[Jeffrey Simmons]

Originally Posted by David B.

....
He was so natural in A Hole In The Head you can't help thinking that's got to be the way Frank Sinatra behaves in real life. Then you see him in Some Came Running, the total opposite kind of character, and you think no, that's him.

It's very, very rare to watch an actor in a movie and give even a moment's thought to whether or not this is how the actor behaves in real life. You're just watching a performance and you know it. But that thought came to mind many times over with a Sinatra performance no matter what the character or what the movie. Often to his detriment, personally.

The art that conceals itself. Perhaps the greatest of all accomplishments in great film acting, imo.

Very well said indeed!
Frank Sinatra was a truly gifted natural actor. It was a special talent which all the true greats have to appear to be themselves whilst playing the part of someone else in a movie. Frank had that talent in spades and it was particularly visible in wonderful films like A Hole In The Head and Some Came Running and also in many other movies including Kings Go Forth and From Here To Eternity. I guess in reality that perfectly natural perfomance was really hard to achieve in front of a camera and film crew and that's perhaps another reason why it is often quoted that Frank liked to do as few takes as possible - because he wanted to keep the scene looking as fresh and spontaneous as possible.

[Jeffrey Simmons]

Originally Posted by Bob

NOVEMBER 11–14, 1968: Back in the studio, this time with Don Costa arranging, Dad recorded Cycles, an album of contemporary hits, including "Little Green Apples," Gentle on My Mind " and " By the Time I Get to Phoenix." The title song was rerecorded in New York and I had the great pleasure of "producing" it at my dad's request "so that Don can be in the room with me." What an honor. From the liner notes by Hal Halverstadt: "Like the great American buffalo, the Sinatra brand of recording is diminishing. What's special to the spectator is the speed, utter professionalism, finesse and general excitement of a Sinatra session." This same year, FS also released the collection Frank Sinatra's Greatest Hits: "Strangers in the Night," "That's Life," "It Was a Very Good Year," "Somethin' Stupid," "Somewhere in Your Heart," "The World We Knew" and "Softly As I Leave You."

I have always been a great admirer of the Cycles album, I think it was a superb collection of some of the songs of the day given the best possible Sinatra treatment. I still play this album regularly. The big ballads of Rain In My Heart and My Way Of Life are nothing short of fabulous and they really move me.

Equally, the Frank Sinatra's Greatest Hits album is one of my all time compilation favourites and I think still a marvellos collection of songs. Looking back, I can't say that all of the tracks could be said to be the big well known hits of Frank Sinatra and there are numerous other titles which could well have been included, but having said that, all in all, its a real swinging album and I think it was quite a commercial success too - and rightly so. This is also an album which I play very regularly in my car with the Greatest Hits Part II and a few extras like New York, New York tagged onto the end.

BTW Reprise's subsequent issue of Frank Sinatra's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 was released in two completely different versions for the US and the UK. I like both and also both covers, but the photos on the front and rear cover of the US version of this album on LP are some of my all time favourite photos of Frank Sinatra in performance. They are just wonderful.

Originally Posted by Jeffrey Simmons

BTW Reprise's subsequent issue of Frank Sinatra's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 was released in two completely different versions for the US and the UK.

Two different timeframes also, pre- and post-retirement. The US version trailed the British release by two years. See the thread in Frank's Recordings:

• Greatest Hits Vol. II (1970) UK
• Frank Sinatra's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 (1972) US

(From the Guestbook page and the online book Frank Sinatra: An American Legend by Nancy Sinatra )

NOVEMBER 13, 1989: A television special celebrating Sammy Davis Jr.'s 60th anniversary in show business was taped at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Proceeds from the ticket sales were donated to the United Negro College Fund.

A group shot from the 60th Anniversary tribute to Sammy. Clockwise from left: Ella Fitzgerald, Debbie Allen, Nell Carter, Bill Cosby, Gregory Peck, Jesse Jackson, Gregory Hines, Clint Eastwood, Tony Danza, Magic Johnson, Richard Pryor, Bob Hope. Middle row: Lola Falana, Diahann Carroll, Eddie Murphy, Shirley MacLaine, Dean Martin, Quincy Jones, Dionne Warwick, Whitney Houston. Front row: Mike Tyson, Frank Sinatra, Goldie Hawn, Sammy, Michael Jackson, Altovise Davis, Anita Baker, Stevie Wonder.

NOVEMBER 9–16, 1986: Abdominal pains forced my father to curtail a performance at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City... [See November 9th]

NOVEMBER 4–13, 1982: FS did his final stand of the year at Caesars Palace.

NOVEMBER 8–14, 1979: Another week at Caesars Palace.

NOVEMBER 10–14, 1978: Dad was back at Caesars Palace for a six-day run... [See November 10th]

OCTOBER 21–NOVEMBER 16, 1977: Another week at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe... [See October 21st]

NOVEMBER 13–20, 1975: The London Palladium received 350,000 requests for 15,000 available seats for concerts featuring Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie and Frank Sinatra.

