Sinatra (miniseries)

Sinatra
Promotional poster
GenreBiography
Drama
Written byWilliam Mastrosimone
Abby Mann
Directed byJames Steven Sadwith
StarringPhilip Casnoff
Olympia Dukakis
Joe Santos
Gina Gershon
Nina Siemaszko
Marcia Gay Harden
Theme music composerArtie Butler
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes2
Production
Executive producerTina Sinatra
ProducerRichard M. Rosenbloom
Production locationsHoboken, New Jersey
Union Station - 800 N. Alameda Street, Downtown, Los Angeles
CinematographyReynaldo Villalobos
EditorsSteve Potter
Scott Vickrey
Running time180 min (part 1)
120 min (part 2)
Production companiesTS Productions
Warner Bros. Television
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseNovember 8 (1992-11-08) –
November 10, 1992 (1992-11-10)

Sinatra is a 1992 CBS biographical drama miniseries about singer Frank Sinatra, developed and executive produced by Frank's youngest daughter Tina Sinatra and approved by Frank himself.[1][2][3] Directed by James Steven Sadwith, produced by Richard M. Rosenbloom, and written by William Mastrosimone and Abby Mann. It stars Philip Casnoff, Olympia Dukakis, Joe Santos, Gina Gershon, Nina Siemaszko, Bob Gunton, and Marcia Gay Harden, with some of Sinatra's vocals recreated by Tom Burlinson. It won two and was nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards, along with a win and two nominations for a Golden Globe Award. Released on November 8, 1992, it was re-released on a two-disc DVD Warner Home Video on May 13, 2008.[4]

Plot

The film follows Frank Sinatra's (pictured in 1947) early life as a young boy in the 1920s, to his rise to fame in the 1930s and 1940s, ending in 1974. Sinatra is portrayed by Theatre and TV actor Philip Casnoff.

Growing up in Hoboken, New Jersey, as a young man, Frank Sinatra dreams of becoming a singer despite the objections of his father, Anthony "Marty" Sinatra, who believes he is abandoning a secure future. With the encouragement of his mother, Dolly, Sinatra leaves home to pursue music, determined to prove himself.

After performing with local bands, Sinatra joins Harry James's orchestra, gaining his first major break as a professional singer before moving to Tommy Dorsey's orchestra. There, he develops his distinctive vocal style by studying Dorsey's breath control. While touring with the band, he openly opposes racial segregation by confronting hotel staff who refuse accommodation to arranger Sy Oliver because of his colour. His growing popularity leads him to seek a solo career, straining his relationship with Dorsey as he breaks away from the band. Sinatra's success soon makes him a recording star, concert attraction and Hollywood actor, despite skepticism from promoters who doubt his ability to headline major venues.

As his fame grows, Sinatra's marriage to his first wife, Nancy Barbato, begins to deteriorate under the pressures of his career and repeated infidelities. While filming Anchors Aweigh, he meets actress Ava Gardner, and the two begin a passionate but turbulent romance that ultimately ends his marriage. Their relationship is marked by jealousy, frequent arguments and conflicting career ambitions, including Gardner's decision to terminate a pregnancy, which deeply damages their marriage. Professionally, Sinatra faces setbacks as his popularity declines and negative publicity surrounds his associations with alleged organized crime figures. Determined to revive his career, he fights for the role of Private Angelo Maggio in From Here to Eternity, believing it will restore his reputation. His performance earns him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, re-establishing him as a major star and revitalizes both his acting and recording careers.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Sinatra becomes a leading entertainer in Las Vegas and a central figure in American popular culture. He remains a loyal friend to Sammy Davis Jr., encouraging him to resume performing after Davis loses an eye in a car accident. Sinatra becomes a prominent supporter and friend of Senator John F. Kennedy, campaigning for his successful 1960 presidential election, and forms the Rat Pack with Davis, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. However, his relationship with Lawford deteriorates after Kennedy cancels plans to stay at Sinatra's Palm Springs estate, straining Sinatra's ties to the Kennedy family. Sinatra later marries actress Mia Farrow, but their conflicting career priorities and age difference contribute to the collapse of the marriage.

