Sinatra: A Passionate Life

By the looks of this video, I'd say Ol' Blue Eyes did it his way. This by-the-numbers, sanitized production does indeed chronicle Sinatra's career, but if viewers think they're going to find out about Mr. Rat Pack's personal life in any detail, or even hear the word Mafia, guys and dolls will be disappointed. Through interviews, song-bites and film snippets we do see Sinatra honing his vocal style using techniques learned from the likes of Tommy Dorsey and Bing Crosby; lots of footage of the Hollywood years with clips from Pal Joey, High Society and From Here to Eternity, among others; and scenes of Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop in their Vegas lounge act when the ‘Chairman of the Board' ruled the strip. Sure to be popular given Sinatra's recent passing, this is still disappointedly ho-hum for an entertainer who literally swooned an entire generation. We're going to miss you Frank. Recommended, with reservations. Aud: P. (N. Plympton)