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Frank Sinatra Documentary: The Voice of Our Time
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Hosted by singer Mel Torme, this documentary chronicles the career of Frank Sinatra. The program focuses on Sinatra's career from the 1940s through the 1960s, using archival footage and clips of Sinatra in newsreels, television programs, and films, interspersed with comments by Torme and excerpts from interviews with lyricist Sammy Cahn, singer/television personality Dinah Shore, film critic Leonard Maltin, and music critic John Rockwell.

Touching briefly on his personal life, the program chronicles Sinatra's rise in the music world, his acting career, and his involvement in politics and fundraising. Topics covered include his start on the radio program "Major Bowes and His Original Amateur Hour," with audio excerpts from the program and still photos; his early music group "The Hoboken Four"; his work as a band singer with Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, and Benny Goodman; the 1944 riots at the Paramount Theatre during his Columbus Day concert, which brought him international fame; Louis B. Mayer's interest in Sinatra and Sinatra's acting career at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio; his career slump in the 1950s; how winning the role of Maggio in the film "From Here to Eternity" renewed his career; his work with arranger/conductor Nelson Riddle; his involvement in Sen. John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign; and the "Rat Pack," including his friends Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, and others.

Included throughout is extensive footage of Sinatra singing many of his hit songs. Performance clips and newsreel excerpts include his performance at a 1945 war bond rally singing "Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night of the Week)"; footage from another war bond rally with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, where Sinatra and Crosby perform a comic rendition of "People Will Say We're in Love"; a stage performance of "One for My Baby"; an excerpt from "The Colgate Comedy Hour" (1953) presentation of "Anything Goes" with Sinatra and Ethel Merman singing "You Do Something to Me"; excerpts from the "Producers' Showcase" presentation of the musical version of "Our Town" (1955) with Sinatra as the stage manager singing "Love and Marriage"; footage from a benefit for the Convict Rehabilitation Center with Sinatra and the Count Basie Orchestra performing "Fly Me to the Moon"; a recording session of the hit song "It Was a Very Good Year"; Hope introducing Sinatra in his television’s songs and debut on May 27, 1950; Sinatra singing "You Make Me Feel So Young" with Dinah Shore on her television show (1958); Sinatra with Johnny Carson, Davis, and Martin; the 1954 and 1963 Academy Awards ceremonies; a clip from an interview with Walter Cronkite in a documentary written by Andy Rooney; and clips from the short fundraising films "The House I Live In" and "The Road to Victory" and the feature films "'Till the Clouds Roll By" with Sinatra singing "Ol' Man River," "It Happened in Brooklyn" with Jimmy Durante, "The Kissing Bandit," "On the Town" and "Anchors Aweigh" with Gene Kelly, "Pal Joey," "The Manchurian Candidate," "Suddenly," "High Society" with Crosby, "Some Came Running" with Dean Martin and Shirley MacLaine, "The Man with the Golden Arm" with Darren McGavin, and a film featuring Peter Falk. As the program concludes, a montage of performance footage and photo stills are shown as Sinatra sings "I've Got the World on a String."

Frank Sinatra songs include:
I've Got The World On a String 0:54
All Or Nothing 4:20
The Last Call for Love 4:57
I'll Never Smile Again 6:00
Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night) 10:04
On the Town: New York, New York 15:54
This Can't Be Love 33:14
You Make Me Feel So Young 55:22
Category
Classic Videos
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