TONY ROME (1967)

Director: Gordon Douglas

Writers: Richard L. Breen adapting Marvin H. Albert’s 1960 novel Miami Mayhem

Producer: Aaron Rosenberg

Cast: Frank Sinatra, Jill St. John, Richard Conte, Simon Oakland, Gena Rowlands, Sue Lyon, Robert J. Wilke, Lloyd Bochner, Jeffrey Lynn, Shecky Greene, Jeanne Cooper, Joan Shawlee, Virginia Vincent, Rocky Graziano, Richard Krisher, Lloyd Gough, Babe Hart, Templeton Fox, Elisabeth Fraser, Harry Davis, Stanley Ralph Ross, (and uncredited cast members) Deanna Lund, Rey Baumel, Tiffany Bolling, Sean Bersell, Joe E. Ross, Linda Dano, Robert ‘Buzz’ Henry, Levi Forte, Beau Jack, Norman Marlow, Jilly Rizzo, Michael Romanoff, Carl Starling 

Miami private detective Tony Rome (Frank Sinatra) is asked by his ex-partner Ralph Turpin (Robert J. Wilke) to bring home a girl (Sue Lyon) that is sleeping off a drunk at a seedy hotel. Turpin is the hotel’s house detective and does not want any bad publicity since the girl, Diana, is the daughter of local construction tycoon Rudolph Kosterman (Simon Oakland). After bringing Diana home, Rome is offered money by various Kosterman family members for different and conflicting concerns. Before long Rome is being accosted by thugs and bodies start turning up. 

The Flashback Fanatic movie review 

While Dean Martin was showing 1960s America how he would handle being a secret agent in the Matt Helm films, fellow Rat Packer Frank Sinatra was making like a private eye. He would star as Tony Rome in two films adapting novels by the crime and adventure author Marvin H. Albert. The Tony Rome films were not genre spoofs like Dean Martin’s spy flicks, but they are still loaded with ’60s establishment male wish fulfillment and a sense of humor. Most of all, it is the Sinatra chutzpah that puts them over. 

The main appeal of the fictional private detective is individualism. Private eyes are their own bosses, and if they also are smart, brave, and tough, we can’t help but admire them. In the case of Tony Rome, he is further distinguished by living on the boat he won in a dice game in sunny Miami, Florida. Sinatra as Tony Rome certainly does it his way. 

Another aspect of private detectives that appeals to us is their recklessness. That risk-taking is something many of us are averse to, yet we envy the confidence that such characters have. Tony Rome is always just one case or bet away from being flush with cash or broke, yet he acts like he has the town in the palm of his hand. Everywhere he goes he is helping himself to people’s phones to ask favors and place bets. 

This guy is so busy chasing a buck that he doesn’t even have time to make it with two beauties putting the moves on him. Oh well, when you’ve got Sinatra-style charisma there’s always more to come… 

The story unfolds in a pretty leisurely manner and the plot gets twisty due to conflicting interests among the members of the Kosterman family. In keeping with the breezy manner of the film, the final reveal and resolution is almost anti-climactic. However, it suits the tone of the film and the unruffled confidence of the hero. 

Frank Sinatra is great in this. He fires off witticisms and judgments with the offhand directness that makes us envy and respect his character. His manner and dialogue is the reason to watch the film. If you are not a Sinatra fan, this is the fun sort of stuff that may win you over. 

Jill St. John’s character of Ann Archer really does not serve much purpose in the story beyond confirming what a chick magnet Sinatra — er — I mean Tony Rome —  is supposed to be. This promiscuous knockout becomes something of a running gag as she is practically throwing herself at Rome and he is always too busy to follow through to a carnal conclusion. However, she always takes it in stride as she has as much confidence as Tony Rome. Ann Archer looks great in a bikini and has the good sense to use vodka in her martinis. She’s quite a woman. 

Deanna Lund is also quite provocative in her role as a lesbian stripper that nonchalantly parades about in her underwear in front of Tony Rome. Lund had her name removed from the credits due to her discomfort with the role. Nevertheless, she is also featured in the sexy poster for the film. Lund is probably best known for her role of Valerie Ames Scott in the Land of the Giants ABC television sci-fi series (1968-70). 

In typical P.I. fashion, Tony Rome manages to take advantage of his friendship with a high-ranking member of local law enforcement. Richard Conte, as Lt. Dave Santini, is Rome’s Miami Police contact and exasperated friend. Rome also knows where the Santini family fridge is located when he needs to help himself to a cold one. Conte’s Lt. Santini would return in the sequel and have good reason to get even more pissed off at Rome. 

Gordon Douglas had already directed Frank Sinatra in 1964’s Robin and the 7 Hoods. In 1968 Douglas would continue directing Sinatra in the sequel Lady in Cement and a much grimmer police procedural called The Detective. 

Maybe Tony Rome’s gambling habit was catching. Tony Rome was supposed to have been a box-office failure, yet the sequel Lady in Cement was still made the following year. That second Tony Rome flick was also supposed to have been a money loser. Neither Tony Rome film seemed to score well with the critics, either. Was distributor 20th Century Fox betting that the Sinatra name would inevitably turn a profit for these pictures, or was there some bookkeeping chicanery afoot? Only Tony Rome could figure that one out.