Frannnkkiiieeeeee!

Frances Albert Sinatra, aka Old Blue Eyes and the Chairman Of The Board will finally have his story told. Frank’s story will soon be hitting the silver screen thanks to Martini Scorsese.

Director Scorsese, Universal Pictures and Mandalay Films have acquired Frank’s life and music rights and are excited for the chance to tell Frank’s story. No release date as of yet,  but it is safe to say that Sinatra fans must be beside themselves with joy and chomping at the bit. And you can count me in as one of the ”chompers”!

I simply can not mention Frank without mentioning my dad. Frank Sinatra and my dad always went hand and hand in our household when I was growing up. Frank’s music was constantly played in our home and played loudly, so hopefully our neighbors were Frank fans too. Of course when I was young, I didn’t appreciate his music. I was too busy listening to Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, but many years later, ironically, Frank’s crooning fills the rooms of my own home as well, and I am now a huge fan.

My father is quite the Sinatra collector as well. He has all of Frank’s records, assorted pictures plastered here and there around the house and he never missed one of Frank ’s birthday, religiously sending him a card every year. My father, like so many, was deeply saddened when Frank passed away.

I was lucky enough to acquire an autographed picture of daughter Nancy “These Boots Are Made For walking” Sinatra, and she kindly wrote a personalized birthday greeting to my dad and sent it back in time for his 80th birthday. That was incredibly sweet of her. Thanks again Nancy! Needless to say, my dad was thrilled.

There is one sad regret however, even though my Dad was fortunate to see Frank perform live, he never got to shake Frank’s hand.  (I still kick myself for not going to Frank’s concerts, but it was very uncool to go anywhere with your parents back then.)

It was our entire family’s wish for our father to meet Frank, but sadly, it just never materialized. Sinatra had a full life to say the least, living to the ripe age of 82, and just last week was anniversary of his passing on May 14th. Not surprising, like many from his era, Frank was a big smoker and drinker and I think it surprised everyone that he lived as long as he did. Especially when you consider the man was not a big fan of sleeping and relied heavily on his power naps. The lyrics from the song that he made famous, “New York, New York”, where he sings “I want to wake up in a city, that doesn’t sleep“, couldn’t have been more true for Frank. 

Frank heroically survived his Rat Pack Days, which was historically full of much mayhem and merriment — lots of women, gambling and booze. I have seen some of the original Rat Pack clips, and I don’t think there was anyone who had as much fun as Frank, Sammy Davis, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop (the non-partier) and Peter Lawford. Sadly, along with Frank the entire Rat Pack is gone.

But even though Frank is not with us anymore, his music will always lives on and this up coming movie will be the first on my “must see” list. This movie has been a long time coming, and the rights and the permission to do it, were acquired with great difficulty. I often wondered why there hadn’t been a film telling Frank’s story so far, but I would imagine it may be due to the fact that it took co-producer Cathy Schulman two years to fight for the rights. I am glad the Sinatra family held on to the rights of Frank’s music so ruthlessly. Let us not forget when the Beatles song “Revolution” was used for a Nike ad, I thought…oh hell no!

There are times when exploiting nostalgia is just wrong.

Let’s just hope Frank’s music doesn’t pop up on too many TV commercials in the near future?  Of course unless they are done tastefully and classy, if that’s even possible. For instance, I wouldn’t want to see a TV commercial and hear “Strangers in the Night” playing , while people are pictured going through the late night drive-thru at Taco Bell.  I think I would just cry.

So back to the movie rights….

Billboard Magazine said:

“The deal was made after years of negotiations with Frank Sinatra Enterprises, a venture with Warner Music Group and Sinatra’s adult children created in 2007. Family politics was an obstacle, it said, with Tina, Nancy and Frank Sinatra Jr. having to agree on how to tell the story and what aspects to tell.”

So who is slated to play the part of Frank? No picks yet. Rolling Stone asked their readers who they thought would best fill the shoes of Frank and do the legend justice. The film’s co-producer Cathy Schulman, thought that Scorsese may pick Leonardo DiCaprio. I love DiCaprio, but not to play Frank.

People Magazine has an online pole going, and DiCaprio is winning over Johhny Depp, Justine Timberlake, Joe Jonas (are they freakin’ kidding me?) and Robert Pattison…um NO!

If I had my choice, I would pick Harry Connick, Jr. He has the look, the suaveness, the acting ability, the bravado — an important element required to play Frank!. And perhaps most importantly, Connick has the musical chops to play one of the greatest singers to grace the earth. To me [and "D" agrees] Harry Connick, Jr. is the obvious favorite to play Old Blue Eyes.

