[Marty]

Originally posted by Jeffrey Simmons
[Bseveral FS interviews made about the time of the movie about his work on the film. But what I want to know here please is the date of the DVD interview? how long was the full interview? to whom was FS speaking? what other subjects were discussed and when was it ever shown? etc etc [/B]

is there any indication at all as to who the interviewer may be, or around which time it could have been recorded, Jeffrey?, as there were a handful of famous TV interviews on US TV over the 1950s/1960s and information as to the interview segment (I don't have this DVD myself) would be extremely helpful in pinpointing when and where recorded.

[Jeffrey Simmons]

Originally posted by MerseyRat
is there any indication at all as to who the interviewer may be, or around which time it could have been recorded, Jeffrey?, as there were a handful of famous TV interviews on US TV over the 1950s/1960s and information as to the interview segment (I don't have this DVD myself) would be extremely helpful in pinpointing when and where recorded.

Marty, I was going on the assumption that somebody who answers this will have the DVD, seen the interview and knows what I am going on about. Anyway, this is in my view a much more recent interview could be late 70's or up to mid 80's. Certainly FS looks real good and he is very sharp and clear in his expression of the subject matter. The only problem is that this snippet is too damn short. I would love to see much more of him like this - so natural, honest and frank (with a small f). That is whay I am asking for full details about this interview.

The interview/talk segments of FS with John Frankenheimer (director) and George Axelrod (co-producer/screenplay-writer) are all from February/March 1987, when "Manchurian Candidate" after almost 25 years was finally re-released to American cinemas (and then also on Home Video I think). Yes, fascinating talk.

Sinatra's "trim looks" as seen here still were partly because of he lost some weight following the fall 1986 emergency surgery (for diverticulitis) and January 1987 post-surgery. He appeared much feistier again by summer 1987 during his Italy tour.

(He also talked briefly about the re-release of Manchurian on Larry King Live in May 1988).

Bernhard.

I've heard many complaints about this film and all of the attacks focus on the films age. Most people feel this film hasn't aged well and I always disagree simply because the protrayal of withdrawl was so real!

What are your comments?

preceding posts, rather a question about Frank's character in the film. He was a musician, a drummer and in the film played the drums. There was a great scene of him doing so. I'd heard, long ago, that someone else, I think Gene Krupa, actually did the playing. Does anyone know if Frank played the scene himself, drum solo and all, or if the drumming was dubbed?

[Tony]

Elmer Bernsteins score for MWTGA had jazz sequences arranged by Shorty Rogers with Shelley Manne on drums.

That was one hell of a movie! His talents as a dramatic actor were truly exemplified with his 1953 Academy Award winning role in "From Here to Eternity," then again in 1954 with "Suddenly," and then again in 1955's "The Man With The Golden Arm." I was barely 15 in '53 when FHTE was released and just about 17 when TMWTGA came out. I'd learned to appreciate Sinatra's singing talents as a young boy, and was just becoming intellectually aware in the following three years, enough to really be pleased that I understood those performances. He'd made all manner of fluff movie before, and then to see his progression from singer to extremely good dramatic actor in those movies was a the beginning of my own learning.

The late Milt Bernhart also contributed to this excellent soundtrack through several outstanding trombone solos.
http://www.sinatrafamily.com/forum/s...t&pagenumber=1

Trumpet playing as heard here (and synched by Montgomery Clift) was by the great Manny Klein.

Bernhard.

[Domenico]

This is my favorite Frank Sinatra movie bar none. He should have won an Academy Award and an Oscar for his performance of Frankie Machine.

OUTSTANDING FILM. A MUST SEE!!! 5 STARS!!!!


Domenic

[The Chairman]

Whilst not being my favourite of Frank's film (because of the subject matter) it is without his best performance.
Frank is utterly convincing as Frankie Machine, it's a tragic tale and the whole story has a terrible feeling of inevitability about it.
Otto Preminger used a simple set which give the whole piece a really stagey feel, this adds brilliantly to the moody tone of the film.
Frank steals the show though and he should have bagged a second Oscar IMO.

