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The Frantic Life Of Frank Sinatra

MIA MUST MERGE OR FRANK WILL LOSE THE URGE

There is a desperate urgency in the speed of his movements—a frenzy which causes his friends to sometimes halt—just to catch their breaths. Frank Sinatra slowed down once; it cost him professional oblivion. Since then, he moves and thinks and acts all in the same few seconds. And he loves with this same ferocity. Mia Farrow was never a girl to dawdle over things that had to be done. Still, she had never been pushed. Two years ago she was introduced to Frank Sinatra . . . they began dating, and before long the public and Frank clamored to know what Mia was thinking. When they sailed off on that much publicized and criticized cruise, Mia probably was contemplating her decision … but there is still no word, Now, Sinatra is not a man to sit still. After his quickie divorce from Nancy in ’51, and his feet-first marriage to Ava Gardner which lasted only a couple of stormy years,





Sinatra “chased the skirts,” as his songs often say. He did the “Pal Joey” bit to the hilt. In ’59 he slowed for a while to woo Juliet Prowse—but she wouldn’t abandon her career, so he gave her notice and moved on.

Now he’s slowed to court Mia, but that old restlessness is not about to be abated for very long.

If Mia doesn’t hook him now . . . when she finally tums to say “yes” Sinatra may have continued on his frantic way.



“Frank is his own man,” one friend has said; “no gal ever tells him what to do.”

 



1- Francis Albert Sinatra (w. mom), born Dec. 12, 1915 in Hoboken, N.J.

2- An only child, was already spoiled at 3; folks saw him as future engineer.

3- At 12, Frank, upper r., was already leader of gang (note skull insignia)

4- The skinny kid was doing orchestrations, singing w. local bands at 17.





5- A Pied Piper w. Dorsey Band (/40-/42); his I’ll Never Smile Again made him national idol at 25.

6- Frank, 4-F in WW II (punctured eardrum), set attendance records at NYC Paramount for 10 wks.

7- His top physical condition, enunciation, feel for meaning of lyrics earned him “The Voice” tag.





8- In ’43 he hit Hollywood where he did p. a.s, below with Louella Parsons, 2 regular radio shows—Hit Parade, B’way Band Box—plus making movies.

9- More and more he became involved in the glamour worlds of Hwd and N Y. Here he clowns with Bing Crosby, Bob Hope at a golf tournament.

10- Frank married Nancy in 1939 when he was making $15 a wk. Nine yrs. later Christina, 7 wks., rounded out his family—Nancy, Jr., 8; Frank, Jr., 5.





11- In 46 he had whirl with Lana Turner after trouble at home; but rift mended same yr. when he spotted Nancy in night dub and sang to her.

12- Frank’s flings with Lana, Marilyn Maxwell, others were “embarrassing” for Nancy but when he flipped for Ava Gardner in ’49, began traveling with her, Nancy knew she could never get him to settle down and finally conceded to a divorce.

13- Seven days after Frank’s Vegas divorce, he and Ava wed in Philadelphia, Nov. 7, 1951. “Secret wedding” turned into brawl, with cops unable to control mob. “We finally made it,” said Frank.





14- After 2nd marriage, career had faltered, but he got most mileage out of 53 Oscar for “Best Supporting Actor” in Hollywood history. (W. Donna Reed.)

15- Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Frank were pals. After Bogey’s death, Sinatra dated Lauren until he read they planned to wed.

16- The yrs. after split w. Ava were unhappy, but he created clan, spent time with his kids (he, S. Davis took them to Disneyland) to fill days.





17- Frank has always looked out for his parents. He recently took Mia Farrow to their N. J. home, which he bought for them, to try mom’s cooking.

18- In ’60 he had his own TV show on CBS, which proved to be a failure. Here he portrayed an old Italian immigrant in one of his various skits.

19- When Frank likes someone, he can’t do enough for them. He does his share of charity work, too—at ’62 preem he played host to handicapped kids.





