Sinatra Mini Series DVD by Warner Home Video - Classic Biographical Drama for Movie Nights & Entertainment

This made for TV bio-pic sets the bar high for those to follow. The production, script, casting, acting, music were all top notch. You would expect these high marks for major theater releases, but not always for TV productions. More than once I looked at the case to see if this was a theater release or made-for-TV. With any bio-pic, much of its success lies on the lead actor. At first glance, you might not think Philip Casnoff resembles Sinatra, but as you watch the movie you’ll find he has the speaking voice down, as well as the swagger. He’s also good at lip-synching when he sings, and has the benefit of pantomiming to vocal tracks recorded by Frank, Jr., as well as a great sound-a-like, Tom Burlinson. As Casnoff’s performance pulls you in, there are a couple of profile shots in the movie that will make you think you’re looking at the real Sinatra. Not only was Casnoff a good choice, but so were the ladies that played Sinatra’s mother (Olympia Dukakis), Ava Gardner (Marcia Gay Harden) and Mia Farrow (Nina Siemaszko). Kudos to the casting director!The movie does a good job tracing Sinatra’s career from his early days and into his big band stints. It was fun seeing other stars of the day, such as Harry James, Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman. Music from this period, and especially Sinatra music, abounds throughout the whole picture. Kudos to the music supervisor!On the knit picky side of things, I would like to have seen the inclusion of Sinatra’s reaction to early rock and roll. He rather famously denounced the music and didn’t think too highly of Elvis. It would have been fun to see the pair re-enacted in the TV special that welcomed Elvis back from the service. I also thought the last quarter of the movie rushed through the time line. Farrow wasn’t given as much screen time as Gardner, so there’s not much to gauge her impact on Sinatra’s life. In its rush to conclude the film rather randomly ends at Sinatra’s Madison Square Garden concert in 1973. If that was a major turning point in his career and/or personal life, it was not clearly conveyed. Since the movie was made in the early 1990’s I assume the storyline could have continued; perhaps the producers felt the better story lines were in his younger days. Bio-pics are a tricky lot to end! With all this said, the pluses of this movie far out weight the minuses. I found this production to be more impressive than the HBO produced “Rat Pack.”The mini series Sinatra sings a sweet song of reality and entertainment. Philip Casnoff slightly resembles Frank Sinatra, but he fully captures the Sinatra aura and essence.This series can be watched at two levels. The first is as a fan of Frank Sinatra, his exploits, loves and laughs. There is no question that his transition from a street kid from Hoboken to bobby sox crooner to a powerful Hollywood figure is the stuff that dreams are made. Only in America can something like this have happened.Frank Sinatra was an enigma. Generous and loyal to his friends, he was also quick to sever ties and retailiate to those who were not. While he never forgot where he came from, Frank Sinatra continually tried to rise so far above those trappings that he could not see below.The mini-series never tried to hide the Sinatra faults and weaknesses. Those weaknesses ranged from the alcohol tinged night life and socializing to his nortorious affairs of the heart. The romance/hate affair with Ava Gardner exemplies the point that Frank Sinatra could love someone, other than himself, yet never fully surrender. Ava Gardner was his Bruce Banner - Hulk. The alter ego that would never let go.The second level that the mini series was an excellent, well acted drama that has a nice pace and ties up loose ends. Change the character's names and make the chronolgy mean something and you have a melodrama that works far better than Jacquine Susan's "The Love Machine".I am glad that I purchased this DVD and I would reccommend it to all movie lovers and Frank Sinatra fans."Sinatra" was an excellent movie. The singers who dubbed the voice were fabulous and sounded like Sinatra. The acting, well Philip Casnoff, who plays Frank Sinatra is fabulous - just perfect, and I can't believe he didn't win an Emmy! That shows how much the voters know. Gina Gershon as Nancy Sinatra, Olympia Dukakis as Dolly Sinatra, Frank's, mother, Marcia Gay Harden as Ava Gardner and Rod Steiger as Sam Giancana -- I mean it's just one great thing about this movie after the other. I think Frank would've liked this movie about his life. It's not a gossipy, piece of trash, but what seemed like a good, honest depiction of Frank Sinatra, from a young child through all his marriages and affairs, Frank the crooner, Frank the actor and Oscar winner, the Vegas entertainer along with his Rat Pack - a fabulous movie!Every Sinatra fan should see this. I'm sure if it wasn't just right, and had put her father in a bad light, Tina Sinatra wouldn't have produced it.I have to be honest that when I was younger, I never really liked Sinatra that much, but the older I get, I love his singing, acting, movies & CD's and probably have just about all of them. He has become, along with Dean Martin, two of my top favorites of all time. They don't have entetainers like these as well as Sammy Davis, Jr. anymore, unfortunately. This generation is missing out of watching & listening to perfection.Rent it! Buy it! See it! A 4-5 star movie review!!!!This DVD was used but looked and played like new! It even arrived early.Thank you!I bought this for my husband, who is a Sinatra fan, but I watched it too. I thought it was a bit "toned down" from his real life, but there were interesting anecdotal features in it. It was well acted though, and quite informative over all.Great video thank youGreat DVD was bought as a gift, and it was well receivedExcellentIf you love Sinatra, this isn't going to be a good buy. Sinatra's children made this movie. They leave lots of big important items out and gloss over some others.The Rat Rack Partt is about 3 minutes long. The entire movie is 5 hours long, I think they originally billed it as a mini series. No mention of Frank Jr being kidnapped. The lip syncing is bad. Some good actors in it. If you go into the movie knowing anything about Sinatra, you'll be disappointed. The whole thing is wrapped in sugar thanks to the Sinatra children. Of all of the productions about Sinatra this one is pretty bias on Frank being a great father, all of the bio pics barely mention he had kids. Do I think Frank was a good father? Not really. This production makes him look like Father Knows Best, with a slight affection for stepping out on his current wife. Better skip this one. Get the Rat Pack with Ray Lottia instead.