SUGARTIME
US, 1995, 111 minutes, Colour.
John Turturro, Mary -Louise Parker, Elias Koteas, Maury Chaykin.
Directed by John N. Smith.
The title of Sugartime comes from the song by the Mc Guire Sisters, ‘Sugar in the morning, sugar in the evening …’ This is a film about crime boss Sam Giancana (who was famous for having a relationship with Judy Campbell who was also having a relationship with John F. Kennedy). Phyllis Mc Guire was the lead singer in the Mc Guire Sisters, very popular in the 1960s.
The film focuses on their relationship with the background of crime. It is not particularly a gangster film – this is just the context for the relationship story.
John Turturro (very different from the real Giancana who was short and bald) is Giancana. Mary -Louise Parker is Phyllis Mc Guire. There is also a performance by Maury Chaykin as Tony Accardo who ruled a crime syndicate for fifty years with Giancana as one of his associates.
The film was directed by a Canadian John N. Smith who directed Dangerous Minds as well as the two miniseries on The Boys of St Vincent.
1. A successful telemovie? Interest? A piece of Americana? The crime syndicates? The world of show business? The interconnecting between the two? The background of American politics, the FBI, John F. Kennedy’s connection?
2. The 1960s and 1970s, the world of Las Vegas, the Senate inquiries, crime and wealth?
3. The musical score, the various songs? The McGuire? Sisters? The lyrics?
4. The work of Robert Kennedy, his attacks on Sam Giancana? Giancana taking the Fifth Amendment? The Kennedys and their government, the FBI, the background of Joseph Kennedy and his illegal dealings? The setting up of Las Vegas, the Chicago gangs? Shrimps etc? The robberies, the dealings with the CIA? Castro? The FBI and grand juries? Giancana and his being found guilty of contempt? Prison for eight years – and his transfer to Mexico?
5. John Turturro as Giancana? As a Chicago thug, as a lieutenant in the mobs? His violence, the knife? His orders, control? His henchmen? Autocratic behaviour? His wealth, buying his daughters what they wanted? The sense of family? The Mafia codes?
6. The contrast with the world of Phyllis Mc Guire, as a singer, on tour, dressing rooms, stage? The gifts? Dinner with Giancana? His pursuit? Her motivation? The hotel and the beds, the car gift? The affair? Their being besotted with each other? The shows? Venice, love, the significance of Giancana’s control, the family? Phyllis’s relationship with Giancana’s family, his daughters? The passing of time, London and her anger? her visit to Giancana?
7. Phyllis as a star, her sisters, the performances, their reaction to Giancana? Her sisters’ warning? The night, the car? Their mother, Phyllis’s life *(or laugh/love? Unclear) Wanting independence? Dan Rowan, the opportunities? The visit, Phyllis alone?
8. The portrayal of Accardo? His real-life role with the mob? As presented here, a minor figure, subordinate to Giancana? The Mafia henchmen, their brutality, torture and bashing, cheating? The character of Butch, his role, relationship with Accardo?
9. The film as a gangster story? The film as a love story? How well did the film blend warmth and the reality of crime? All the more horrifying for that? Crime and profit? The reality of the investigations into the mob and the implications?
