File #6 High Society/ Badda Bing Badda Sinatra

At last the battle between Crosby and Sinatra is seen, or is it? In High Society the Bing-Frank feud is barely seen visibly other than a few small stabs at each other all of which seem very jokingly done and in an unthreatening way. In High Society the two “former dueling crooners” seem awfully chummy among one another as if they have buried the hatchet/rivalry.

Frank Sinatra is seen as, almost always, a working class hero while Bing Crosby plays a rich bachelor in the film. Bing Crosby is seen as being closer to jazz than Sinatra because of his relationship with Louie Armstrong and his jazz numbers though I personally feel his performances felt a bit stiff to be “real”.

Sinatra on the other hand is seen as a crooner with a chip on his shoulder towards the rich. His numbers are more humorous than those sung by Crosby and even though he too has his moments its as if his character ends up being more for comic relief than anything else. Still the movie ends rather like clockwork and Sinatra and Crosby end as good friends seemingly so both on and off stage.

Fun Fact: this was Grace Kelly's last picture before becoming the Princess consort of Monaco. 

(also her last film appearance at that) 

 

until next time here's a 1936 Bing Crosby Cartoon entitled "Bingo Crosbyana" where he's a fly (how cool is that?) YouTube - Bingo Crosbyana (1936)