At the end of the film, Sinatra contemplates retirement while visiting his dying father. Marty, who once dismissed his son's ambitions, finally acknowledges Sinatra's accomplishments and tells him that he is "no quitter," giving Frank the validation he had sought throughout his life. Six years later, in 1974, the film concludes with Sinatra performing "That's Life" at Madison Square Garden, reaffirming his enduring legacy as one of America's greatest entertainers.

Cast

Production

Filming

Filming was shot on location in Hoboken, New Jersey, and at the Los Angeles Union Station in California.

Reception

The series got a mostly positive reception but was accused of whitewashing the controversial aspects of Frank Sinatra's life.[1][5][6][7][8][9]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
1993
 American Cinema Editors Awards Best Edited Episode from a Television Mini-Series Scott Vickrey (for "Part I") Nominated [10]
American Society of Cinematographers Awards Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Miniseries Reynaldo Villalobos Nominated [11]
Artios Awards Best Casting for TV Miniseries Marcia Ross and Robert Litvak Nominated [12]
Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Won [13]
Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Philip Casnoff Nominated
Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Olympia Dukakis Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries Tina Sinatra and Richard M. Rosenbloom Nominated [14]
[15]
[16]
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Miniseries or a Special James Steven Sadwith Won
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction for a Miniseries or a Special Veronica Hadfield, Richard L. Johnson,
Cindy Carr, and Robin Royce (for "Part I")		 Nominated
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Special Reynaldo Villalobos (for "Part I") Nominated
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Miniseries or a Special Shelley Komarov (for "Part I") Won
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Editing for a Miniseries or a Special –
Single Camera Production		 Scott Vickrey (for "Part I") Nominated
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Miniseries or a Special Bette Iverson and Adele Taylor (for "Part I") Nominated
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Direction Artie Butler (for "Part I") Nominated
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Miniseries or a Special Maury Harris, Wayne Artman,
Robert Fernandez, and Tom E. Dahl
(for "Part I")		 Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 "COVER STORY : Is This Really His Life? : Frank Sinatra blessed a TV bio with daughter Tina as executive producer. Cynics have already cried whitewash. But the CBS miniseries script includes the heartbreaks, the fights and the Mob. The question is: Why did he allow it?". Los Angeles Times. July 26, 1992.
  2. ↑ "SINATRA PORTRAIT RINGS WITH TRUTH AND CLARITY". Orlando Sentinel. November 8, 1992.
  3. ↑ Strum, Charles (November 8, 1992). "TELEVISION; Sinatra: The Idol, The Institution, The Mini-Series". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  4. ↑ "DVD Talk". www.dvdtalk.com.
  5. ↑ "TELEVISION". Los Angeles Times. January 23, 1992.
  6. ↑ O'Connor, John J. (November 6, 1992). "TV Weekend; Sinatra: The Good, the Bad, and Mostly the Music". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  7. ↑ "GETTING SEMI-TOUGH WITH FRANK SINATRA". Chicago Tribune. November 6, 1992.
  8. ↑ "SINATRA THE MINI-SERIES". Chicago Tribune. May 27, 1992.
  9. ↑ November 06, Ken Tucker Updated; EST, 1992 at 05:00 AM. "Sinatra". EW.com. {{cite web}}: |first1= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ↑ "Nominees/Winners". IMDb. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  11. ↑ "The ASC Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography". American Society of Cinematographers. Archived from the original on August 2, 2011.
  12. ↑ "1993 Artios Awards". Casting Society of America. October 19, 1993. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Sinatra". Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  14. ↑ "SINATRA". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  15. ↑ "THE 45th ANNUAL EMMY AWARDS: Presenting the Prime of Primetime". Los Angeles Times. September 20, 1993.
  16. ↑ "Emmy Award Nominations 1993: Nighttime Nominees: A Complete Rundown". Los Angeles Times. July 23, 1993.
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