NOVEMBER 11–14, 1968: Back in the studio... [See November 11th]

NOVEMBER 1–14, 1961: Dad did his own two weeks at the Sands... [See November 1st]

NOVEMBER 13, 1960: Dad was the best man at the wedding of Sammy Davis Jr. and Swedish actress Mai Britt, which was held in Las Vegas. Sammy had always been part of our family. Sammy and I and Frankie and Tina and Dad went to Atlantic City together. A birthday in the Sinatra family, Sammy was there. A wedding, Sammy was there. A funeral, Sammy was there. He was a part of us. The color of his skin was never an issue. It was, though, with other people. And sometimes surprisingly so. Because Sammy was engaged to be married to Mai, Joe Kennedy put pressure on my father to persuade Sammy to postpone the wedding until after the election, which he did. Sammy loved JFK and would do anything for him, no matter how hurt he was.

SAMMY ON THE WEDDING: At my bachelor dinner, Frank cornered me and said, "Instead of paying you a straight salary for Sergeants 3, I'm going to give you $75,000 plus 7 percent of the action. It should be worth a quarter million to you. You'll have a wife and kids to think about." That's the kind of guy he is. Then, on the day of the wedding, people were leaning out of their windows all the way up the hill with telescopic lenses trained on my house. Reporters and newsreel men clustered in front of the door. Photographers perched in trees to get a free line of sight to the doorway. It's easy for others to say that it was only right for Frank to be there; "he's your friend." But it's not that simple. With all his independence, he still knows how quickly a career can go down the drain on the whim of the public. For him to state, "This is my friend, and you can stick it in your ear if you don't like it," means putting in jeopardy everything he's worked for, lost and regained, and must fight to hold on to. It was not a minor thing for Frank to be my best man.

NOVEMBER 13–DECEMBER 3, 1947: Dad played up to eight shows a day in a 17-day engagement at New York's Capitol Theater.

[ Repeated from May 1947... ]

SAMMY DAVIS JR. ON MEETING SINATRA: Our first rehearsal, in walks Frank with the coat over his shoulder. He said, "Good afternoon, everybody." And he walked over to me and said, "My name is Frank Sinatra." I said, "I know. I was the kid in the Army who used to go see you do your radio show." He said, "Wait a minute! Are you the one that I used to give tickets to in Hollywood? You had on an Army uniform. You used to come and catch The Old Gold Show?" I said, "Yessir, I am." So in the show, Frank himself does the opening. He comes out sings a couple of songs, then he says, "Ladies and gentlemen, now I'm going to get the show started. Here's some cats that dance up a storm. Keep your eye on the little guy in the middle—personal friend of mine." Well, that's all! [See also Late September 1945]

How many friends like him does a man find in a lifetime? I not only idolized him, I carefully studied his style as a performer. It got to where I sounded so much like him that I had no real style of my own. Even with this, Frank proved a friend. He talked to me about it and helped me to develop my own style or I would never have made it as a singer. Of course he was right. A selfish star would have let me continue, knowing full well that imitations only benefit the original.

NOVEMBER 7–DECEMBER 17, 1945: Back in New York, Dad ran the gamut of audiences... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[Dan]

I just received Nancy's books in the mail today!

[Nancy]

He talked to me about it and helped me to develop my own style or I would never have made it as a singer. Of course he was right. A selfish star would have let me continue, knowing full well that imitations only benefit the original.

I hope all of our singers, especially the young ones, here at the SFF pay attention to that advice.

[voice1]

He said the same things to me on August 27, 1981. Sid Mark reinforced it too. I have been obliging ever since.

(From the Guestbook page and the online book Frank Sinatra: An American Legend by Nancy Sinatra )

NOVEMBER 9–16, 1986: Abdominal pains forced my father to curtail a performance at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City... [See November 9th]

NOVEMBER 14–18, 1984: Five nights at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

NOVEMBER 14, 1980: Benefit in Las Vegas for the St. Jude's Ranch.

NOVEMBER 8–14, 1979: Another week at Caesars Palace.

NOVEMBER 10–14, 1978: Dad was back at Caesars Palace for a six-day run... [See November 10th]

OCTOBER 21–NOVEMBER 16, 1977: Another week at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe... [See October 21st]

NOVEMBER 14, 1977: He returned to Burbank to host the Tonight Show for one night.

NOVEMBER 14, 1976: Frank received the Scopus Award from the American Friends of the Hebrew University of Israel because of his work for that country. Prime Minister Menachem Begin: "My personal appreciation to you for all you have done to encourage peace in the land so dear to us all...Men of good will everywhere applaud your generosity. None more enthusiastically than I." He was appearing at the Copacabana in 1948, when he was given a package and told to take the third taxi, which he did. The driver took him to a deserted pier where he left the bag as instructed. He never knew that what he was carrying was money for arms for Israel, until 30 or so years later, when he was visiting that country and a tearful Menachem Begin walked around his desk, hugged Frank and said, "Thank you."

