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THE FRANK SINATRA STORY

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Decade: Rating: List Type:

7.5

7.1

The Joker Is Wild (1957)

1957. FRANK SINATRA as Joe E. Lewis, MITZI GAYNOR (Martha Stewart), JEANNE CRAIN (Letty Page), EDDIE ALBERT (Austin Mack), BEVERLY GARLAND (Cassie Mack), JACKIE COOGAN (Swifty Morgan), BARRY KELLEY (Capt. McCarthy), TED DE CORSIA (Georgie Parker), LEONARD GRAVES (Tim Coogan), HANK HENRY (burlesque comedian), NED GLASS (Johnson), HAROLD HUBER (Harry Bliss), ERIC ALDEN (Copacabana doorman), LORNA JORDON (waitress), JACK KENNY (hotel clerk), FRANK MILLS (florist), BENNY BURT (taxi driver), SOPHIE TUCKER (herself). Directed by Charles Vidor. Interesting true story biopic of night club entertainer Joe E. Lewis with some great songs including Oscar winner "All the Way". Lewis was a night club entertainer in the 1930s whose vocal chords were slashed by gangsters ending his career as a singer. He then had to reinvent himself as a comedian. Good support from Eddie Albert as his pianist. Cameo from Sophie Tucker as herself.

classic movie buff's rating:

6.6

Pal Joey

1957. FRANK SINATRA as Joey Evans, KIM NOVAK (Linda English), RITA HAYWORTH (Vera Simpson), BARBARA NICHOLS (Gladys), BOBBY SHERWOOD (Ned Galvin), HANK HENRY (Mike Miggins), ELIZABETH PATTERSON (Mrs Casey), JOHN HUBBARD (Stanley), ELLIE KENT (Carol), HENRY McCANN (Shorty), HERMIE ROSE (bald club owner), TOL AVERY (detective), GEORGE NARDELLI (headwaiter), PIERRE WATKIN (Mr Forsythe), FRANK WILCOX (Col. Langley). Directed by George Sidney. Sinatra is on top form as a brash nightclub singer who dreams of running his own club one day. Great Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart songs including "My Funny Valentine" and "Lady is a Tramp". (Gene Kelly played "Joey" in the original Broadway production). Columbia boss Harry Cohn originally planned to make this film in 1945 with Gene Kelly repeating his Broadway success. By the time the film was made 15 years later Kelly was under contract to MGM who would not release him so the part went to Frank Sinatra. Jack Lemmon was also under consideration before Sinatra was eventually cast Billy Wilder was the original choice to direct but Cohn turned him down..

classic movie buff's rating:

526

7.6

From Here to Eternity (1953)

1953. FRANK SINATRA as Private Angelo Maggio, BURT LANCASTER (1st Sergeant Milton Warden), MONTGOMERY CLIFT (Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt), DEBORAH KERR (Karen Holmes), DONNA REED (Alma Lorene Burke), ERNEST BORGNINE (Sergeant James "Fatso" Judson), PHILIP OBER (Captain Dana Holmes), MICKEY SHAUGHNESSY (Corporal Leva), JACK WARDEN (Corporal Buckley), DON DUBBINS (Private Friday Clark), HARRY BELLAVER (Private Mazzioli), JOAN SWAWLEE (Sandra), JEAN WILLES (Annette), CARLETON YOUNG (Colonel Ayres). Directed by Fred Zinnemann. This was the role that won Sinatra his Best Supporting Actor Oscar and revitalised his career. Eli Wallach was first choice as Maggio but had agreed to appear in a Broadway play for Elia Kazan ("Camino Real") so had to turn the part down. Joan Crawford refused the part of Karen Holmes because she disliked the costumes! Joan Fontaine was also offered the part but declined. Aldo Ray was considered for the part of Prewitt before Montgomery Clift was signed. Tyrone Power regretfully had to turn down the Burt Lancaster role as he was committed to a play at the time. Montgomery Clift and Sinatra became close friends during the filming. Clift coached Sinatra on some key scenes for which Sinatra was forever grateful. The film won eight Academy Awards.

classic movie buff's rating:

290

6.5

Ocean's 11 (1960)

