Great film about the infamous 'Rat Pack' gang - namely Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis and Peter Lawford - who helped John F. Kennedy get elected as US president.
A bit of a parody and satire of Hollywood actors, US mobsters and US politics in the 1950's and 1960's - this progressive film also highlights racial inequality, bigotry and prejudice - not only regarding racism but also political despotism - as indicated by the Hollywood blacklist, which was a great evil during those times; and was regrettably supported by many prominent US politicians and actors such as Joseph McCarthy and John Wayne (who was actually quite a descent upstanding American, but not so well versed in contemporary human rights issues).
But of course the Rat Pack, in particular Frank Sinatra - played brilliantly by Ray Liotta, I might add - did not succumb to negative American propaganda, taking a stand for Liberty, Equality and Freedom :)
Indeed, watching this fine American story makes you feel like a million bucks :)
So in a way this picture is also a cautionary tale for US actors and celebrities - not to be manipulated and indoctrinated by US politicians and propaganda, and to do their own research and reflection regarding sensitive political issues - as in this day and age politics, cinema, television and social media a very much connected with each other.
On a more humorous note, this picture also indicates that the sexual revolution went a bit haywire during those times; with Frank Sinatra allegedly pimping out Judy Campbell - who looked a bit like Elizabeth Taylor - to both Kennedy and mob boss Sam "Momo" Giancana - the notion apparently being, that if you have sex with Judy Campbell; it's like making love to Elizabeth Taylor.
Indeed, my dear friend Harvey Weinstein seems to have picked up on that negative notion - and even taken it to the next level - namely that if you sleep with lots of American actresses and dames, it makes you feel manly, dominant and like a million bucks :)
On that note, I would like to point out to all Harvey Weinsteins in the world, that if you really want to feel great and progressive, be a gritty gentleman and do something for Gender Equality and World Peace.
And I'm quite sure that my dear friends in the Rat Pack - as well as Ray Liotta - would have agreed with me on that point :)
A bit of a parody and satire of Hollywood actors, US mobsters and US politics in the 1950's and 1960's - this progressive film also highlights racial inequality, bigotry and prejudice - not only regarding racism but also political despotism - as indicated by the Hollywood blacklist, which was a great evil during those times; and was regrettably supported by many prominent US politicians and actors such as Joseph McCarthy and John Wayne (who was actually quite a descent upstanding American, but not so well versed in contemporary human rights issues).
But of course the Rat Pack, in particular Frank Sinatra - played brilliantly by Ray Liotta, I might add - did not succumb to negative American propaganda, taking a stand for Liberty, Equality and Freedom :)
Indeed, watching this fine American story makes you feel like a million bucks :)
So in a way this picture is also a cautionary tale for US actors and celebrities - not to be manipulated and indoctrinated by US politicians and propaganda, and to do their own research and reflection regarding sensitive political issues - as in this day and age politics, cinema, television and social media a very much connected with each other.
On a more humorous note, this picture also indicates that the sexual revolution went a bit haywire during those times; with Frank Sinatra allegedly pimping out Judy Campbell - who looked a bit like Elizabeth Taylor - to both Kennedy and mob boss Sam "Momo" Giancana - the notion apparently being, that if you have sex with Judy Campbell; it's like making love to Elizabeth Taylor.
Indeed, my dear friend Harvey Weinstein seems to have picked up on that negative notion - and even taken it to the next level - namely that if you sleep with lots of American actresses and dames, it makes you feel manly, dominant and like a million bucks :)
On that note, I would like to point out to all Harvey Weinsteins in the world, that if you really want to feel great and progressive, be a gritty gentleman and do something for Gender Equality and World Peace.
And I'm quite sure that my dear friends in the Rat Pack - as well as Ray Liotta - would have agreed with me on that point :)