Frank Sinatra sings an original song to Orson Welles, "He's a Champ," a play on "The Lady Is a Tramp," at the 1975 AFI Tribute to Orson Welles. He received the 3rd AFI Life Achievement Award that year.
Who else but the Chairman could stand there, read lyrics off a piece of paper and deliver an amazing performance...... Sammy Cahn wrote the special lyric
and *WHAT AN INCREDIBLY CLASS ACT Frank Sinatra was and IS.* the greatest ballad singer of all time. {{and a damned good actor to when he had the right part.}}
Saw this on TV when it aired. I liked Bogdonovich's story at this, where PB was acting in a film by Orson and asked Orson "what;s my motivation". Orson said, "COme over her and I'll tell you,:" Welles told the cameraman to film it and it was a take.
I've seen some tributes, a lot of them actually... ...but I do believe that this is The Ultimate, given the Tributed, and the Tributer. (The "In" Jokes in the lyrics are a scream, the work of Sammy Cahn, I assume.)
As reflected in Sinatra's song, Welles was unique and extraordinarily creative and inovative, although he had a self destructive element to his personality. Citizen Kane is still a magnificent film and Touch Of Evil, The Magnificent Ambersons and Chimes At Midnight are superb. Sinatra and Welles really did admire each other; Frank served in the same hosting capacity for the AFI tribute to Cagney in the preceeding year.
After *Bogey died in January of 1957. *Tracy had pretty much toned down from his 1930's & 1940's days & went to bed rather early-(his health by then was SHOT TO SAY THE LEAST!) & I have photos of the dynamic duo having breakfast together See by then, early '60'sd, *FS was still up until wee hours of the morning & needed to come down, so visited the all-time finest film actor at his Trancas Beach home-(*Frank then lived nxt door) THANK YOU (P.S. If anyone else wants to know more on cinematric history, new releases & *Oscars just drop me a line at (jeffshannon50@gmail.coim) I correspond with 100's on cinema
These two great artists became friends for life since the early 40s. A story told by Orson in Nancy Sinatra's book about his father says Frank and Orson made a long trip in a car to eat calamari, and they had a dark skinned man as their driver. They stopped somewhere for coffee and a big, racist guy refused to serve to their driver, so Frank grabbed the bully by the shirt and told him "You are serving coffee for 3" to which the individual answered "Yes sir". Match over, said Orson, who couldn't believe his skinny friend had done what he saw. Frank had a terrible double loss on October 10, 1985, when Orson and another of his friends, Yul Brynner, both died within some hours of difference between them.
Though I typically don't like to speak of Sinatra as a sort of god-like figure due to some of his behavior over the years, I've also come to realize and appreciate that not only did he possess an incredible voice that could communicate human emotion like no other, he also had the charisma, personality, charm, and presence that no entertainer or leader can match - at least in my opinion. Here he once again demonstrates those attributes in spades.
There’s no one like him, but no one at all. There have been legends, but none quite as tall. What if his girth is like wall to wall? You know this gentleman is a champ. Came out of nowhere. Well, so to speak. And showed it once, that special technique. He’s what you mean when you speak of unique. That’s why the gentleman is a champ. He has a voice that’s close to divine, almost like mine. Mine swings, he sings. Compared to him I sound like a tramp, because the gentleman is a champ. In ‘38 with a radio play, War Of The World, filled us with much dismay. I mean he scared the shhhh-adows away, still the gentleman is a champ. The Mercury Players, they were more than just good, he helped young actors every way that he could. He picked cotton when nobody would, which proves the citizen is a champ. Need I explain that Kane didn’t thrill a fella called Bill? Said Hearst, “It’s the woist!” He called our hero an impudent scamp, still this cat is a champ. The Third Man film, I am sure you will recall, his Harry Lime was played to enthrall. No Kissing Bandit, ya can’t ‘em all. That’s why the gentleman is a champ. A Shakespeare buff who does know his bard. Just name a scene and he leans in there hard. Make you forget, say, Cyril Rashad. That’s why the gentleman is a champ. Produce, direct, write, star in a play, like Olivier. A whiz he is. I, for one, must whistle and stamp because the gentleman is a champ! (I didn’t mean to wake ya) I trust you’ve guessed, it’s all been in jest, we’re toasting the best. A glass to class. Please stand and join me, I’ll have the band vamp. You know the gentleman, I mean that gentleman, I say, he’s a champ!
*Sinatra had a couple heroes & idols, first being very close pal *Bogey-(a nickname *Tracy gave him by the way)-(you can see *Bogart's acting & mannerisms in his work, watch for it next time!), *Bing in music, plus he was often quoted as saying he wishes he sounded like Nat "King" Cole"
Did somebody get the full lyrics to this tribute? Whether because the orchestra is too loud or his voice was weak - or both -, I miss some words and references.
Not entirely him though I can tell you I own just about all on *FS Paul Anka write "My Way" & during his ultimate heyday-(l950's) AKA: The Post Ava Gardner years) He bounced back-0(especially after "CAPITOL RECORDS" in mid Tinsel-Town I dub it "The House *Sinatra Built" Check out you cann';t miss it's tall, white rigged bldg. It's well known Ava-(always the love of his life, despite beiung hitched 3 other times) lkikely pulled strongs with whats dubbed "Meanest Man in Town" Columbia Mogul *Harry Cohn-(l89l-l958) *Cohn was all sewt for Eli Wallach as Maggio & she poulled some strings But they were combustible & were only togerher from (1951-57)
He really hitthe highnote though after his *Oscar as Maggio. Firing everyone-(see, he lost his voice on stage around '51) & cleaned HOUSE BIG-TIME! Changed hius wardrobe, the works & proceeded to do his finest music ever
*"THE CHAIRKMAN OF THE BOASRD: FRAMNCIS ALBERT SINATRA"-(l9l5-l998) internment "Desert Memorial Park" in Palm Springs, CALIF-(his dad & mother right next to him too! His mansion is $18.000 per evening to now stay in for those with $dough$ Also Palm Springs, though he went away at cedars si nai May 14th Heart failure, just like my #1 idol since I was 14 in 1979 *"The Great: Spencer Tracy" (l900-67) Internment veeery top 317 acres Glendale's "F.Lawn" Strangely *Frank has the most humble grave too? *Tracy's is a huge garden grave. They did 1 film together '61's ok (**1/2) "Devil at 4 0'Clock" *FS actually made over 1,800 albums, 2,000 songs (58 films) 13 GRAMMYS Has 3 WOF-STARS Film career: 1943-84) & to top it all he actually won (3) *Oscars! 1945's "House I Live In" (RKO) (shorts) of course his legendary Maggio in 1953's *"Fropm Here to eternity" & then was awarded Jean Hersholt Huminatrian award
It realy isn't great here (though his coughy voice has a rough charm that i personally like too) but his voice thankfully recovered in the late 70s - early 80s.
