High Society

The ongoing "battle" between Sinatra and Crosby is pretty lackluster in this film. The two singers seem like they're having a fine old time and are perfectly content listen to the other while maybe throwing in a few playful jabs here and there (that's not my kind of singing). Crosby here is a cool, wealthy bachelor from the upper class, while Sinatra plays a working class reporter with a big chip on his shoulder over the wealthy and their frivilous lives. These differences aren't used to create any real tension between the two characters, however. They are very amiable with one another throughout the whole movie; even when a drunken Sinatra carries an even drunker Grace Kelly, Crosby's former wife, back from the pool clothed in bathrobes Crosby still likes Sinatra.

In terms of music Crosby is supposed to be the jazz afficionado in this film, but in reality he's still a crooner. His songs are mostly lilting and soft, and it always seems like he's about to fall asleep. Even during Crosby's upbeat numbers with Louis Armstrong and Sinatra he seems to slow the tempo and slide from note to note. Sinatra's songs feel like they really belong in a musical. Who Wants to be a Millionaire takes the place of the conversation he and the reporter would otherwise have. His love songs to Kelly sound like they're character driven rather than a generic love song. His character is often the comic relief and the songs reflect that. Overall my impression was that Bing Crosby was playing Bing Crosby while Sinatra played a character with just a little Sinatra thrown in.