Touches You

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

With all that's been happening since a new president was elected and inaugurated, I had to think "Do I live in the same country as the ones who voted for the opponent of my pick?" Still, I'd like to think that we will prevail and start getting along much better eventually despite many disagreements we have about certain things. This short, starring popular singer Frank Sinatra when he was still quite young, has him at the recording studio doing one of his trademark romantic songs before taking a break outside and encountering some kids bullying a particular one because of his religion. So that leads The Voice to lecture them on the dangers of prejudice though he also does mention a story of various creeds defeating the "Japs" (This was filmed either during or not long after World War II). But his message of Tolerance is something still worth talking about and his song "The House I Live In" is certainly still something worth warbling about especially today. With today being the Fourth of July, I just felt like revisiting this particular short to remind myself what America really is about when Frank sings of it: "The right to speak my mind out, that's America to me." Something still worth pondering about in this age of increasing divided opinions among neighbors...

This short subject gathered kudos from all kinds of places for its plea for religious toleration. After a session at a recording studio Frank Sinatra leaves and comes upon a group of kids beating up on another because he was Jewish. He lectured them as only an American icon could about the meaning of prejudice and what we had just fought for against the Nazis. The meaning could not be clearer.Both songs from this short subject were recorded and sold big for Columbia records. If You Are But A Dream and the song written for the film, The House I Live In. The latter is one of the best songs about an idealized version of America, we'd all like to strive for.Sinatra in fact recorded The House I Live In again during the Sixties for a joint album he did for his Reprise record label. The album is now a rarity and it shouldn't be. His collaborators were Bing Crosby and Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians with the orchestra conducted by Nelson Riddle.Axel Stordahl was Sinatra's primary music conductor and arranger during the forties. When he died that position eventually fell to Nelson Riddle. Stordahl does the orchestration for the short and the Columbia record, Riddle for the Reprise record. Sinatra aficionados and others should listen to both back to back and compare. And catch this worthwhile film whenever it is shown.

Frank Sinatra is known for his roles as a thug, a gangster, a bank robber, a murderer. He reportedly had connections to the mafia in real life. His father was, after all, Italian. What we don't think of Sinatra as is a uniter of people from different faiths.In this short film, Sinatra sings some campy songs that should only exist in the 1940s. Between songs, he stops a gang of young boys from beating up a young Jewish boy. He encourages them to be friends with him because "religion doesn't matter" and reminds the kids when they get blood from the blood bank it comes from Jews and blacks. He also tells how Americans of different faiths have joined together to defeat the "jap menace".Would this film work today? Probably not. But it's still enjoyable and a fun little romp in the park. If you want to learn about solidarity in the 1940s, or just love Frank Sinatra, check it out. Recommended, even if it is distributed by the Anti-Defamation League.

This eleven minute film that came out toward the end of WW2 conveyed a message of religious tolerance and acceptance of people's differences.It's notable in that it featured a young Frank Sinatra, singing two very beautiful songs, "If You Are But a Dream" and the title song. Both have rich orchestral arrangements by Alex Stordahl, one of Sinatra's favorite music directors at the time.Earl Robinson, composer of the title song, was also noted for his "Ballad for Americans," which Paul Robeson made famous. In spite of these two nobly patriotic compositions, Robinson was one of the "blacklisted" artists (along with Robeson) by the House of Un-American Activities, which today seems ironic.Not available on DVD or VHS at this writing, "The House I Live In" was seen on tv following a showing of Sinatra's debut film, "Higher and Higher." Although Frank's voice is lighter here than generally remembered, it still exhibits his trademark smooth lines, firm breath control and clear diction. His acting forecasts his later work, and the film makes its admirable points within a short time frame.