Strictly Sinatra

Frank Albert Sinatra, a skinny Italian kid from Hoboken, New Jersey, grew up to become one of the most influential entertainers in living memory with both a successful movie and singing career. 14th May 2008 marks ten years since the iconic singer died and TCM’s Strictly Sinatra Season celebrates his cinematic contribution by screening films each Saturday and Sunday at 3pm alongside exclusive interviews with his children. In addition, on 14th there’ll be a film at 3pm followed by another at 5pm. So sit back and enjoy Frank’s diverse roles from rousing musicals alongside Gene Kelly to some of his more gritty dramas.

Frank’s children Nancy, Frank Jr and Tina have all contributed to TCM’s Strictly Sinatra season by granting exclusive interviews and introducing some of the films featured in our season.

Frank’s Films showing during Strictly Sinatra Season

Saturday 3rd May at 3pm ANCHOR’S AWEIGH (1945)

Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra star as two sailors on leave in Hollywood and looking for fun and romance. During their lively time on shore, we’re treated to the Mexican Hat Dance, superb crooning from Frank and Gene dancing up a storm alongside Jerry, the cartoon mouse. Kathryn Grayson and Pamela Britton provide the eye-candy.

Sunday 4th May at 4pm HIGH SOCIETY (1956)
With a special introduction by Frank Sinatra Jr.

Philip Barry’s superb play, The Philadelphia Story, is given a musical make-over with Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong injecting their swing jazz style into the proceedings. Grace Kelly is the socialite caught in a love triangle when her ex-husband (Crosby) and a tabloid journalist played by Sinatra vie for her attention on the eve of her marriage to her new love (George Kittredge).

High Society is also screened on 14th May at 3pm

Saturday 10th May at 3pm SOME CAME RUNNING (1958)

Vincente Minnelli brings his colourful directorial style to this drama, based on James Jones’ novel and starring Frank Sinatra alongside Dean Martin and Shirley Maclaine, who was Oscar nominated for her performance. Sinatra plays a writer with a drink problem who returns home to after WWII to become embroiled in a tricky love triangle.

Sunday 11th May at 3pm TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME (1949)

Busby Berkeley’s flamboyant stamp is firmly place on this vaudeville meets baseball musical comedy. Esther Williams, Betty Garrett and Jules Munshin join in the riotous song and dance routines with Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly making this film an absolute must for those fans of the musical. We’re treated to Frank’s solo crooning and some great duets.

Saturday 17th May at 3pm NEVER SO FEW (1959)
With a special introduction by Frank Sinatra Jr.

World War II is given a make-over Rat Pack-style with Frank Sinatra heading up an all-star cast who find themselves in the thick of the action during the Burma campaign. Peter Lawford, Gina Lollobrigida, Charles Bronson and Steve McQueen – in his first ever film - all join in the action. Director, John Sturges, shows glimpses of the talent behind The Magnificent Seven and The Great Escape.

Sunday 18th May at 3pm ON THE TOWN (1949)

Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly bring their directorial expertise to bear on another tale of Kelly and Sinatra – this time joined by Jules Munshin – as three sailors on leave in New York for 24 hours only. During this time they manage to attract the attention of Ann Miller, Vera-Ellen and Betty Garrett as they sing and dance their way around the Big Apple.

Saturday 24th May at 3pm THE TENDER TRAP (1955)
With a special introduction by Tina Sinatra

Sinatra is surrounded by a veritable bevy of beauties in this glamorous rom-com starring Debbie Reynolds, Celeste Holm, Lola Albright, Jarma Lewis and Carolyn Jones. It’s a great chance to see Sinatra alongside Reynolds in the only film they made together. This film has an incredible cast, a touch of 50s glamour and a fantastic title track.

The Tender Trap is also screened on 14th May at 5pm

Sunday 25th May at 3pm TIL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY (1946)

This Arthur Freed-produced biopic about the life of composer Jerome Kern sees Frank Sinatra starring alongside Judy Garland, Cyd Charisse, June Allyson, Kathryn Grayson, Lena Horne, Van Heflin, Angela Lansbury and a whole host of other Hollywood stalwarts. Packed with classics such as Ol’ Man River, The Last Time I Saw Paris, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and many more – this is a celebration of one of America’s most important composers.

ALL ABOUT FRANK!

Alcohol may be man’s worst enemy, but the Bible says ‘love your enemy’
Frank Sinatra

Frank’s Early years

Frank was brought up with a perfect view of Manhattan’s skyline in Hoboken, a largely immigrant neighbourhood packed with shady characters. When opportunity came his way with a place in Tommy Dorsey’s popular band he grabbed it with both hands and so began his illustrious career as he launched his mellifluous tones on an unsuspecting, but enthusiastic audience. It’s claimed that Frank was the first modern pop star; he certainly appealed to a whole new teenage – largely female – audience known as ‘bobbysoxers’.