NOVEMBER 13–20, 1975: The London Palladium... [See November 13th]

NOVEMBER 11–14, 1968: Back in the studio... [See November 11th]

NOVEMBER 1–14, 1961: Dad did his own two weeks at the Sands... [See November 1st]

NOVEMBER 14, 1955: FS starred for MGM as the streetwise Nathan Detroit opposite Marlon Brando as Sky Masterson, Jean Simmons as Sister Sarah Brown and Vivian Blaine as Miss Adelaide in the film version of Frank Loesser's Broadway smash, Guys and Dolls. This is one of the finest scores ever written, with such great songs as "If I Were a Bell," "Sue Me" and "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat." Dad went into the project feeling that the picture would be a lot stronger if he, not Brando, had played Sky Masterson, the more vocal singing role; if singers, not movie stars, had played the other leads in the musical; and if more attention had been paid to the great score. Sinatra and Brando: one an instinctual actor who revved himself up to do his very best on the first take, the other a Method actor, searching for motivation and perfection in take after take. The movie was a critical and boxoffice success.

NOVEMBER 13–DECEMBER 3, 1947: Dad played up to eight shows a day in a 17-day engagement at New York's Capitol Theater.

NOVEMBER 7–DECEMBER 17, 1945: Back in New York, Dad ran the gamut of audiences... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[Nancy]

NOVEMBER 14, 1976: Frank received the Scopus Award from the American Friends of the Hebrew University of Israel because of his work for that country. Prime Minister Menachem Begin: "My personal appreciation to you for all you have done to encourage peace in the land so dear to us all...Men of good will everywhere applaud your generosity. None more enthusiastically than I." He was appearing at the Copacabana in 1948, when he was given a package and told to take the third taxi, which he did. The driver took him to a deserted pier where he left the bag as instructed. He never knew that what he was carrying was money for arms for Israel, until 30 or so years later, when he was visiting that country and a tearful Menachem Begin walked around his desk, hugged Frank and said, "Thank you."


When Dad told me this story there were tears in his eyes and I could sense the humility of the wonderful man that was my father.

In many ways Frank Sinatra changed the world and left it a better place.

He did he is my hero.

[Stnwy18]

Nancy, was that when Frank did the Jerusalum concert that's on CD?

No, Robert, The Jerusalem Concert CD is from November 27, 1975.

[SinatraFan]

Originally Posted by Nancy

In many ways Frank Sinatra changed the world and left it a better place.

I couldn't agree more, Nancy!

[Savatri]

Originally Posted by Bob

No, Robert, The Jerusalem Concert CD is from November 27, 1975.

Bob - Wasn't that the concert that Frank sang America the Beautiful? It was so astoundingly beautiful that I never forgot it and always wanted to hear that rendition again.

Joan

Originally Posted by Savatri

Wasn't that the concert that Frank sang America the Beautiful?

No, Joan. The only authorized live version of "America The Beautiful" is from the May 1978 Caesars Palace concert—on the DVD in the Sinatra: Vegas box set—with solo guitar accompaniment by Al Viola. It is a wonderfully beautiful rendition.

[Savatri]

Pardon me, Bob, but I don't believe it. I saw that Jerusalem concert and I could sware America the Beautiful was sung by Frank. OK. You are always right. But I want to look into this because I was so overwhelmed by that song. (Maybe it was another song, but oh I remember America the Beautiful.)

Thanks.

Joan

Not in Jerusalem, m'dear. Trust me.

Originally Posted by Savatri

I saw that Jerusalem concert and I could swear America the Beautiful was sung by Frank.

Joan, Are you psychic?

Look at the 1981 entry following. Could that be what you saw? Hebrew University of Israel award (in Los Angeles, not Jerusalem, though.) It's not available on a CD or DVD, however. The one I mentioned is your closest bet.

(From the Guestbook page and the online book Frank Sinatra: An American Legend by Nancy Sinatra )

NOVEMBER 9–16, 1986: Abdominal pains forced my father to curtail a performance at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City... [See November 9th]

NOVEMBER 15–16, 1985: At the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas.

NOVEMBER 14–18, 1984: Five nights at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

NOVEMBER 15, 1981: In Los Angeles, FS led the singing of "America the Beautiful" at a Scopus Award presentation to Nancy Reagan from the American Friends of Hebrew University of Israel.

OCTOBER 21–NOVEMBER 16, 1977: Another week at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe... [See October 21st]

NOVEMBER 13–20, 1975: The London Palladium... [See November 13th]

NOVEMBER 15, 1956: This Is Sinatra!, a new album released by Capitol, was partly a compilation that featured "(Love Is)The Tender Trap," "The Gal That Got Away," "I've Got the World on a String," "Learnin' the Blues" and "Young at Heart."

NOVEMBER 13–DECEMBER 3, 1947: Dad played up to eight shows a day in a 17-day engagement at New York's Capitol Theater.

NOVEMBER 7–DECEMBER 17, 1945: Back in New York, Dad ran the gamut of audiences... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[ARIES3032]

I read two threads this AM that had me crying. First about Sammy , and the other about Israel! Dan, we like to refer to Nancy's books as the Sinatra family Bible.