Cinematical

To mark the tenth anniversary of Frank Sinatra's death on May 14, Warner Home Video has unleashed such a massive volume of Sinatra DVDs that viewers will need to break out the hernia belts. There are 22 discs in all, with 11 titles new to DVD, and five box sets. One box set, The Rat Pack Ultimate Collector's Edition comes with a special deck of "Rat Pack" cards, reproductions of lobby cards, a pressbook and on-set photos, as well John Sturges' Sergeants 3 (1962), available for the first time. The high point of these discs is the DVD debut of Vincente Minnelli's Some Came Running (1958), a devastating widescreen melodrama about an army veteran and would-be writer (Sinatra) who returns to his small town.

A goofy dame (Shirley MacLaine) has followed him home, and a boozy gambler (Dean Martin) befriends him, perhaps ruining his chances with the local schoolteacher (Martha Hyer), probably the only one who understands his literary aspirations. Some Came Running is part of the Frank Sinatra: The Golden Years box set, which also includes Otto Preminger's The Man with the Golden Arm (a public domain title here available in its official release), None But the Brave (directed by Sinatra himself), The Tender Trap and Marriage on the Rocks (co-starring daughter Nancy). Then we have The Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly Collection, with three discs, Frank Sinatra: The Early Years with five discs, and the four-hour 1992 "Sinatra" TV mini-series. To help with the celebration, Frank's youngest daughter Tina agreed to an e-mail interview with Cinematical. (See related story.)

Cinematical: Since we're talking mainly about these new DVD box sets, I think I'll start with a few questions about your father and his movies. Firstly, can you talk about the first time you remember seeing your father on screen? Or perhaps the first time you saw him on a movie set, acting?

Tina Sinatra: The first time I saw Dad on film I ran from the theater in tears. Of course, the movie was The Joker Is Wild ... no parental guidelines. The Tender Trap was my first on set experience. It was all so bright and busy, and I remember how funny it was when we had to be so quiet.

Cinematical: Do you have a favorite movie of your father's?

TS: Well...if I must pick one it would have to be Von Ryan's Express (I hate that question!)

Cinematical: Do you look at his films today? How do you reconcile the man you see onscreen with the man you knew as your father?

TS: Yes, I watch his films...they comfort me. He was one in the same. He was famous and identifiable, even idolized...and that man/actor was my father. I knew he was special because the world around me treated him so. Acting or pretending to be someone else was his job. There were a couple of roles that disturbed me... Suddenly for example [in which Frank played a would-be presidential assassin] was one of them.

Cinematical: He had an image of being rather dangerous, like a Godfather type character. Does that image come into play with your own personal image of him? Was he close to that, or very different?

TS: He was Italian! Of course he had a temper. He could get good and mad but I never saw it. But worse than that, I think, was his silence. That was his parental response...and you knew you had screwed up. He'd just look at you with those gorgeous eyes and you wished he'd yell. He was very sweet...and complicated...not dangerous.

Cinematical: Were you ever surprised to see famous people at your house growing up, or was it all just part of your normal childhood?

TS: Both parents had "famous" friends. Mom's best pal was Barbara Stanwyck. It felt normal at the time but looking back on it thrills me.

Cinematical: On some of his movies with Dean Martin, there's a feel that they were just having a lot of fun, and not concentrating so hard on working (though Some Came Running is a definite exception). What's your opinion on this?

TS: They always worked hard...they just made it look easy. Let's just say, that at times, they worked even harder.

Cinematical: Which of his films do you think your father was most proud of, or most excited to be a part of? Was there anyone he greatly admired that he wanted to work with, or that he got to work with?

TS: Aside from the obvious, I think he was most proud of The Manchurian Candidate. Definitely Spencer Tracy.

Cinematical: Did your father ever teach you anything specific about singing or acting? Did he have any words of wisdom or life lessons that you carry with you?

TS: What Dad imparted to me was basic...do not pre-judge, loyalty has no degrees, aide the "little guy" and find your own happiness.