The last of the "official" Rat Pack trilogy, Robin and the 7 Hoods is a lighthearted, tuneful Prohibition-era gangster spoof spun around a Robin Hood do-gooder device that makes plenty of dead bodies and bad intentions really quite fun. The Rat Pack itself is only missing Peter Lawford (long story) who is replaced by an aging but all-there in mind, voice and style Bing Crosby. The obligatory not-to-be-trusted lady is played by Barbara Rush, with additional enjoyable turns from (of all people) Edward G. Robinson, Victor Buono, and Peter Falk. The 6 original songs are provided by the legendary Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen range from fun and surprisingly enjoyable to classic ("My Kind of Town" was nominated for best original town and became a Sinatra staple. An entertaining discovery for this reviewer was a Guys And Dolls-style revival meeting number, "Mr. Booze"…the highlight of an extended sequence that by itslelf is worth the price of admission.
1 hr 53 min