Jhan Robbins (1919–1996)

Nice tribute to comedian Jimmy Durante. It amazes me as to how someone who was so bullied as a child would grow up to be such a kind, giving individual. However, the book leads you to believe that MGM only assigned him to lousy films. There is nothing so delightful as 1947's It Happened in Brooklyn. And you can tell Sinatra is having a ball working with Durante in The Song's Gotta Come from the Heart number. 1944's Two Girls and a Sailor also showcased Durante quite well. While it is true he could have been used better, the author did not mention either of the above films other than in the filmography at the back of the book. I also questioned whether all of his friends would have called him Schnozzola in conversation rather than Jimmy. Otherwise, it was a fairly complete biography and included the early nightclub years and the later television years. I would have liked a list of each television appearance, the date of the show, and the other guest stars. Durante was truly, the most beloved entertainer in Hollywood.… (altro)