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Sinatra (TV miniseries)

1992 CBS biographical drama miniseries directed by James Steven Sadwith

Sinatra is a 1992 biographical mini-series about the life of singer Frank Sinatra.

The Music Was Just The Beginning.
I don't want a song, I want my own sound. You see, TD, if I can do with my voice what you do with a trombone, I can knock the whole gang right off the charts.
Remember what a pain in the ass I was when I was starting out? I had to sing, I had to be the best. I always knew that I could do it, pop. I wanted you to know I could do it.
Directed by James Steven Sadwith. Written by William Mastrosimone and Abby Mann.
The True Story Of The Man And The Legend. (taglines)

Dialogue

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Marty Sinatra: You lose again?
Young Frank: Got my wicks in. Pop, teach me some stuff. I wanna be a boxer. I wanna be a champ.
Marty Sinatra: Yeah. [he and Frank playfully practice some boxing punches]
Dolly Sinatra: Just what the world needs, another punch-drunk palooka.
Marty Sinatra: Frankie! Hey, Frankie! Frankie! Come on, wake up! Hey! [Frank wakes up] C'mon. Why aren't you at work?
Frank Sinatra: Cos I didn't go.
Marty Sinatra: What, first you quit your school, now you quit your job?
Frank Sinatra: Yeah.
Marty Sinatra: [short pause] Dolly! Hey, Dolly! Kid can't stick to anything! He's a quitter!
[Frank gets out of bed, takes out a pint of milk from the fridge]
Dolly Sinatra: [to Frank] What the hell's going on?
Frank Sinatra: Mom, pop. I made a decision. I can't do that work no more. I'm gonna find me work being a singer like - like Bing Crosby.
Dolly Sinatra: Forget Bing Crosby! Get your job back!
Marty Sinatra: You listen to your mother.
Frank Sinatra: No, I'm telling you! I'm going to be a singer. It's all I do in my free time and free time's not enough no more!
Marty Sinatra: Frankie. You work hard, then you go to college, otherwise your gonna end up like me, a guy that can't even read or write his own name!
Frank Sinatra: I'm not gonna end up like you, pop. I gotta do this.
Marty Sinatra: Than I don't gotta support you! You don't work! You don't live here! [takes the apple out of his hand] And I'll tell you somethin' else! [smashes the apple on the kitchen table] You don't eat here!
Frank Sinatra: Ma, tell him. I can do this. I - I can be someone.
Dolly Sinatra: You are someone. Your Frankie Sinatra--
Marty Sinatra: [angrily] He's not! [to Frank] I'll tell you... You pack your bags! Hit the bricks! Out! Cos I didn't raise no kid to be no freeloader!
Frank Sinatra: Fine! [throws and smashes the pint of milk at the sink]
[Frank walks out]
Dolly Sinatra: [shouts] You get a good look around this country! People are starving, mister big shot! Our neighbours! And they can't feed the seven kids they've got! Never mind a new one on the way! You know most people in this world today! They'll make $75 a week like you, mister big shot! Most people don't make $75 a month and if they did, they wouldn't quit!
[Marty walks in]
Frank Sinatra: Hi, pop.
Marty Sinatra: I don't get it.
Frank Sinatra: Pop, I've learned a lot while I was on the road, but I'm a soloist.
Marty Sinatra: You couldn't be a soloist in a relief line. You're nothing but a quitter.
Frank Sinatra: Pop, I'm better than those bums. You don't know, you weren't there.
Marty Sinatra: Do you know what happens when cocky kids are in the ring? They go down. Down! Every time, down.
[walks away]
Frank Sinatra: Ma, I met a guy. Hank Sanicola, he's gonna manage me.
Dolly Sinatra: You're gonna kill us both if you don't straighten out.
Frank Sinatra: Ma, pop's wrong! I'm not going down! I'm going up!
Hotel Clerk: Uh, excuse me. We have a problem.
Tommy Dorsey: We do? What's the problem?
Hotel Clerk: We don't serve coloured's here.
Tommy Dorsey: [on Sy Oliver] He's with the band.
Hotel Clerk: I'm sorry, it's hotel policy.
Frank Sinatra: Serve wasps? Tykes, kraut's, hunky's, mix? That's the whole band. Maybe we should all leave.
