Customer Reviews

Sinatra [VHS]

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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I've been waiting for this miniseries to come out to DVD for the longest time!! (I've almost wore out the copy that I taped when it was on CBS in the early 90's) Truthfully,I almost thought that it would never make it to DVD-but was VERY,VERY pleasantly suprised to see that it is finally coming!! Based on the book written by Tina Sinatra about her father.(Also a very good read!)With a cast of top-notch actors who turn in steller performances,this is definately one of the best miniseries,if not THE best that I have ever seen!!!

This is the most detailed and accurate documentary of Frank Sinatra out there. Tina Sinatra, his daughter was a producer of this film so it is as close to the real thing as it gets.

Philip Casnoff has the opportunity to be Frank, and does so very well. He is VERY believable. You can tell that he took time to study Frank very hard because he picked up his accent and body movements.

This film starts well, at the beginning! It shows the odds that were against him and his great desire to sing. He begins his career in the Hoboken 4, and sings "Shine" which becomes somewhat a hit. The 4 hour long movie goes through his life, depicting his rise to stardom as he sings with Harry James, and Tommy Dorsey. It also takes you through many loves and many movies that he filmed like On the Town, and Pal Joey. The film even portrays the acedemy award ceremony where he wins best oscar for From Here To Eternity.

When I watched this movie, I felt like I was really watching Frank's life being lived in front of me. You hear his music all throughout the film. After you watch Sinatra, check out a book and cd set called Frank Sinatra An American Legend. The cd contains most of the music that he sang in the movie as well as commericals and promotions that he did!

If you have always wanted to know how Frank lived it, checks this movie out. It is as realistic as it gets.

At first, I thought Casnoff was a poor choice...after all, who could possibly play Sinatra, a cultural institution? I should've trusted his daughter to choose the right actor. Philip Casnoff was perfect. Each time I see the film, I like him better and better. There was an edge to his portrayal that fits the Sinatra who lives in my head. I thought Gina Gershon was wonderful as the long-suffering Nancy Sinatra, Sr.

I thought this to be an excllent first rate movie about the fabulous singer's life. Fine performances by all the actors who also had many physical characteristics of those they portrayed. Phillip Casnoff did a fine job as Sinatra with none of the excesses the part might have encouraged in a lesser actor.

I've always like Nina Siemaszko (Mia Farrow) since I first saw her on Showtime's Red Shoe Diaries.

It's too bad the film didn't receive more attention from critics. Even though made for TV, it is on par with many Hollwood movies.

I don't know a whole lot about Frank Sinatra, so I don't know how accurate it is. However, I enjoyed this very much. It's a little lengthy (over 4 hours) because it was a made for TV special or movie or something, but it does not drag on. His childhood and early career are told very well. However it speeds up too much at the end, attempting to explain his Kennedy and mafia connections but failing. Its still worth watching if you wanna know about him and what he did.

When you have read about 150 of the books, seen over thirty of the movies, several documentaries and TV shows, heard over sixty radio shows, searched the Internet for hour upon untold hour, read interviews and magazine articles and quotes and tributes and reviews and heard the music over and over and over times ten again, and loved every second of it, you are what is generally known as a fan. I am a fan. Of course, when you consider that the subject matter is Frank Sinatra that's hardly a unique thing to be, even when the vast majority of other fans are over 50 and you are 14. But, in any case, the point is I'm biased. I am biased because having read BOTH Kitty Kelly's and Nancy and Tina Sinatra's books, and actually knowing the facts and loving the music I, being a fan, come up with the RIDICULOUS statement that Frank Sinatra was not an a.)vicious monster b.)pathetic loser or c.) gangster.
In many people's eyes that makes me either a blind little idiot or one step down from insane. Actually, it's true. Finally there is a film to help prove my point. ''Sinatra'' is magnificent. It is casually mentioned that the production was okayed by Frank Sinatra. That is a far bigger deal than they make it out to be. His simple ''all right, go ahead,'' makes this, apart from the music, the closest thing to an autobiography ever made. And Frank Sinatra was many things, but intentional liar was not among them.
Philip Casnoff is brilliant. Other than, well, Sinatra, it's impossible to even imagine any other actor playing Frank Sinatra. His resemlance to Sinatra in profile shots set in the forties is uncanny, and his perfomance is nearly faultless. The changes from vulnerability to anger to tenderness to charm to violence are seamless. He captures the edge, the fire, the intelligence. In other words, he's nearly perfect. Nearly. But after all, not everyone can look right in a cocked hat. He can't.
Other than Frank Sinatra, much of the casting is rather coincidental. The actresses playing Nancy Sinatra, Ava Gardner and Mia Farrow all first struck me as irritating, but they grow on you. The Rat Pack imitators are downright silly. But Olympia Dukakis as Dolly is appropriately tough and caring, the man portraying Dorsey makes you forget he isn't Tommy himself, and Marty Sinatra is exactly as you would imagine him in real life. Then, of course, is the very talented Rod Steiger as Sam Giancana.
The music is perfect. How could it not be? Other than a couple songs redone by Tom Burlinson(if that's how you spell it) and Frank Sinatra Jr., it's all the masterpieces. And, I didn't think it was possible, but I haven't been able to hear ''You Go to My Head,''and ''That's Life,'' and ''That Old Black Magic'' the same way since. It adds even more meaning to the already autobiographical ''It Was a Very Good Year.''
''Sinatra'' goes from 1925 to 1974, skipping a great deal in between. But after all, it is impossible to cover a 70-year career and 82-year life in one mini-series, and even more impossible considering that life and career are Frank Sinatra's, and therefore about ten of each rolled into one. However, this mini-series does it as well as is humanly possible. At least, in a ''fan's'' opinion.