1960. FRANK SINATRA as Danny Ocean, DEAN MARTIN (Sam Harmon), SAMMY DAVIS JR (Josh Howard), PETER LAWFORD (Jimmy Foster), JOEY BISHOP (Mushy O'Connors), ANGIE DICKINSON (Beatrice Ocean), RICHARD CONTE (Anthony Raymond Bergdorf), CESAR ROMERO (Duke Santos), AKIM TAMIROFF (Spyros Acebos), PATRICE WYMORE (Adele Ekstrom), HENRY SILVA (Roger Corneal), NORMAN FELL (Peter Rheimer), BUDDY LESTER (Vince Massler), RICHARD BENEDICT (Curly Steffens), CLEM HARVEY (Louis Jackson), HANK HENRY (Mr Kelly), GEORGE E. STONE (proprietor), LOUIS QUINN (DeWolfe), SPARKY KAYE (Riviera manager), FOREST LEDERER (Sands manager), AL SILVANI (burlesque club manager), SHIRLEY MacLAINE (tipsy girl), RED SKELTON (gambler), GEORGE RAFT (casino owner). Directed by Lewis Milestone. The first of the "Rat Pack" movies (and possibly the best) this film had an impressive cast and magnificent Las Vegas locations. Sinatra's gang attempt to rob five Las Vegas casinos in one night. Wonderful twist ending.

classic movie buff's rating:

120

7.8

7.4

Some Came Running (1958)

1958. FRANK SINATRA as Dave Hirsh, DEAN MARTIN (Bama Dillert), SHIRLEY MacLAINE (Ginnie Moorehead), ARTHUR KENNEDY (Frank Hirsh), MARTHA HYER (Gwen French), NANCY GATES (Edith Barclay), CONNIE GILCHRIST (Jane Barclay), LEORA DANA (Agnes Hirsh), BETTY LOU KEIM (Dawn Hirsh), LARRY GATES (Professor Robert Haven French), MARION ROSS (Sister Mary Joseph), WILLIAM SCHALLERT (jewellery store clerk), ROY ENGEL (sheriff). Directed by Vincente Minnelli. Stylish MGM melodrama which paired Martin and Sinatra for the first time. (Joanne Woodward was originally offered the Shirley MacLaine role but turned it down).

classic movie buff's rating:

666

7.8

7.9

The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

1962. FRANK SINATRA as Major Bennett Marco, ANGELA LANSBURY (Mrs Iselin), LAURENCE HARVEY (Raymond Shaw), JANET LEIGH (Eugenie Rose Chaney), JAMES GREGORY (Senator John Iselin), HENRY SILVA (Chunjin), JOHN McGIVER (Senator Thomas Jordan), LESLIE PARRISH (Jocelyn Jordan), JAMES EDWARDS (Corporal Allen Melvin), BARRY KELLEY (secretary of defence), LLOYD CORRIGAN (Holborn Gaines), WHIT BISSELL (medical officer), KAREN NORRIS (secretary), RICHARD NORRIS (reporter). Directed by John Frankenheimer. Harrowing but gripping thriller with exceptional performances by the entire cast. Remade in colour in 2003 with Denzel Washington but for me the original is still the best. Senator Iselin's plane in the film was actually owned by Frank Sinatra. Angela Lansbury was 36 years old at the time of filming, only three years older than Laurence Harvey playing her son!!

classic movie buff's rating:

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FRANK SINATRA was born in Hoboken, New Jersey on December 14th 1915. He died on May 14th 1998.

HIS REAL NAME: FRANCIS ALBERT SINATRA

What can you say about Frank Sinatra? He is just simply THE BEST! The best singer, the best actor and the best night club entertainer. Oscar winner for "From Here to Eternity" and "The House I Live In". I feel very lucky and privileged to have seen Mr Sinatra in concert many times both here in the U.K. and in Hollywood and Las Vegas. He was married four times: Nancy Barbato, Ava Gardner, Mia Farrow, Barbara Marx. (When he married Mia Farrow in 1966 he was 50 and she was just 21). He was the first choice to play the title role in "Dirty Harry" but a painful hand injury made him regretfully withdraw giving Clint Eastwood the wonderful opportunity of a great series of films. He also turned down the Charles Bronson part in "Death Wish". He was considered for the role of Nicky Arnstein in "Funny Girl" but Barbra Streisand was not happy to co-star with him.
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Famous quote: "Don't tell me. Suggest. But don't tell me".
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HIS SIX FAVOURITE FILMS:

