CBS NEWS PRESENTS: SINATRA (TV)
Summary
This documentary examines the life and career of Frank Sinatra through interviews and clips of the legendary entertainer performing at various locales. Broadcast shortly before Sinatra's fifieth birthday, this profile analysizes his impact as a performer, his skill as a recording artist, and his controversial relationship with the press. In an interview with host Walter Cronkite, Sinatra discusses the following topics, among others: the reasons for his popularity with the American public; the aspects of his career he most enjoys; his gripes about the young singers of the day; his early days in Hoboken, New Jersey; his connections with mobsters; his comeback after a difficult period in the late forties; the problems he has had with the press and his reputation for having a quick temper; his involvement in the presidential campaign of John F. Kennedy; and the way in which he would like to be remembered. Also interviewed by Cronkite, Bing Crosby claims that Sinatra sings better than he does and calls him "the best entertainer we have." Nancy Sinatra discusses her father's coverage by the press and his antics with his famous friends, and social historian Leo Rosten explains Sinatra's appeal to women and states that he fulfills our expectations of a star by entertaining us onstage and exciting us offstage. Clips of Sinatra include, among others: a recording session in Hollywood; a performance at Lorton Penitentiary in Virginia; a dinner with family and celebrity friends at Jilly's Restaurant in New York; a performance with Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, and Johnny Carson in St. Louis; and excerpts from the movies "Marriage on the Rocks" and "From Here to Eternity." Sinatra also sings segments of the following songs: "It Was a Very Good Year," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "You Make Me Feel So Young," "Fly Me to the Moon," and "Man in the Looking Glass." Commercials deleted.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by The Marc Haas and Helen Hotze Haas Foundation, 1998.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: November 16, 1965 Tuesday 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:51:41
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T:15408
- GENRE: Music; Arts documentaries; Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Actors; Arts documentaries; Biography; Music, popular (songs, etc.); Singers
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 1965
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Don Hewitt … Executive Producer
- David Buksbaum … Associate Producer
- Andrew A. Rooney … Writer
- Walter Cronkite … Reporter
- Frank Sinatra … Guest
- Johnny Carson
- Bing Crosby
- Sammy Davis Jr.
- Dean Martin
- Leo Rosten
- Nancy Sinatra