For Rat Pack lovers

To avoid totally taking over Mig's Labor day thread I'm starting this for all Rat Pack, Dean Martin lovers.


I think I'm the league president.

I'll start with some clips of my favorite Dean Martins shows.

Dean and Frank Sinatra.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3vPoV_U7ShU

The Rat Pack.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6-Ao5gcwVGs&mode=related&search=

Muhammad Ali's roast.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_RjQEJjF2Rc&mode=related&search=

Foster Brooks.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DYusPRre07k&mode=related&search=

I once read that when the Martins' would host a party, and it began to get late and people would not leave, Dean would go up to his bedroom, call the police, make believe that he was a neighbor and complain that there was too much noise coming from the Martin house. And the police would come and tell his wife that is was too late and that she would have to break up the party!

That's how Dean would get his guests to leave without insulting them.


Here's another great one with THE RAT PACK

Great stuff Beth-ee.

I have all of the roasts on dvd. I'm waiting for The Dean Martin Show to become available. When I was a little kid, Thursday nights with Dean were a HUGE deal at my house. My little brother (well, he's 44 now ) used to love to put on his "dinner jacket" to watch the show. Can you imagine? A 6 or 7 year old kid who put on a sport jacket in his house to watch Dean Martin!

There are all kinds of roads to cool, but all roads lead to Frank, Dean and Sammy.

I think I'm gonna cry.

I want to start my collection. There is absolutely jack on tv these days. I usually turn the tv off if I don't have a movie to watch. If I get the dvd's of Dean's Variety hour plus the roasts I might never leave the house again. :0

GREAT idea. He was my kind of guy.

Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime

THE RAT PACK - Dean Martin

I love the joke "That's as good as you're gonna feel all day". Classic!!!

Gotta have That's Amore.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2_zJhxMwkFU

Check out this one with Sammy Davis Jr. doing an IMPRESSION OF DEAN MARTIN !

This is definitely one of my most favorite Sammy Davis Jr. songs :

MR. BOJANGLES

That one always gets to me. Especially about the dog up and dying.

I never saw that before. That's hilarious.

But this one is probably his most fun and famous one :

SAMMY DAVIS JR.

These guys were the fucking best!

Tribute to Sammy Davis Jr on Jerry Lewis' telethon.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7dc2btBFh0I&mode=related&search=

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZftLX5hDCjk&mode=related&search=

http://youtube.com/watch?v=gmg8-DVRcDc

Absolutely the best!!!!!

Youtube is fucking great!

To think, a bunch of disgruntled Paypal employees started it and just wacked up about a billion dollars from Google in the buyout.

Only in America.

Gotta show the video for this picture.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xvmDK6P7j5A

http://youtube.com/watch?v=B5Xtd-QD8oc&mode=related&search=

Did you see the other two links I added later?

Sammy Davis is just fantastic with this performance!:


THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT

You're killing me Beth!

Sammy does The Phantom?

Yes. I remember seeing him do it on a PBS station for a fundraiser many years ago and never forgot it. He was brilliant and I've been searching for that performance ever since.

Where the heck is SC in this topic?

Dean Martin's last performance with The Rat Pack.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mmt0vMC0048&mode=related&search=

This probably is my most favorite Sinatra song :

UNDER MY SKIN


In my opinion, this is one of the best Sinatra CD's out there.

My favorite Frank song will always be "My way".

http://youtube.com/watch?v=sEbgB6X6S5c

Great song. But I actually liked Elvis' version a little bit better. And so did Sinatra!

I gotta sleep sometime!

When I was a teenager in the mid 60's I had two large posters on the wall in my room. One was of Bob Dylan; the other was of Sammy Davis, Jr. Forty years later I still love listening to their music.

One of the biggest thrills of my life was seeing Sammy Davis on Broadway in "Golden Boy". There was a line he ad-libbed about "Batman" on tv (this was about 1966 and he was referring to the old Adam West show) and I thought that was the coolest thing I ever heard. He was, without a doubt, the most talented all around performer I've ever seen.... he could do it all - sing, dance, do impressions, play musical instruments, and act.

