Customer Reviews

Sinatra in Hollywood

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4 star:		(1)
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FINALLY, a book for film buffs and Sinatra fans that does justice to the Sinatra mystique and encompasses the full range of his acting career! Tom Santopietro really knows film, celebrities, and cultural history and weaves a narrative combining all three that gives us great insight and affection for Sinatra, the private man and the public talent. This is a book that belongs in the hands of every fan of Ol' Blue Eyes! As with his prior books on Doris Day and Barbara Streisand, Santopietro's work is both entertaining and worthy of a permanent place in the collection of anyone who's a serious fan of 20th century film.

Mr. Santopietro's account of Sinatra's Hollywood years is very entertaining, insightful and often quite funny, especially when describing some of the ludicrous plotting or production problems of some of The Chairman's films. It also deals with Sinatra's personal woes and triumphs as well as his phenomenal recording career. Although concentrating specifically on his films, the book offers much analysis on Sinatra's shining years both on and off the screen. It is a great read for any fan of film in general or Ol' Blue Eyes. Santopietro is especially fair in showing a balanced view of the great entertainer, warts and all.

The only issue I had is the author's often preachy political correctness when complaining of negative racial stereotypes prevalent in films during Hollywood's heyday. Historians and biographers need to stop using 21st-century standards to judge the past and those who came before us. In 50 years, I'm sure some biographer will have something bad to say about our standards today even though we strongly defend those same standards now. Any film fan reading the book knows the stereotypes regrettably existed and doesn't want to believe that the author assumes all readers are blind to, or ignorant of, the past. Times have mercifully changed, but please don't gratuitously preach to the reader about a history that can't be re-written.

Have read the book and find that the auther "gets" Sinatra. I skipped over what were very lengthy synopses of each story. Seemed interminable to me. There were many roles, some of them excellent, that Frank turned down or went after and did not get or just did not happen. Would have liked to have seen more about those although he did write about Frank and "Carousel" as "the single greatest missed opportunity of his film career." At that age and as marvelously as he was acting and singing then, he'd have added so much. There is a lot in the book that you will not find elsewhere and thankfully, it's not one of those kitty kelly type sleaze volumes. However it leaves much unanswered and uncovered.

I feel that other reviews have not been fair to this book. Santopietro's writing style is not my favorite in the world, but this book is one thing: thorough. I honestly feel that everything Sinatra ever said publicly about his own film career was used in this book. It is extremely well-researched and detailed. No detail is left out, actually. This may bother some, but as a Sinatraphile, I couldn't ask for more. This book has an in-depth look at every single one of Frank's films, including reviews from the time, the author's opinion, and Frank's own feelings. Santopietro also addresses key events in Sinatra's personal life while keeping the focus on the films, and without becoming gossipy. Sinatra in Hollywood basically makes a case for Sinatra's immense acting ability and potential, and explains why Sinatra the Actor is both great and important. I recommend this to anyone who wants the lowdown on Sinatra the actor.

Tom Santopietro's book on Sinatra's films goes against the grain of what everyone before him has said. Apparently Sinatra's biggest fanboy, Santopietro can't find anything wrong with any of Sinatra's performances and consistently praises the chairman of the board no matter how lazy or contemptible his acting gets. If you loved Frankie's daughter's book about her father, then you'll love this one. When someone writes ANYTHING good about "Dirty Dingus Magee", you know you can't trust their judgment.