Sinatra x Scorsese
Donna Reed, Frank Sinatra and Montgomery Clift in From Here to Eternity
According to Sun Media, Tina Sinatra would have the world believe they’re going to make a biography of her father Frank Sinatra and that fellow Italian-American Martin Scorsese might direct it. Yeah, I’ll believe it when I see the one-sheet and it says “A Martin Scorsese Picture” across the top. Alas, I can’t resist a double Scorsese/Sinatra rumor so hear I am spreading it.
If you look at my CD shelf (yes I still have CDs and what’s more, I still refer to them as “albums” - you can call me Abe Simpson if you want), next to The Rolling Stones, the 2nd biggest chunk is Frank Sinatra. Scorsese already did The Stones (I still wish he’d do a proper biography…not sure there’s anything left to be told there, but still) so his take on Sinatra would be a welcome treat.
If it happens, I hope the movie covers the pre-Rat Pack Sinatra from his late ’40s decline to his ’50s resurgence with Capitol Records, including his turn as Maggio in From Here to Eternity, but that’s just me.
Source: Cinematical, Sun Media
Turner Classic Movies is doing a month-long Sinatra-fest, with just about every movie he was ever in along with Sunday night showings of his music shows. Lots of good stuff, though I don’t indiscriminately record all of his movies because some of them are apparently not so hot and I’m already buried in films to see. I did watch one of the music shows, though and it was good.
Question is, can DiCaprio sing?
I’m a bigger fan of Sinatra the singer than Sinatra the actor, but he had his moments. Eternity and Manchurian Candidate being two. His earlier musicals were good too.
Aside from From Here to Eternity and The Manchurian Candidate, Preminger’s The Man with the Golden Arm is very good. I also like his evil character in Suddenly (the film itself is just a bit rough around the edges, however). Pal Joey is one I like a good deal as well, partly because you have him, Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak. Von Ryan’s Express I find to be a mixed bag of a movie but I like him a lot in that, too.
I remember reading years ago that Scorsese really wanted to make Dean Martin biopic.
People that still have CDs rock. Don’t give in to the crowds, man.
Oh, and I like Sinatra.
Sinatra was awesome in The Manchurian Candidate. Great film, with excellent performances all around.
CD’s? I still have vinyl and cassettes.
I saw Sinatra in concert. 1990. With Don Rickles and Pia Zadora.
All of my memorable relationships were based on the Frank Sinatra/Ava Gardner dynamic. When I read about their affair and subsequent marriage, I understood immediately.
But, with some people, there is no way to smooth it out. He wants WHITE and you want BLACK. But you can’t live without each other.
Until you do…
And then you usually hook up during the down time when things are a little SLOW…
Who would Marty cast as Ava? God, I’d give my right arm to talk to him about that part…
Miranda, we’ll put the word out to Marty. He’ll see you. Or else.
Thanks, christian. You’re so sweet…
Alexander, I totally forgot about Suddenly. Good stuff.
Alynch, I’d heard about that too and I have to say I’m a little torn about which one I’d most like to see.
Thanks for stopping by Luke. SInatra fans are always welcome and here.
And thanks for making me feel young again, Christian. I’m a little embarrassed to admit I got rid of all my vinyl in the late 80s.
Alison, Angela Lansbury was good too. Creepy movie.
Miranda, you’ve got my vote for Ava. You can keep your arm too. Marty will listen to me, don’t you think…?
Well, in The Aviator, he had Kate Beckinsale play Ava….but she’s got nothing on you, Miranda ;-)
I think it’s interesting that if this turns out to be true, Marty will have made a) a doc about Dylan, b) a concert film about the Stones and c) a straight-up biopic about Sinatra.
But a) is really the best of the bunch by a hundred miles, Hedwig, a concert film about The Band’s last performance (with friends), The Last Waltz.
To quote LexG over in Poland Land, Sinatra owns Suddenly. OWNS!!!!
(Okay, I promise to everyone, including myself, never to do that again…)
I hope the actress playing Nancy would be as hot as Nancy was. But that’s just me.