Pee break is over .... back to sleep.

Who are you, jack Benny?

Smartass..... and before any other smartass joins in, I will point out that it was the 1960's.

Dean Martin's Variety show's first episode.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=awdwD78lmeQ

BC?

Now time for me to cry. Jerry Lewis singing "You'll never walk alone" tribute to Dean.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=m8-XBIJcxKQ&mode=related&search=

You are killing me today Beth!

And I'm supposed to be working. Good thing I can multi task.

Did any of you ever see this movie? And if so, did you like it?

Never saw it. I can't make out who the actors are. Was this authorized by the families?

George Clooney has bought the rights to another Rat Pack movie for his Danny Ocean character, Robin and the Seven Hoods, and has already placed Brad Pitt and Matt Damon in roles.

Hmmmmmm, don't know my opinion on that. While I have nothing against those actors, I don't think they should be making their career basically trying to recreate The Rat Pack constantly.

Personally I liked it.

Ray Liotta ... Frank Sinatra

Joe Mantegna ... Dean Martin

Don Cheadle ... Sammy Davis Jr.

Angus Macfadyen ... Peter Lawford



While Ray Liotta looks nothing like Frank Sinatra, I really though that the way that he acted made up for the lack of resemblance in that he captured the true persona of Sinatra.

Joe Mantegna is just superb all around as Dean Martin. Fantastic!

Angus MacFadyen is excellent as Peter Lawford and Don Cheadle, in my opinion, plays a great Sammy Davis Jr.

I think that you'll enjoy it.

I enjoyed it. That was some very good acting by Liotta.

I've posted this before, ROBIN AND THE SEVEN HOODS is my favorite Rat Pack movie. If Clooney makes it, and plays Robbo, I assume it won't be a musical whatsoever, like the original one was. Without the music, I'm not sure if there's enough of a story for a whole movie.

You've either got or you haven't got syle.

If you've got it you stand out a mile.

A flower's not a flower if it's wilted.

A hat's not a hat till it's tilted.

Yeah, tell Clooney to leave it alone. Shouldn't he be out fucking up Obama's campaign, anyway?

Don Cheadle is an excellent choice to play Sammy in anything. I don't think anyone else could pull it off as well as him.

Beth I'm telling you, rent the movie and watch it. You'll enjoy it.

My rent/buy dvd list just grows and grows. All I need is a 3 foot snow storm to hit. I won't open my front door for a week.

Ahhh, a good and dreary rainy day should do it for ya!

When my mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer back in 1974, it was nothing short of a death sentence. Some doctors were telling her to have the chemo and radiation; others were telling her not to, and at a meeting with them, she swears that a fight almost broke out. She finally got so fed up that she stood up at this conference table of oncologists and radiologists and said, "This is my body and I'll do it my way!"

After that, Frankie's rendition of My Way always had a special significance for her.

Btw, she turned 81 last week and is still going strong!

Dean and John Wayne.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=sd5xBDdG9UI&mode=related&search=

Check out this ULTIMATE RAT PACK website.

Pretty cool.

I'm gonna peruse it when I get home. I don't know if it's that my work computer has it blocked, but I clicked on "products" and it said website not found.

OMG that chocked me up

All those links were great. I'm gonna have to buy the roasts if I can find them. Foster Brooks had me laughing so hard I had tears.

http://www.dailymotion.com/mychannel/DBarrios/video/x28ip7_a-man-and-his-music_music

Emerging from my self-imposed exile to show you what a great Sinatra performance is. From his 1965 Emmy Award winning television special: "Frank Sinatra: A Man And His Music" with Nelson Riddle conducting this segment.

Mike, I knew there was a member here with a Frank avatar, and couldn't remember who it was. Good to see you here.