This was an excellent TV movie about Frank Sinatra's life. It didn't try to make him out to be a saint, but made him three dimensional, more real-to-life. Philip Casnoff did a great job portraying Sinatra. The only complaint I would have is the girl who played Ava Gardner. Marcia Gay Harden is a very attractive woman in her own right. BUT, I did not think she was the best person to play Ava Gardner. She managed the whispery-sexy voice, but she didn't really look like Ava. She had that turned up nose, and Ava had a more classic, straight nose. But...maybe she did as good a job as anyone could have without being THE Ava Gardner herself.

I'd like to add that the music in this film was great. It made me want to go out and buy some Sinatra albums.

A GREAT AND LONG AWAITED RELEASE OF THE MINISERIES PRODUCED BY TINA SINATRA.....PATER CASNOFF AND OLYMPIA DUKAKIS ARE OUTSTANDING.

BAD PRESENTATION FROM AMAZON.....THE MAIN CAST LIST ETC IS IN NO WAY LISTED FOR THE FILM.......SEVERAL HOURS OF CONTACTING AMAZON HAS BEEN TO NO AVAIL.
THEY HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE CAST CREDITS ETC ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRODUCT. WHY?????? THE SAME ERROR IS ALSO ON THE UK SITE.

DAVID TURNER (LONDON UK)

Francis Albert Sinatra.... must surely rank as not only one of the greatest singers of the 20th century but also one of the premier performers across theatre/cabaret, stage and screen. Philip Casnoff has been perfectly cast, particularly as the young Frankie. I also loved Marcia Gay Harden's portrayal of the gorgeous Ava Gardner. Casnoff has been able to showcase Frank's remarkable talents aided by some wonderful musical voiceover by Tom Burlinson standing in for a young Sinatra. A wonderful Mini-series which will have a very special place in my DVD collection.

I've been waiting for this film to go to DVD since they were created. I have a VHS copy that was wearing out. According to several Sinatra biographers, Frank gave this picture his blessing because his daughter Tina was Executive Producer. However, he thought that the story would gloss over his "bad moments" and was in a rage when he viewed the finished film and saw that his drinking, womanizing, and temper tantrums were on full display. In fairness, the movie also shows the man as the magnificent entertainer he always was. The cast is fine. Phillip Casnoff, a veteran broadway performer steps into Sinatra's tux real well, although he's clearly a lot more handsome and well built then the real thing ever was. At the same time, although Gina Gerson did great as first wife Nancy, I always thought she would have been better as Ava Gardner. The rest of the supporting cast is great also such as James F. Kelly who's made a career playing Jack and Bobby Kennedy(he's JFK in this one) And the legendary Rod Stieger who is chilling as Sam Giancana. Don't miss Las Vegas fixture Danny Gans in a couple of brief scenes as Dean Martin. For a TV flick the costuming and cinematography are excellent. And above all, the incomparable recordings from the Chairman of the board are on display.