To take it a step further into the cast of what could be an epic film, I think Jamie Foxx would make an obvious choice for portraying Sammy Davis. Foxx did a tremendous job playing the legendary Ray Charles, and I have no doubt he’d own Davis part as well. But as far as Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford and Dino?  I am stumped.

Of course I had to ask my Dad who he thought could play the role of his beloved Frank. I was positive he would agree with me and pick Connick too. But alas, he surprised me and picked George Clooney. Hmmm interesting pick. But again, is Clooney’s age a factor?

He thinks Clooney has the good looks and acting chops, perhaps he’s right. After all, Clooney was great in the Ocean’s Eleven film, and maybe he would be a good choice. I guess we will just have to wait and see. 

So what do you say let’s have some fun here. Glosslip wants to know…who do YOU think would be right for the part of Sinatra and also The Rat Pack? 

Keep in mind, since Scorsese now has all the music rights, it is highly unlikely that anyone will actually have to sing in this movie. Thankfully. There are only a handful of people that have even come close to imitating Frank’s signature voice. Some will argue that nobody has ever accomplished that feat. Frank’s annunciation of words and the timing of his lyrics is a work of art and has yet to be duplicated. 

I doubt die hard Sinatra fans would appreciate anyone lending their voice to this film, other than the master himself. I certainly second that, and I am glad to see that Scorsese obviously felt the same way.  Who can ever forget Michael Bolton’s horrendous album, ” Bolton Swings Sinatra”. It was an ABOMINATION.

I was just glad that Ol’ Blue Eyes wasn’t around to hear Bolton’s whining renditions of Frank’s classic songs. Bolton always sounds like a wounded cat in heat, and he literally butchered Frank’s songs to death, leaving them bloodied and sorrowful.

So Mr.Bolton, if by chance you are reading this, let that be the last Sinatra you attempt. Or better yet, zip it up all together and save humanity the torture. That’s right…I said it, you heard me.

Here’s what Rolling Stone had to say on the upcoming movie:

Director Martin Scorsese has been handed the reigns of a biopic about legendary singer Frank Sinatra. Universal Pictures and Mandalay Pictures will produce the film; the companies acquired both the life rights and music rights of the Chairman of the Board. “We have dreamt of making a movie about Frank Sinatra, and Marty Scorsese is undeniably the perfect vision keeper for this project,” Mandalay chairman Peter Guber said in a statement.

“My father had great admiration for the talent of the people he chose to work with, and the talented people who worked with my father had great admiration for him,” said Tina Sinatra in a statement. “It is personally pleasing to me that this paradigm continues with Marty Scorsese at the helm of the Sinatra film.” No casting decisions have been announced as yet, but given that Scorsese has collaborated with Leonardo DiCaprio on four consecutive films including the upcoming Shutter Island, it seems conceivable the Titanicstar will be the frontrunner for the Sinatra role. No estimated release date has been announced for the film.

So what do you think, can the actor who has portrayed Howard Hughes in The Aviator and a master con man in Catch Me If You Can pull off playing the debonair Ol’ Blue Eyes? If not, who would you cast as Sinatra?

Now I know Frank wasn’t the exact role model for many, but few know of Frank’s “secret” generosity, which was kept on the down low. He was known to buy things for people in need and leave them anonymously and never take any credit.  It was also reported that he left $2,000,000,00 to charity when he passed. Now THAT’S class.

And yes, Frank may have had a few questionable “badda-bing” buddies and it’s true he had a sign on the outside of the gate to his house which read “You better have a damn good reason for ringing my bell,” but come on, your talking about the Chairman of The Board here. Larger-than-life figures get that reputation for a reason. Plus, nobody can out “doobey-doo” Sinatra, plain and simple. Fu-get about it!
 

I always felt I was born in the wrong era. I honestly thought the 1940’s suited me better. I love the clothes, the music, and the easier times of the 40’s (excluding that little thing called WWII of course) and I loved the way guys used to dress so darn spiffy, unlike today where 
some women have to have to beg their guys to please leave the sweat pants at home. I just know if I had been a teen back then, I would have been right there swooning along with the rest of the bobby-soxers over Frank and I would have been a huge swing dancin’, big band fan.

Who wouldn’t love to have seen the iconic Rat Pack in all their silliness on stage?

Now I may have been born in the wrong era, and I don’t get out and dance like I used to, but the music and the legend of Frank Sinatra will always live in my heart. So with that in mind, I am willing to let the great Scorsese take a whack (wink) at this movie and hope he does Ol’ Blue Eyes some justice.

So to you Mr. Scorsese, and to my Dad on his upcoming 87th birthday…. Saloot a chin don!