[Burt Foster]

I am watching the History Channel and they just said that the first choice for Dirty Harry was Frank Sinatra.

Now that would have been really cool.

[Ed Potts]

It woulda made my day!

[Savatri]

Ah, Ed, you always make me laugh. I wish you'd post more often.

Joan

***they just said that the first choice for Dirty Harry was Frank Sinatra***

That's not correct.

First choice for this film was John Wayne. Wayne declined because he didn't like parts of the script.

After Wayne's declining the role, the script was re-written & "rebuilt" thrice,, Based on that, Warner approached FS, and FS was indeed to be the star of this movie. A teaser was printed:



Sinatra was forced to decline by health reasons - he suffered from Duypuytren's Syndrome, to an extent that in spring 1970 it simply didn't need no postponin'.

On June 5, 1970, Sinatra appeared on KGIL radio (during a 48-hrs-"Sinatrathon", i.e. 48 hrs of music only by Frank), and on this show, he explained neatly on how the "Dirty Harry" production was set entirely for himself (aka FS), and why he had to cancel it.

Once Sinatra was physically forced out, Warner asked some other stars to take the lead role.
Robert Mitchum declined,
Paul Newman declined,
Steve McQueen declined.
Then, Clint Eastwood accepted....

Bernhard.

[Gregory]

BErnard,

That's all interesting as I never knew this about the Dirty Harry character. I could see Steve McQueen playing that role other than Eastwood.

[Carolinagirl]

However the deal went down. Some things are meant to be. Eastwood, Dirty Harry. That is a cool picture of Frank in the ad.

Frank Sinatra...that would have been cool. But I could see McQueen playing DH before I could see anyone other than Clint doing it.

[Nancy]

Dad decided not to do the film because it was too violent. I remember when he made that decision.

[Carolinagirl]

That was a beautiful choice.

[RonnieC]

On the topic of Sinatra films that never were, I've heard that Neil Simon wrote The Odd Couple with Jackie Gleason and FAS in mind for Oscar and Felix. That would have been quite a show! I wish he'd made a film with Jackie. They did some skits together on television.

[Amy L]

Gotta ask what is Duypuytren's Syndrome...I knew he had some surgery on his arm/hand in the late 60's.Was this is???..This was a VIOLENT film...good nonetheless for Eastwood...I liked Frank in the Detective and his Tony Rome films...THey seemed to fit him more...IMHO...Amy

You can read all about the condition here :

http://www.arthroscopy.com/sp04012.htm

Dupuytren's disease is an abnormal thickening of the palmar fascia (the connective tissue that lies beneath the skin in the palm of the hand). The condition causes contractures, or tightening, of this tissue in the hand. Because of the contractures, the fingers can become permanently flexed and the function of the hand is impaired.

My mother a RN said it is extremely painful. I have read Sinatra had surgery on his hand and had a lot of pain with this problem.Especially when he held a mic. Even after surgery many still have pain.

Melissa

[Dean]

Originally Posted by Nancy

Dad decided not to do the film because it was too violent. I remember when he made that decision.

Sometimes I can not believe how cool it is to have Nancy here. Even though she does not proport to speak for FS, it's incredible we get to talk to someone who Mr. Sinatra loved so dearly and was "there" when the issues at hand transpired.

Peace, Dean

[Domenico]

Frank Sinatra as Dirty Harry....Nah, I wouldnt like that.

I like Frank Sinatra as Tony Rome

Domenic

No I can't picture Frank as Dirty Harry, as he said too violent. I loved him in the Tony Rome movies, and even more in The Detective. The MAN is so cool!!

FAS: You are my music

He was great in "The Naked Runner". It's an underrated film that Sinatra was great in.

Melissa

[Roy]

<<Sometimes I can not believe how cool it is to have Nancy here. Even though she does not proport to speak for FS, it's incredible we get to talk to someone who Mr. Sinatra loved so dearly and was "there" when the issues at hand transpired.>>

You are so right Dean. You could not have said that any better. It's one of my favorite aspects of the Forum, almost like a history lesson everyday.

[Nancy]

All you have to do to understand why Dad told us the script was too violent is think back to how he felt about the ending of Von Ryan's Express. He said Ryan had to die because he killed the girl earlier in the film. There was a balance to the violence in his movies.

[Tricia]

Originally Posted by Nancy

Dad decided not to do the film because it was too violent. I remember when he made that decision.

It was a very violent movie. I even cringed when the bad guy was getting beaten up. The violence turned my stomach.

I lived in a artist commune during that time and one morning I opened the door to one of the houses to see a guy lying on the couch still wearing wingtip shoes and dressed "like a cop," I thought. Unusual garb for a hippie commune, anyway.

It was Reni Santoni. He had crashed on the couch after shooting some scenes from "Dirty Harry" with Eastwood the night before and was still wearing his clothes from the film.

Reni was the sidekick that got shot and begged off police work near the end of the film. Lovely man and very funny.

I wonder if he was hired before or after FS declined?

[Franco]

Uhm....he died in Ryan Express and every time I see that movie I hope that something could happens in the twilight zone and change that sad ending... Well , he killed the girl ( italian show woman Raffaella Carrà, still in Italian TV in these days) but he had good reasons (I am joking)