Sy Oliver: Hey, Frank, it's okay. I'm used to it.
Frank Sinatra: So am I. It ain't okay. [to the Hotel Clerk] I grew up with bums like this. Now give him the key or I'm gonna wreck this goddamn barn!
Tommy Dorsey: Take it easy, Frank.
Frank Sinatra: [angrily grabs the Hotel Clerk by the tie] I said give him the key!
[The Hotel Clerk hands Sy a hotel key]
Frank Sinatra: [to the Hotel Clerk] Thank you.
Frank Sinatra: You don't hang around with the guys much, do you?
Tommy Dorsey: Ah, you can't when you run an organisation.
Frank Sinatra: What about me?
Tommy Dorsey: Hey, pallie, you and I are a whole other species of human being. So, what's your signature song gonna be?
Frank Sinatra: I don't want a song, I want my own sound. You see, TD, if I can do with my voice what you do with a trombone, I can knock the whole gang right off the charts.
Tommy Dorsey: [short pause] Breath control. [walks]
Frank Sinatra: Breath control?
Tommy Dorsey: When an entertainer is at the birth of his children, it means he's not working. You are!
Frank Sinatra: You have no right to stop me!
Nancy Barbato Sinatra: I don't want to stop you. I want you to be the greatest singer there is. I just don't want to lose you.
Frank Sinatra: Tommy! Tommy, c'mon, stop, will ya. I know you got a call.
Tommy Dorsey: Yeah, I got a call. So you got yourself a big show business attorney now. And I got a call from Columbia Records, and I got a call from CBS. Oh, and I got a call from your... agent. Congratulations. [bitterly] You got a hell of a back up team all of a sudden.
Frank Sinatra: Tommy, I love ya. You done everything for me. But this just wasn't a fair deal.
Tommy Dorsey: Oh, but it's fair for you to break a contract? It's fair that they won't play my records on the radio if I don't let you out?!
Frank Sinatra: It wasn't a contract. It was a life sentence. Now I told you I'd stay for a year, and I will.
Tommy Dorsey: Nah, if you're gonna go? Go. [begins walking away]
Frank Sinatra: I'm sorry. But I gotta do this.
Tommy Dorsey: [turns] Not everybody thinks you're gonna be as big as you think. Personally? I hope you fall flat on your ass. [walks away]
Bob Weitman: Okay, okay, now let's cut through all the crap, boys. I'm still nervous about this. Frank, I think you're a very talented singer, but you got a soft voice. I can't see it filling up the Paramount.
George Evans: Don't worry about his voice filling up your Theatre, Bob. The girls will fill up your Theatre. [laughs]
Bob Weitman: I can't gamble on that.
Frank Sinatra: I filled the Mosque. I can fill the Paramount.
Bob Weitman: The Mosque is a small Theatre in Newark. We're talking about the Paramount.
Frank Sinatra: Exactly.
[on the set of Anchors Aweigh]
Manie Sacks: Please, I'm asking you to reconsider.
Frank Sinatra: Manie, stop.
Manie Sacks: This is important to me, Frank.
Frank Sinatra: [noticing] Hey, that's Ava Gardner. [getting up from his actor's chair]
Manie Sacks: She's a dish, huh? Now, Frank, ple- Frank...
[Frank runs over to Ava]
Frank Sinatra: Ava. Hi, I'm Frank Sinatra.
Ava Gardner: [tearfully] Hello, Frank.
Frank Sinatra: What's the matter?
Ava Gardner: [sighs] Nothing.
Frank Sinatra: Well, nothing's running your mascara. [takes off his sailor tie, gently wipes Ava's tears off with it]
Ava Gardner: Well, Artie and I had another fight.
Frank Sinatra: Ah, dump the bum. He's just another band leader, I dumped plenty of 'em.
Ava Gardner: [laughs, smiles] Now look what you've done. [putting his sailor tie back on] You ruined my perfectly terrible mood.
Crew Member: Miss Gardner, they're ready for you on the set.
Ava Gardner: I gotta go.
Frank Sinatra: It was nice meeting you, Ava.
Ava Gardner: Likewise, I'm sure. [walks away]
[during a New Year's Eve party, Nancy suddenly notices a heart shaped bracelet on Marilyn Maxwell's arm, the same one that she found earlier in Frank's car thinking it was a surprise gift for her]
Nancy Barbato Sinatra: Marilyn, I couldn't help but notice your bracelet.
Marilyn Maxwell: Oh, it's my favourite thing.
