Some Came Running (1958)

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Some Came Running (1958) -- V. Minnelli

I haven't read James Jones' novel, so it is hard to know if this is faithful. I mention this because the film seemed unpredictable (a good thing) although it vaguely follows the traditions of melodrama. Sinatra is here as a disoriented writer - he doesn't know what he wants (having just returned from some war - is it really supposed to be 1948, as suggested at one point?). He returns to his smalltown hometown, sees his self-absorbed noveau riche brother Arthur Kennedy, starts boozing and gambling with Dean Martin, tries to force himself on repressed creative writing teacher Martha Hyer but makes more of a natural fit with ditzy tramp Shirley MacLaine. Vincente Minelli shoots it in widescreen but this doesn't become eye-popping until the climactic finale which like every scene in this film seems to come out of the blue, more or less like life itself.