20- After being separated 5 yrs., Frank, Ava were divorced in ’57. İn ’60, Juliet Prowse helped him forget Ava, but she broke ’62 engagement.

21- Just two months after Frank, Jr. made singing debut (below) he was kidnapped (Oct. ’63). Trial proved it wasn’t a planned publicity stunt.

22-1965 showed Frankie boy is bigger than ever. His stint w. Davis on NBC’s Carson Show was hit; 3 NY concerts proved he out-sells the Beatles.



FRANK’S MOVIE MILESTONES

 



1- Ship Ahoy, 1942. Was pre-success movie he made w. Tommy Dorsey band—sang solos. Frank, Jr. tours country w. TD band today.

2- Anchors Aweigh, ’45. Frank was smash dancing with Gene Kelly. Proved acting skill in 1st big pic, Higher and Higher, ’43.

3- The House I Live In, ’45. He won special Oscar for this short on social and religious tolerance.





4- Take Me Out To The BalI Game, ’49, with E. Williams, I., G. Kelly.

5- Meet Danny Wilson, ’52- With Shelley Winters, didn’t Help career.

6-. From Here To Eternity, ’53. Frank begged for part of Maggio, his great comeback.





7- Young At Heart, ’54. Frank, a “lost” song writer, gets moral support from Doris Day, who proves her love true.

8 Not As A Stranger, ’55. Offers began pouring in after dramatic role w. Bob Mitchum.

9- The Tender Trap, ’55. Frank wisely varied roles, switched to slick romantic comedy with Debbie Reynolds.





10- The Man With The Golden Arm, ’55. Frank goes through withdrawal pains as he tries to give up dope. Kim Novak also stars.

11- High Society, ’56. Grace Kelly, in tears over Bing Crosby, turns to Frank for solace in tuneful, comic romance.

12- The Pride And The Passion, ’56. He hauled cannon around Spain with Sophia Loren; Around World in 80 Days followed.





13- Pal Joey, ’57. As lovable heel he ran night club, crooned songs, romanced Kim Novak.

14- A Hole In The Head, ’59. He’s widowed dad to Eddie Hodges in tender comedy hit w. Carolyn Jones.

15- Con-Can, ’60. Shirley MacLaine, Frank were riot in this musical. (Shirley was adopted by the clan.)





16- Ocean’s 11, ’60. Was beginning of clan-made pics; Frank, Richard Conte, D. Martin, Richard Benedict, P. Lawford, Joey Bishop (S. Davis not shown) rob Vegas strip casino.

17- Devil At 4 O’Clock, ’61. Frank (convict), Spencer Tracy (priest) evacuate island before volcano.

18- Sergeants 3, ’62. Lawford, Davis, Martin, Frank (Bishop not shown) teamed again for this outlandish comic western.

19-Manchurian Candidate, ’62. Frank discovers how Laurence Harvey is used as pawn in Red plot.





20- Come Blow Your Horn, ’63. Frank is suave bachelor, Tony Bill his younger brother in former Broadway show.

21- 4 For Texas, ’63. He kicks his would-be assassin as D. Martin looks on. W. Anita Ekberg, Ursula Andress.





22- Robin And The 7 Hoods, ’64. Another comedy. Here Bing Crosby (r.) makes Martin, Davis, Frank into Santas.

23- WB’s None But The Brave, ’65. This marked his debut as movie director (critics panned film). As a pharmacist’s mate, he had to amputate Jap’s leg.





24- 20th’s Von Ryan’s Express, ’65. Frank, Sergio Fantoni, Trevor Howard head cast in suspenseful WW II prisoner-escape melodrama—lots of fighting.

25- WB’s Marriage On The Rocks, ’65. He learns jerk from Davey Davison after divorcing Deborah Kerr. His next: Para.’s Assault On The Queen.



It is a quote. MOVIE LIFE YEAR BOOK MAGAZINE NUMBER 38, JANUARY 1965

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