Golden Age of Hollywood Book Club discussion

I have been on a major Sinatra kick lately. His Hollywood career is full of insanity. His whole one take thing is a thing of legend. Directors had to do crazy things to accommodate his weird sensibilities. And yet, he was saving them crazy money by nailing it the first time around and refusing to do any more. His feeling about method acting was also interesting. He got along fantastically with Clift, but could barely stand to be in the same room with Brando. Surprising that he never got a call from Hitchcock. Probably would have got along a lot better than Newman.

Somebody should have put Cash and Sinatra in an escaped prisoner escapade.

Only a small handful of worthwhile films seemed to emerge from his oddball career, though. Not known for great 'range'. Plenty of fun, time-wasters, 'middling' movies ...but in most of them he's often playing himself (or a parody of himself). I chatted with a reviewer recently who leveled this opinion on him, (I haven't thought about Sinatra myself, in some time) but I found myself agreeing with the verdict. I can only name perhaps 5-7 films which impressed me. I know he worked hard on a few occasions; but he sure looked like he 'phoned in his assignments' on too many others. Not a terrible career; lots of other stars did less well. But if anything, I am kinda irked by his personal life. Mob affiliations don't do any credit to other Italian-Americans, that's for sure. Oh well. Likeable guy I guess.

I thought he wasn't too bad in Manchurian Candidate, but the real stand-out was Angela Lansbury. She was the epitome of evil. She's an amazing actress, capable of doing many types of roles.

His Oscar for From Here to Eternity was well-earned. Manchurian Candidate was definitely another winner. The Man With the Golden Arm is amazing. High Society and Pal Joey have their merits. The Rat Pack movies are fun, if not very substantial.

I agree about Angela. What a career!

Janet Leigh is also pretty awesome.

flicks where I feel he earned his salt:
'The Manchurian Candidate'
'From Here to Eternity'
'Von Ryan's Express'
'Suddenly!'
'The Man with the Golden Arm'
'The Pride and the Passion'

flicks where he basically plays himself, but I still appreciate:
'On the Town'
'Guys and Dolls'
'Pal Joey'
'The Joker is Wild'
'A Hole in the Head'

one flick where he was at his worst, and he should have been at his best (or they should have cast someone else):
'Some Came Running'

Never seen Suddenly or The Pride and the Passion. I've seen all the Gene Kelly ones. They're mixed bags. On the Town is probably the best of the three. High Society is a pretty damn good remake of The Philadelphia Story. Having Cole Porter and Louis Armstrong on the ride doesn't hurt. Can Can is mediocre. Been too long since I saw Some Came running to make a judgment. Ocean's 11 is fun. Robin and the 7 Hoods is just more of the same. Guys and Dolls is just...why did Mankiewicz hive Brando the best songs??? Manchurian Candidate, From Here to Eternity, and Man w/the Golden Arm are the best I've seen. Von Ryan's is OK. Pal Joey is a grower. The more I watch it, the more I like it. And it's definitely his best soundtrack. "There's a Small Hotel," "The Lady Is a Tramp," and "I Could Write a Book" are stupendous.