Nancy Barbato Sinatra: Where did you get it?
Frank Sinatra: [nervously] Hey, come on. We're gonna miss the new year.
Marilyn Maxwell: [to Nancy] An old dear friend.
Nancy Barbato Sinatra: Did Frank give that to you?
[Marilyn tries to say something, but nervously looks at Frank]
Nancy Barbato Sinatra: [angrily to Marilyn] I want you out of my house. Get out!
Nancy Barbato Sinatra: [tearfully] Don't you see what's happening? I'm sitting here pretending like nothing's going on all the time. I'm doing just what my mother did, and I can't help it because I love you so much. [pause, Frank sits on the sofa] Maybe we should go away together. Just the two of us. No friends, no company. We'll send the kids to my parents house.
Frank Sinatra: Nance, I got another picture.
Nancy Barbato Sinatra: Well, then when you come home at night, we could spend our nights together.
Frank Sinatra: It shoots in New York.
Nancy Barbato Sinatra: [pause, tearfully] We moved to Hollywood so you could be closer to your work, and now you're gonna shoot only in New York?!
Frank Sinatra: Nance, it's such a good role.
Frank Sinatra: What's the matter now?
George Evans: You hit the papers again. How's your pal Lucky Luciano?
Frank Sinatra: I met him.
George Evans: What's that mean, you met him?
Frank Sinatra: What did I do wrong? I can't shake hands now?
George Evans: The press and in particular Lee Mortimer is making you the sidekick of gangsters.
Frank Sinatra: Right. I drive the getaway car. [short pause] George, you said no women. You didn't say anything about mobsters.
George Evans: Listen, Frank...
Frank Sinatra: This is ridiculous! I grew up in Little Italy, Hoboken, New Jersey, with Joe Fischetti and half these other monkeys! And it's none of Lee Mortimer's goddamn business what I do with my private life!
George Evans: It's my business! And it's my business to make you look good, and make people wanna spend money to buy your records and see your movies! I'm just telling you to think about this self-destructive path your on! Now I suggest you get the hell outta here. Go back home like I suggested in the first place! And think about what you're doing! Before you do it! Do you understand?
Frank Sinatra: [short pause] Yeah, I understand. I understand.
Frank Sinatra: You think you, sweetheart, we'd give you permission to come to Houston with me?
Ava Gardner: I don't need permission. What's Houston?
Frank Sinatra: I'm open in a hotel there.
Ava Gardner: A hotel?
Frank Sinatra: Yeah. The breads good.
Ava Gardner: [sarcastically] Awwww, poor Francis, they got you opening hotels now?
Frank Sinatra: [angrily grabs Ava] What is it with you? It's not enough for you to have a guy, you have to screw with his head too?
[pause, they kiss]
Ava Gardner: Goodbye, Francis.
Frank Sinatra: Ava, for God's sake, what are you doing?
Ava Gardner: [shouts] Don't you ever grab me like that again!
Frank Sinatra: All right, I'm sorry. I'm sorry! Come on, you're breaking my heart here.
Ava Gardner: Go home to your wife and kids. I'm not a home wrecker.
Frank Sinatra: You're not a home wrecker. It was over before New York.
Ava Gardner: Oh sure, does she know that?
Frank Sinatra: You know, I never figured out how to tell her.
Ava Gardner: Take a lesson from me: Goodbye, Francis.
Frank Sinatra: Ava.
Ava Gardner: It's never gonna work between us.
Frank Sinatra: Maybe I should get my own place.
Nancy Barbato Sinatra: [holding baby Tina] I read that you two were an item. You still seeing her? [pause] Listen to me, get my information from the papers.
Frank Sinatra: I guess it's over with her.
Nancy Barbato Sinatra: Then come home, Frank. You belong here with your family.
[pause, Frank walks over to the window, looks at his kids playing in the garden]
Frank Sinatra: Then why don't I feel it?
Nancy Barbato Sinatra: [pause] I think it would be better if you did get your own place.
Frank Sinatra: [pause] I tried, Nance. I really tried.
Nancy Barbato Sinatra: Did you?
Frank Sinatra: Longer than you know.
