Review: Frank Sinatra: All or Nothing At All

Rachel Smith ’16 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer
HBO Documentaries paid tribute to Frank Sinatra in honor of what would have been his one hundredth birthday with a two-part, four-hour special. Given the fact that this was a tribute to the infamous crooner, the film sheds a lot of light on the personal and professional faults over his career. Sinatra had no problem speaking honestly to the press, so perhaps airing his dirty laundry was the best way to settle all the rumors and speculations made about him during his life.Whether you grew up listening to the smooth stylings of Frank Sinatra or have only heard of him because of that Taylor Swift song about New York, this documentary showcases his undeniable talent and legacy.
Young Sinatra was enchanting when he sang. Screaming girls came to a halt the moment his deep, smooth voice rang over the microphone. On the other hand, he was an angry guy who wanted to be in control of everything and everyone. He helped rig elections, attacked reporters, and was a womanizer. If the film was just history, without clips of him singing or acting, this would just be displaying all the reasons to hate Frank Sinatra. Instead, director Alex Gibney inserted clips from Sinatra’s retirement concert. This was the concert that told the story of his life so he could bow out gracefully. Even in 1971, when Sinatra was past his prime, there was still a richness and familiarity in his voice, and it makes the audience remember why they ever liked him in the first place.

Rightfully so, the film also dives into Sinatra’s side of the story. He hit rock bottom, hard. He said if his estranged wife, Ava Gardener, hadn’t called and begged for a movie part for him in From Here to Eternity, he probably would have killed himself. Frank admitted he was a drunk who was broke and had nothing. This segment evokes empathy and understanding, thus cleaning up his image. This is also the turning point for the film. Part I ends with Sinatra winning the Oscar and the end of his childish ways. Part II shows the revival of his career and the grown up version of Frank Sinatra clad in a fedora and long tie instead of curly hair and a bow tie.
Part II has a different feel. The beginning of his career was exciting and full of possibilities, and though he hit that low point, the film shot back up and feels hopeful. During Part II, you just know it’s going to be a slow downward slope filled with two divorces, political turmoil and being aged out of the industry. It also has so many history segments, explaining the glorified ‘50s economy with the shadow of McCarthyism, followed by a recounting of the Vietnam War. For the younger audience that might need a recap, it was useful, but for people who understand basic history, this felt disconnected from Sinatra’s shining moment.
Sinatra’s last hit, “New York, New York,” was probably his most famous, and this is how the documentary ended. His song plays over a sweeping shot of modern New York City. His entire career is tied up in that place, and after putting so much emphasis on the city in Part I, it was only fitting to end there in Part II.
The film is comprised of real interviews from Sinatra over the years, as well as photos, videos and narration from his kids, family friends, celebrities and former loves. His first wife, Nancy, had a large role in the first part of the documentary — not only in photographs, but also in her narration of the time that she and Frank were married. At first, it sounded like young love blossomed into a real success story, but then the tempo changes. She is the first to admit that he was seeing other women while they were married, but said, “it was just the way he was.” Nancy was raising his children, keeping his home while he was off with Ava Gardner, publically humiliating her. This was basically written off by Nancy, and she just explained how eventually, she allowed him to divorce her. Oh, how times have changed. This may be criticized by the feminist, progressive generation.
The film had to talk about his relationships, but notably, the only wife who didn’t have a say in the filmwas his fourth wife, Barbara, to whom he was married until his death. Even his wife of a year and a half, not to mention a 29-year age difference, got a whole segment to explain their relationship. It might have been a personal choice, but Barbara deserved more time than she got.
His children had commentary sprinkled throughout the documentary. His son describes him as two different people. He was either “Frank Sinatra” or “Father,” because he respected both parts of who his father was; to mix them would be dishonest. When Frank, Jr. says that, the audience realizes it is like they’re watching two different people. His children all refer to him as “dad” when they are narrating a segment, good or bad in nature. This lightens the blow of Sinatra losing a recording contract or being dumped by the Kennedy’s. These segments are needed to remind the audience that he was a family man, which made him more likable. This manipulating tactic is obvious but understandable.
This is a documentary about Frank Sinatra’s career and his transition as times changed, but it’s also a history piece about the entertainment industry and America as a whole. He decided he wanted to be a singer, so he moved to New York and knew a guy who knew a guy who got him into a radio job, then a television job, then film, etc. The world is so different now; there probably isn’t going to be another Frank Sinatra, but this film allows us to look back at a man with a dream and unmatched talent. The music he made will outlast anything Ariana Grande puts on the radio, and that is why HBO celebrated his life with this documentary. It wasn’t all roses and kissing up to his success. Instead, it was telling the honest story of a man who was the truest definition of a performer. The film reminds us that he was, most of all, human.
Grade: B