1: "The Joker Is Wild" (1957)
2: "Pal Joey" (1957)
3: "From Here to Eternity" (1953)
4: "Oceans Eleven" (1960)
5: "Some Came Running" (1958)
6: "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962)

MY FAVOURITE FRANK SINATRA FILM IS:

"Meet Danny Wilson" (1951)

HIS FAVOURITE MALE CO-STARS INCLUDE:

Dean Martin, Cary Grant, Gene Kelly, Spencer Tracy, Montgomery Clift, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis Jr, Burt Lancaster, Ernest Borgnine, Tony Curtis, Lee J. Cobb, Edward G. Robinson, Jimmy Durante, Trevor Howard, Fred MacMurray, Sterling Hayden and Groucho Marx.
(all the above actors have appeared in Frank Sinatra films)

HIS FAVOURITE FEMALE CO-STARS INCLUDE:

Kim Novak, Grace Kelly, Angie Dickinson, Shirley MacLaine, Jane Russell, Janet Leigh, Doris Day, Debbie Reynolds, Rita Hayworth, Sophia Loren, Mitzi Gaynor, Jeanne Crain, Betty Garrett, Ann Miller, Deborah Kerr, Gina Lollobrigida, Anita Ekberg, Juliet Prowse, Nancy Gates, Natalie Wood, Martha Hyer and Ursula Andress.
(all the above actresses have appeared in Frank Sinatra films)

HIS FAVOURITE SUPPORTING ACTORS AND ACTRESSES INCLUDE:

Joey Bishop ("Sergeants Three").
Henry Silva ("The Manchurian Candidate").
Eddie Albert ("The Joker is Wild").
Peter Falk ("Robin and the Seven Hoods").
Alex Nicol ("Meet Danny Wilson").
Celeste Holm ("High Society").
Hank Henry ("Pal Joey").
Arthur Kennedy ("Some Came Running").
Mike Mazurki ("Four for Texas").
Beverly Garland ("The Joker is Wild").
Dorothy Malone ("Young at Heart").
Jill St John ("Come Blow Your Horn").
Steve McQueen ("Never So Few").

HIS FAVOURITE SONGS:

"The Lady is a Tramp"
"All the Way"
"New York, New York"
"Chicago"
"My Kind of Town"
"Come Fly with Me"
"Saturday Night is the Loneliest Night of the Week"
"I Get a Kick out of You"
"One for my Baby"
"You Make Me Feel So Young"
"All of Me"
"Fly Me to the Moon"
"The Tender Trap"
"Style"
"Young at Heart"
"It's All Right with Me"

RECOMMENDED BOOKS ABOUT FRANK SINATRA:

"THE SINATRA TREASURES" by Charles Pignone
"SINATRA" by Richard Havers
"ALL THE WAY" by Michael Freedland
"FRANK SINATRA" by Derek Jewell
"THE FRANK SINATRA FILM GUIDE" by Daniel O'Brien
"FRANK SINATRA AT THE MOVIES" by Roy Pickard
"FRANK SINATRA" by John Frayn Turner
"FRANK SINATRA AND THE AMERICAN DREAM" by Ethlie Ann Vare
"REMEMBERING SINATRA - A LIFE IN PICTURES" by Robert Sullivan
"SINATRA - THE PICTORIAL BIOGRAPHY" by Lew Irwin
"THE ROUGH GUIDE TO FRANK SINATRA" by Chris Ingham

MY FAVOURITE LINES FROM FRANK SINATRA FILMS INCLUDE:

Frank Sinatra: "I'm gonna escape from this dump. Gimbels basement couldn't hold me, neither can no lousy stockade". ("From Here to Eternity").
Frank Sinatra: "Raymond Shaw is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life". ("The Manchurian Candidate").
Frank Sinatra: "Tonight at five o'clock I kill the president". ("Suddenly").
Frank Sinatra: "Would you not agree that Mindy's cheesecake is the best cheesecake alive?". ("Guys and Dolls").
Raymond Burr: "Personally I'm a Crosby fan". Sinatra: "That should make Bing very happy". ("Meet Danny Wilson").
Frank Sinatra: "It's not that Raymond Shaw is hard to like. He's IMPOSSIBLE to like!". ("The Manchurian Candidate").