[after Frank sings "That Old Black Magic"]
Ava Gardner: Surprise.
Frank Sinatra: Where's Howard?
Ava Gardner: Ah, shut up.
[while their walking]
Ava Gardner: Are you showing me off, Francis?
Frank Sinatra: Damn right. Give me a kiss.
Ava Gardner: No, everybody's looking.
Frank Sinatra: You know why?
Ava Gardner: No.
Frank Sinatra: Every cat in here wants to be me and every chick wants to be you. [kisses her on the cheek]
Frank Sinatra: Nancy, don't you understand? It doesn't mean anything to me anymore. Nothing does.
Nancy Barbato Sinatra: Nothing?
Frank Sinatra: Except being with her [Ava].
Nancy Barbato Sinatra: [tearfully] You son of a bitch. You come in here and you cry on my shoulder about her?
Frank Sinatra: She's my whole life.
Nancy Barbato Sinatra: [shouts] You're my whole life! And you're children's!
Frank Sinatra: I have to let go.
Nancy Barbato Sinatra: I can't.
Frank Sinatra: Nancy, why do you want to hold on to me if I don't want to be here?
Nancy Barbato Sinatra: Because I love you. Frank, you've done this before and you've always come back.
Frank Sinatra: Nancy, for God's sake. This is different.
Ava Gardner: You can always have me. When we're married.
Frank Sinatra: [short pause] She's not gonna give me a divorce, Ava.
Ava Gardner: Why wouldn't she give you a divorce if you don't love her?
Frank Sinatra: Because she's Italian. She's Catholic. Why don't you ask her?
Ava Gardner: You're not trying hard enough.
Frank Sinatra: [sighs] What the hell do you know about it?
Ava Gardner: I know that if you really wanted a divorce you could get one. You've gotten everything else you wanted in life.
Frank Sinatra: Ava, stop...
Ava Gardner: You just want it both ways, that's all this is.
Frank Sinatra: No, I want it one way, with you and you alone. No billionaires, no band leaders, no bull fighters.
Ava Gardner: You can have me alone when I get you alone. And in the meantime, maybe the best way to get that if you just left me alone.
Frank Sinatra: Are you crazy?
Ava Gardner: This is torture, Frank. It's wrecking my career. I just can't do this anymore!
Frank Sinatra: Two minutes ago, we were happy. What was different then?
Ava Gardner: I was being a sap. I want you to go home and get a divorce.
[on the set of Mogambo in Africa]
Frank Sinatra: [fixing Ava a drink] Probably just the heat.
Ava Gardner: Yeah... [hands her the drink]
Ava Gardner: Thanks. [sits down. Pause] It's not just the heat, Frank. Uh, I think maybe I'm pregnant.
Frank Sinatra: Are you kidding? Baby, that's terrific.
Ava Gardner: Look, you can't tell anyone or I might be kicked off this film.
Frank Sinatra: You're the star, they can't do that--
Ava Gardner: Frank.
Frank Sinatra: Our baby is more important than any movie.
Ava Gardner: Listen. I know how much you want this kid, but it happens to come at the worst possible moment in my life.
Frank Sinatra: I understand. [passively] You're a rising star, you're carrying the baby of a has-been.
[Ava hits him on the leg]
Ava Gardner: [pause] Sometimes I hate you.
Frank Sinatra: That's great. Perfect. [gets up from his seat] You don't want our baby and you hate me.
Ava Gardner: Would you listen to me. It's a steam bath out there. There's ants, mosquitos and flies in my face! I have to puke every ten seconds! I'm up against a legendary actor! And this is supposed to be the performance of my life! Now, would you give up the role that you'd kill for, for a baby?
Frank Sinatra: I don't have that role.
Ava Gardner: Right. If you did.
[Frank is on-set doing a screen test for From Here to Eternity, while director Fred Zinnemann watches]
Frank Sinatra: Where's the dice?
Fred Zinnemann: Cut!
Frank Sinatra: There's no dice!
Fred Zinnemann: Frank, we really have to move on.
Frank Sinatra: No, wait a second! May I talk to you a moment. [walks over to Zinnemann] No, no, no, no, excuse me, Mr. Zinnemann. I respect that your a very busy man and I know that your not too thrilled that I'm here. But I've flown all the way from Africa to test for this part because I believe like I have never believed in anything else before that I understand this character Maggio. I grew up with a hundred Maggio's in my neighbourhood! I am Maggio! And all I ask for is a little respect that I might demonstrate this to you.
