Thanks for this fascinating bit of cinema history. That film is absolutely amazing. It is moving, touching, infuriating, fatalistic, and hopeful. Not a false note in the whole film. Top-notch acting the like of which, we never see anymore. Thanks for sharing this. 💗
I recently just watched this movie for the first time and I was totally blown away. I think I want to watch it again just because of the expressions and the performances of each person and I wanted to just embrace Montgomery Cliff, his vulnerability and his strength and probably one of the most handsome I loved Burt Lancaster in the film “The Swimmer” and others as well but the complexity of this character and his ability to reach all the furthest points of emotion from the other was magnificent
Thank you, soapbx, for posting this! It makes me feel like I'm there, walking around with Monty & Burt & Frank! And thanks for not just this vid but ALL this footage from old Hollywood. As a movie buff, this stuff is priceless!! Thank you!!
I think that Fred Zinnemann, the Eternity director, got the best performance of Monty Clift's career from him as Prewitt and Sinatra's work is one of three best; the others are Man With The Golden Arm for Preminger and Manchurian Candidate for Frankenheimer. Harry Cohn, head of production at Columbia, hated the idea of Sinatra playing Maggio [ Eli Wallach was originally cast ]. Ava Gardner, one of his biggest stars, and Sinatra himself lobbied for the role which, of course, revived his career.
Those must have been interesting rehearsals, in view of the fact that Sinatra hated to rehearse virtually any film scenes. I assume that Frank was on his best behavior since he campaigned for the Maggio role and he was working under the direction of Fred Zinnemann, who was one of the most respected directors. I believe that Monty Clift also worked extensively with Sinatra to help develop his performance.
+MrImiller07 Yes, Clift was always extraordinarily generous with his fellow actors and Sinatra learned a lot from him. Clift would similarly help Dean Martin in The Young Lions, whose fine performance in that movie greatly transformed and advanced Martin's career, having recently broken up with Jerry Lewis. Sinatra didn't get his one-take preference from Clift, though. That came from another Sinatra friend and actor, William Pratt (Boris Karloff).
Read that the scene where Frank comes into the bar drunk and starts rolling (I think olives) as if they were dice.That was his screen test, but they liked it so much they put it vin the movie.
It wasn't so much rehearsing, but multiple takes. He knew the value of rehearsing from his recording career, which he was usually meticulous about, but he felt that in acting the first take was almost always his best. Some of his directors and others have agreed with that assessment.
thanks so much for that!! It is sad though that all (or most all) of the actors from this great movie have "gone ahead" to the great beyond. Still one of my favorite films!!
Totally feel the same, such greats all I can say is we are privileged to have seen such talent on the big screen and thankfully we can still re live these great moments in Film history.
If Martin Scorsese ultimately puts his Sinatra film into production, the story of how the premier interpreter of popular music of the Century was believed to have been finished and mounted a comeback to become the top recording artist of the next three decades, and a top dramatic actor should be wonderful material. The issue is the resistance from the Sinatra family to a candid portrayal and the casting.
Very cool! I have all the footage ever shot of the 1960 Sands Summit- as well as one of a kind Sinatra and Rat Pack photos- and so much more. Nothing- Nothing ever- beats Frank in front of the Basie orchestra (that 1965 album at the Sands is pure gold). Well... maybe Louis Prima and Keely Smith live at the Sahara? They're my absolute favorite. Keely belongs inthe Pantheon with Ella, Sarah, the two Dinahs (Washington and Shore), Helen Merrill, June Christy... stop me now! LOL
I'm an attorney who has been an aficionado of Frank Sinatra's music and career from the mid 60s to the present. I've amassed a collection of CD boxed sets, concert DVDs and coffee table books about Sinatra . I probably should have channeled my interests into the entertainment industry, but I haven't gone in that direction.
The best movies so often come from the best novels- maybe that's why there are fewer and fewer great movies today? Who knows... thanks for watching, and your positive comments, we appreciate it!
Wow! We were talking of this very topic this morning...Nancy Tina Frank Jr. 'Impossible' being the perfect word. Even to the point of 'demanding' on certain projects that are mainly to do with Dean Martin and virtually nothing to do with Frank.
you might be right, often helmet liners (as shown) were highly polished and used for parades/inspections. I think that in this case either as a detachment or honor guard for the Generals that I am sure showed up for filming.
Hi ya! You are too right on the talent! Proper thing on slacking. We all know egos fly high in the creative world. Would we have it any other way? We also shamelessly love the drama in varying degrees. Hope all is well :)
Are there more footage of the original locations and BTS of this film. I wasn't sure if the Kalakaua Inn and that River St. nightclub was real or made up for the film.
I'm waiting for the next volume of Peter Kaplan's book about Sinatra. The first book encompassed the period from his childhood through the release of "From Here To Eternity". The second book will presumably deal with the Capitol years and the relationships with Nelson Riddle, Billy May, et al and the development of "The Rat Pack" and the political affiliation with Kennedy.
Thanks for that, and thank u for your service (army?) any time overseas. I read the book also and agree that the army would without question ask for changes!! They were expendable also had the USN getting much altered script. In fact they paid the USN for use of the ships docks etc. and nothing was "given" to the studio. Little known fact in Tora Tora Tora it was the first (and only) time dummy ordanance was allowed to be dropped from aircraft (the real stuff was the dropped 1st time, in '41).
Yeah could have been that also, I am sure everyone wantedto see the stars, and brass has first dibs.Little fact. Sinatra almost always sang to enlisted men when he went on tours overseas/bases etc. As a former Marine Officer I would have missed out on Frank!! I am also sure a lot of the base units supplied extras for the movie (saving expenses).
You may be right. I apologize to the author. He did good work with difficult subject matter. The next volume should be even better. I wonder if Keely Smith, Shirley MacLaine and Don Rickles spoke to him.
The problem is that evidently, they control the licensing rights to Sinatra's Columbia , Capitol and Reprise recordings which must be used in the soundtrack of the film. Consequently, unless Tina, who runs Frank Sinatra enterprises, approves the final script, Scorsese can't go into production.
That is very good and completely necessary! Only Frankie is gone and Nancy is pretty much responsible for the public media/music end and Tina, the other parts. They have excellent help also.
