True Grit".

And while Sinatra may have regretted his co-star role, Brando was a much more natural Sky than Frank would have been. Sinatra is much better as the sympathetic schlub sining romantic songs. Not the badass wrestling with his first love.