[pause]
Fred Zinnemann: Whenever you're ready.
[pause. Walks back to the set]
Frank Sinatra: What are you doing?
Ava Gardner: It's New Year's Eve.
Frank Sinatra: [grabs Ava's arm, angrily] You just wait a second and tell me what's going on?
Ava Gardner: I was pregnant, and now I'm not. And I'm glad. And I don't wanna talk about it.
Frank Sinatra: You're not pregnant. [Ava walks to her dressing table, she puts on a necklace] You lost the baby? [pause, angrily] Talk to me!
Ava Gardner: [putting on her earrings] I'm not going to let you make me feel bad about this. We got no business having a baby. We don't even have time for each other.
Frank Sinatra: I thought that having a baby would bring us closer.
Ava Gardner: Did having three babies bring you and Nancy closer together?
Frank Sinatra: [short pause] I wish I never saw your face.
Ava Gardner: You used to say the most beautiful things to me.
Frank Sinatra: You used to give me beautiful reasons to say em.
[Ava walks away]
Frank Sinatra: Where are you going?
Ava Gardner: It's New Year's Eve, and I'm going out because come Monday I'll be right back in the jungle. Are you coming?
Frank Sinatra: Stay with me. I need you.
Ava Gardner: And I need people! Lots and lots of noisy happy people!
Frank Sinatra: You walk out that door, baby, you walk out of my life!
[Frank is visiting Sammy Davis Jr. in hospital, who has lost an eye in a car accident]
Frank Sinatra: I talked to your old man and to the doc, they're gonna get you outta here pretty soon. Get you a private nurse. Whatever you need.
Sammy Davis Jr.: [wearing a cover over his eyes] I appreciate it, man, but you can't help me outta this one.
Frank Sinatra: Ah, quit whining. You're gonna be great. [passes Sammy his cigarette] Here take a drag. [Sammy takes a drag]
Sammy Davis Jr.: What am I gonna do now? I can't dance with one eye.
Frank Sinatra: What do you mean you can't dance with one eye? You can't dance with one foot.
Sammy Davis Jr.: You know the audience will be whispering "Look there's the cat with the glass eye."
Frank Sinatra: Nah, they won't. They'll be saying "There goes the funny looking coloured midget with a glass eye." [they both laugh]
Sammy Davis Jr.: [short pause] You know, butter, if I can't dance. I don't wanna live.
Frank Sinatra: Yeah, well, we all hit bottom sometimes, smoky. It passes. [short pause] Hey, look at that.
Sammy Davis Jr.: What?
Frank Sinatra: Oh my God!
Sammy Davis Jr.: What, Frank?!
Frank Sinatra: [jokingly] It's a naked nurse.
[Sammy laughs. Frank smiles]
Frank Sinatra: I got plans for us, kid.
[at the Sands Hotel and Casino]
Sammy Davis Jr.: [on his eye patch] Oh man, I can't even walk straight with this thing.
Frank Sinatra: C'mon, you couldn't walk straight before.
Sammy Davis Jr.: You know, two years ago they wouldn't even let me in this joint. And now because of you, I'm in the steam room.
Frank Sinatra: Maybe another twenty if it lets you in the pool. [they laugh]
Sammy Davis Jr.: Uh, listen, butter, you think you might be available sometime around Christmas? I'm uh, thinking of postponing this marriage thing.
Frank Sinatra: [short pause] They got to you.
Sammy Davis Jr.: No, no, no, no, nothing like that. It's just that uh, all the good rabbi's are gonna be in convention in Miami in June.
Frank Sinatra: What does May think about it?
Sammy Davis Jr.: [short pause] Haven't told her yet. She ain't gonna love it.
Frank Sinatra: [pause] She's gonna love you, baby. She'd be crazy not to.
[they embrace]
Peter Lawford: Well, apparently the Secret Service looked the place over. They're uh, worried about access, they think it'll be a security risk. They hope you understand.
Frank Sinatra: [stressed, holding the red telephone] Where's he staying?
Peter Lawford: Crosby offered his place.