I agree that this movie contains Frank's most intense work as an actor and that he should have walked home with Oscar for it. (Anyone recall who did win that year?) However, I find it impossible to watch him going through the withdrawal scenes...they are too real and I like the man so much I actually feel as though it is Frankie Sinatra...not Frankie Machine who is suffering so. They say that is the ultimate compliment on the realism of an actor's work...if you react to it as though it were more than a performance.

Too tough to watch repeatedly.

As to Bennet's query about why some criticize it for being "dated"...I actually have not heard that...is it coming from people who think everything made before 1990 is dated or from someone who really understands movies? I don't see anything about Frank's performance in particular that couldn't be directly transplanted into a Martin Scorcese or Quentin Tarantino movie today...although Eleanor Parker's performance might seem a bit over the top to some.

"Happy Thoughts"...
April

"dated"...I actually have not heard that...is it coming from people who think everything made before 1990 is dated or from someone who really understands movies? I don't see anything about Frank's performance in particular that couldn't be directly transplanted into a Martin Scorcese or Quentin Tarantino movie today

Excellent observation, April, to which I agree wholeheartedly!

And he DEFINITELY should have received an Oscar. Think I'm going to have my VHS put on a DVD, however, as I understand it is deteriorting as we speak!

April,

the Oscar in that year went to Ernest Borgnine in " Marty ".

Thank you Anton! Yes, "Marty" made quite a sensation, being made on such a small budget and being the first movie hit to be based on a television special. However, I am truly biased and feel that Frank's performance is at least as Oscar-worthy, and the film itself much more interesting than Marty.

Cheers,

April

I haven't had much time to visit lately...sorry it took me so long to reply.

I got a combination dvd/vcr a couple of years ago and am slowly trying to convert my special favorite from the older format. It's expensive but sometimes it's worth it.

Ciao,
April

I've seen this movie twice before, but recently received it on DVD as a gift. Sinatra deserved the Oscar for his portrayal of Frankie Machine. Arnold Stang, Kim Novak, Robert Strauss, and Darren McGavin were also outstanding in this movie. If anyone questions Sinatra's acting ability, just direct them to this movie and ask them to comment after watching it!

Tom,

There has been a wonderful discussion on this film. Do a quick search and you can bump it up.

No one would ever question Mr. S.'s acting ability for certain. He should have won an Oscar for this one!

[Adam]

Merged all threads on this film.

Adam

I was blown away by Frank's brilliant portrayal of "Frankie Machine" the first time I watched the movie. His acting was so powerful that you were totoally convinved by the character - you no longer saw Frank Sinatra, the entertainer, but Frank SIntra the actor.

The movie was a classic in many ways as the subject matter (ie - the depiciton of a heroin addict) had never before been illustrated so graphically. Frank's "cold turkey" scenes were a first in movie history! Even today, those scenes are chilling and Frank plays his character so convincingly.

Some critics have citied the only flaw to the movie being the set which tends to, at times, appear too unrealisitc (ie, too "studio").

Elmer Bernstein's musical score fanastic! It is so dark and chilling that it brilliantly creates a strong foreboding atmosphere.

Frank's scenes were he plays the drums, was actually dubbed and it is actually Gene Krupa playing the drums and not "Frankie Machine"!

The movie logo which appears at the opening of the film (ie- the illlustration of the arm - a reference to the "golden arm"), is now regarded as a classic.

Frank really did his research for this movie and spent weeks before work on the film began, spending time visiting drug centres and pcsyciatric hospitals in order to get a better understanding of his character.

A brilliant and powerful movie and Franks best performance by far.



Melissa


From here to eternity

I am a film buff. I do truly belive that cinema is a legitamate art form and that it should be studied and studied. I've seen hundered and hundreds of films and I've seen some of the greatest actors to grace the silver Screen and after watching this film again recently I think SInatra was one of them. Although he doesn't have the extensive repetior of many other actors, he stared in some of the more noteworthy films: On the Town, From Here to Eternity, Pal Joey, etc.

But those films stand in plae to his two greatest films, the ones I consider to be exempliary piece of acting: The Manchurian Cnadidate & The Man With THe Golden Arm.

Just look at SInatra's facial expressions. he conveys his pain and suffering so well! His body gestures are simply genius, giving us a no-holds look at the withdrawl stage. The camera was made for this man!