From here, despite various dips in his singing career from decade to decade, Frank established himself as one of the most potent forces in the music industry reinventing himself when each new generation called for something different. He retired in 1971 only to pop up again two years later in a comeback performance. With a string of excellent collaborators from Count Basie, Nelson Riddle and Duke Ellington to Paul Anka and Quincy Jones he developed his powerful voice into a unique style that continues to be widely imitated.

Frank’s Women

Frank was a notorious womaniser and even marriage to, and children with, his childhood sweetheart Nancy Barbato didn’t stop him being linked with some of the most glamorous women in the public eye. The gossip columns revealed lurid accounts of his affairs with Lana Turner, Marilyn Maxwell, Grace Kelly, Marlene Dietrich, Lauren Bacall, Juliet Prowse, Angie Dickinson and even Marilyn Monroe.

However, Frank claimed that the love of his life was the feisty and troubled beauty, Ava Gardner, and the two lived out their passionate, if turbulent, marriage in the glare of the spotlight amid constant rumour and speculation. They married after Sinatra divorced Nancy but the marriage lasted six years despite the fact that they continued seeing each other sporadically. After Ava came Mia Farrow. The teenage daughter of actress, Maureen O’Sullivan, and director, John Farrow, she was 21 a staggering 20 years his junior. Their marriage lasted just two years and it was almost ten years before Frank married his fourth wife, ex-wife of Zeppo Marx, Barbara and they remained together until he died.

Frank’s Connections

There was no escaping the rumours of his links with the Mafia throughout Frank Sinatra’s life but despite the intriguing stories no wrongdoing was ever proved by those who liked to point the finger. Undoubtedly, his Sicilian background linked him to some of the more disreputable mobsters and living in Hoboken in the early 20th century would mean that notorious gangsters lived cheek by jowl with the entertainer.

Later in Sinatra’s life – during his Rat Pack years - his famous Las Vegas performances, his part ownership of The Sands and the desert-based casino resort’s strong links to Bugsy Siegel, would also provide rich material for those suspicious of Sinatra’s credibility. As if to add further credence to his shady connections Frank’s only son, Frank Jr, was kidnapped in 1963 when he was nineteen. The boy was held for two days but released unhurt after a $240,000 ransom was paid.

Frank lives on!

It’s Frank’s world and we just live in it. The true origin of this quote is difficult to track down and many attribute it to Sinatra’s fellow Rat Packer Dean Martin, but whoever said it completely summed up the extraordinary impact that Frank Sinatra has on music and entertainment in the second half of the twentieth century.

And despite the fact that he might have been dead for 10 years there are numerous tributes to Frank and the Rat Pack. Just about everyone wants to try his or her hand at being Frank. It is difficult to know exactly how many people make a living out of performing as Frank Sinatra but there are plenty of impersonators based around the globe not to mention the many people who have won numerous TV talent shows with their attempts at recapturing his unique style.

There have been several made-for-TV films about Sinatra or those close to him in which he has been portrayed by a number of different actors: John Ralston played him in Power and Beauty; Philip Casnoff in Sinatra; Richard Muenz in Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story; Patrick Jude in Sugartime and Ray Liotta who played him in The Rat Pack.

Frank Sinatra Trivia

• Sinatra broke into film as a member of The Tommy Dorsey Band, receiving no credits for his first two films Las Vegas Nights (1941) and Ship Ahoy (1942).
• Frank Sinatra starred alongside Gene Kelly in three musicals, one of which, Take Me to the Ball Game, was directed by Busby Berkeley. You can see all three during Strictly Sinatra Season
• His glamorous leading ladies included Shelley Winters, Kim Novak, Rita Hayworth, Jean Simmons, Debbie Reynolds and Grace Kelly – see him star with Grace Kelly as part of Strictly Sinatra season and hear Frank Sinatra Jr introduce the film.
• He appeared in over fifty films during his prolific career, he won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in From Here to Eternity (1953).
• Proving just what an important US citizen he was, the senate paid tribute to Sinatra on his 80th birthday.
• Allegedly, Sinatra wore a brand new toupee costing $2,500 for his 80th birthday celebration.
• Over the years Sinatra contributed millions of dollars of money to various charitable organisations, founding hospitals for cancer patients and setting up educational programmes, earning him a Humanitarian Award at the Oscars and a congressional gold medal.