Frank Sinatra: Bing? He's a Republican.
Peter Lawford: They think he'll be safer there.
Frank Sinatra: Safer? Peter, don't give me this safer crap. Just tell me what the real reason is?!
Peter Lawford: [sits down] It's what they tell me, Frank.
Frank Sinatra: [angrily] If you can accept that, then screw you. Screw all of ya! Tell me the real reason? [pause, stands up] You've been my friend for twenty years, Peter. You got no loyalty! You got no guts! You wanna be a Kennedy more then my friend?! [shoves the red telephone at Peter] Fine!
Peter Lawford: Frank, I'm married to them. What do you want me to do?
Frank Sinatra: [short pause] Get out. Get the hell outta here! [pause] GET OUT!
Mia Farrow: You're just grumpy because you don't want me to get this part.
Frank Sinatra: [bitterly] Mia, I don't care.
Mia Farrow: I'll see you weekends.
Frank Sinatra: Right. You'll be in New York. I'll be in Vegas and LA.
Mia Farrow: I'll make time.
Frank Sinatra: You gotta show me that trick.
Mia Farrow: I'm sorry. But you don't really want me to end my career, do you?
Frank Sinatra: I wanted you in my life so that we could be together. I sorta dig having you around.
Mia Farrow: Yeah, and I get stuck with the girls and you drink with the guys, and you call that being around me. I want us to be closer. [sighs] I still feel like your girl and I want to feel like your wife. I want to have your baby.
Frank Sinatra: [pause] I never gave the kids I had enough time. They grew up thinking the telephone was their father. Look, we got a project we're both interested in, why don't we do it? We can be together and we can work together.
Mia Farrow: [pause] But this is such a good part. We can do our movie right after this one.
Frank Sinatra: [pause] Sounds like old times to me. [switches off the bedroom table light]
Mia Farrow: Hey. I'm not Ava.
Frank Sinatra: [to Marty, who is dying] Pop, I'm thinking of leaving the business.
Marty Sinatra: Why do you wanna do that for?
Frank Sinatra: I'm tired. Tired of being in the spotlight. Music business changes so fast they can't keep up with the next guy anymore. Maybe I should stop trying. [pause] You always told me, "Fighters gotta know when to quit. Stay too long, they remember you as the guy on the canvas." [pause] Pop?
Marty Sinatra:... What?
Frank Sinatra: Is it hard to quit?
Marty Sinatra: Not if you had a guy on the mat...
Frank Sinatra: You used to call me a quitter, remember? [pause] Remember what a pain in the ass I was when I was starting out? I had to sing, I had to be the best. I always knew that I could do it, pop. I wanted you to know I could do it.
Marty Sinatra: [pause] All those years... the guys at the fire house... they treated me like... a champ... Because of you.
Frank Sinatra: Yeah.
Marty Sinatra: ... You're no quitter, son.
[pause]
Frank Sinatra: Thank you, pop. [stands up, kisses his father on his forehead] Goodnight. I love you, pop.
Marty Sinatra: Frank... don't go... Just stay awhile.
Frank Sinatra: [sits down] Sure, pop.
[Marty slowly closes his eyes. Frank takes his father's hand, he kisses it]
Frank Sinatra: [pause] Goodnight, champ.
[fade to black]
[cut to six years later at Madison Square Garden, New York City, 1974, where Frank, now 58, is on stage performing "That's Life"] [Last scene of the film]

About Sinatra (TV miniseries)

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  • Dad had no interest in writing a memoir: "What good would that do?" he'd say. "My life and music are the whole of me." Of course, he was right. Film was the only way to go. His music transcends time and intensifies what the screenplay reveals in words. Enjoy.

Taglines

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  • The True Story Of The Man And The Legend.
  • The Music Was Just The Beginning.
  • His Life Story And All His Music Together For The First Time.
  • You've read the books. You've heard the rumors. But, you haven't seen the truth. Until now...

Cast

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