Hedwig, you have been incredibly lovely to me ever since I arrived here. Your beautiful compliment is immensely appreciated. You’re a very cool girl.
Craig, you’re a sweetheart. Marty SHOULD listen to you. I bet he will when he has time.
Believe it when I see it, especially since Scorsese has never done a musician biopic before and he already got his Oscar.
I actually think of Sinatra more as an actor than a musician, but that’s more from ignorance. Can’t say I’m a big fan of the crooners and mainstream female vocalists from that era.
He wasn’t the best actor in Manchurian Candidate — outshined by Lansbury and Harvey — but that was a good performance nonetheless. My memory’s a bit hazy, but I thought he was also good in Suddenly, Some Came Running, and Golden Arm. It might be blasphemy round these parts, but I’m not too fond of Eternity despite being a fan of Deborah Kerr.
W.J., Sinatra is considered one of the greatest singers ever. He was called the Chairman of the Board. :-)
I was certain I was leaving something I loved off my list and Some Came Running is exactly that. Thanks for mentioning it, W.J. Not only does he give one of his best performances but Dean Martin gives probably his best, at a time when he was trying to distance himself from his straight man role for Jerry Lewis, and Shirley MacLaine steals the show.
Alison, I’d take Billie Holiday over Sinatra any day, even — strike that, especially — her later stuff.
It’s probably not a fair fight, though, because I haven’t given Sinatra much of a chance. That’s where the ignorance comes in. I’ve basically lumped Sinatra in with Rosemary Clooney and that crowd of sugary sweet jazz-lite pop vocalists.
WJ, an argument can be made that, like Elvis, Sinatra took musical forms that others had already worked out (Holiday and Armstrong for example) and brought them to a mass (i.e. white) audience. Does that make him a hack or an innovator? I’m not musically literate enough to be able to say either way.
I like what I like though, and I do think Sinatra stands above the rest of the crooner class. He’s kind of a bridge between Jazz and pop in my mind.
W.J., Billie Holiday is indeed one of the best ever and even Sinatra said that. :-)
By the time she was doing the later stuff her voice was ruined from all of the booze and drugs. But she could still sell a song.
As for Sinatra, he doesn’t deserve to be lumped together with Rosemary Clooney and that crowd. He sang with the best big bands of the time and he truly knew how to style every song he sang and deliver its meaning. And he wasn’t just a crooner. He could belt with the best of them.
Craig, the answer is innovator. He was no hack. And he wasn’t the only one that brought “hot music” to the masses (i.e. whites) - Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, all of the great big band leaders did that. Sinatra just sang with them, and learned a lot about phrasing vocal lines as if he were a horn player - same with Billie, by the way. Billie Holiday was the first black singer to sing with those guys - it was unheard of for a black singer to sing with a white band (and the behind-the-scenes stories are terrible. When she toured with those guys and they were on the road she had to wait outside while they ate in a restaurant, and then they’d bring food out to her).
See, I knew someone who knows more about music would come save my bacon.
Alison, have you seen Ken Burn’s great documentary series on Jazz?
That is a fabulous, monumental accomplishment of a documentary, Sartre. I love it.
waits for the teacher to ask him with a taunting tone, “Is your name Alison?”
Jazz was fantastic. You can nitpick about what was included and what was left out, or you can sit back and enjoy the music. Great stuff.
Craig: always happy to save your bacon.
sartre: Yes. I second Craig’s “Great stuff”. One of the best music documentaries in my opinion.
Alexander: lol.
Yes Alexander, poor etiquette there. In the words of my personal advisor Delbert Grady you need a good talking to, and quite possibly more.
Glad to know you’ve seen and enjoyed Jazz, Alison.
I own it, sartre. :-)
Watch out, Alexander. When Delbert “corrects” you, it’s not pleasant.
craig… you should refer to cd as an lp.
Ahaha, oh dear, not Delbert…
Perhaps they need a good talking to, if you don’t mind my saying so.
You guys are freaking me out. Is Sartre the caretaker now?
No, Craig, you’re the caretaker. You’ve always been the caretaker here.
ahahahahhah