These trivia questions from the link DC provided are pretty kewl.

http://www.ratpackmemories.com/Trivia.htm

I knew the answers to #'s 2; 5; 6; 9; 12 & 19.

I DID see that movie. Liked it the same way I liked Snakes On A Plane!

Joey Bishop is the Ringo of the Rat Pack.

You guys are waaaay ahead of me. I haven't had a chance to see the clips posted.

DC, I did see the Rat Pack movie on HBO last year. I also liked it. I wish I would have been able to see them live in their heyday. I too, still want to see the Rat Pack show in Vegas.

I like a lot of Sinatra songs including My Way, but I really really like "All The Way" and "Young At Heart" is nice too. Oh, and of course Strangers In The Night. Way to many to think of them all. Oh, and "Oops there goes another Rubber Tree...Oops There Goes Another Rubber Tree.... (What's the actual title?) From a movie no?

Oh, and let's not pick on SC too much. He and I are from the same generation..........the best generation!!! We don't take no sh*t!!!!

Great thread. I have a lot of catching up to do.

TIS

I'll Never Smile Again is my all time favorite, with the Pied Pipers doing backup. LOVE that song.

TIS, don't take any shit about your generation!!!

Oh yes, "I'll Never Smile Again." That was one of his first songs wasn't it? I think of the Tommy Dorsey Band era.

Btw SB or anyone who knows, did Sinatra ever make any Italian albums. I don't think he spoke the language did he?? I'd be surprise if he didn't make any even if Italian songs sung in English.

Just wondering.


TIS

"High Hopes" from A Hole In The Head with Edward G. Robinson as Sinatra's brother, Thelma Ritter as Robinson's wife, a sultry Carolyn Jones, Eleanor Parker and that cute little kid.

Of course. My mind went totally blank but for those few words. Ha ha!!! Thanks DC!!!


TIS

It's one of my favorite Sinatra movies. Edward G. Robinson is fantastic as the gruff, yet caring, brother. He cracks me up in that movie.

My all time favorite Sinatra movie is Man With The Golden Arm.

TIS, Certainly can't think of any Italian songs off the top of my head.

Edited to Add: Yes, Tommy Dorsey, the "bandleader" that let Frankie out of his contract.

Anyone ever see a made for TV mini series titled SINATRA ?

An excellent mini series which was produced by and based on the writings of Tina Sinatra.

I've been waiting for it to come out as a DVD set for years now. And for some strange reason they never play it on Television.


Philip Casnoff does an excellent job portraying Sinatra and
Marcia Gay Harden does a really good job playing Ava Gardner.

DC,

Yes, I did see it, way back when it was on. I really enjoyed it and would love to see it again. I don't think they have shown it since. Don't know why, it was very good IMHO.


TIS

In addition to his absolutely awesome singing skills, Sinatra was a decent actor as well. Consider his stretch of wonderful performances in the mid to late 50's:

"From Here to Eternity" - as Maggio, he won the Best Supporting Actor in 1953, in a much deserved role (the basis for the Johnny Fontaine story in "The Godfather").

A few musicals with some wonderful songs - 1954's "Young at Heart" and 1955's "Guys and Dolls". My favorite musical with him was his portryal of Joe E. Lewis in "The Joker is Wild", the true story of an up and coming singer who crossed the Mob and nearly died because of it.

Great dramatic roles - as Don Cardi mentioned, "The Man With the Golden Arm", in which he portrayed a drug addict, and my favorite, "Some Came Running" in which he portrays a gambling man who teams with Dean Martin.

The lighter side of romance and family ends the decade with his touching portrayal of a dad in financial straits in "A Hole in the Head".

Here is Frank with another goodie, "A very good year".

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cDp8anVM0eU

Frank "Stardust"-1943. It seems strange to see a cigarette company sponsoring something.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NlujPZ64ZvI&mode=related&search=

Wow! How cute he was hu? It's wonderful to have old clips like that preserved. I've stayed at the Stardust quite a few times, but it must have been brand new in the 40's.

Very nice find Beth.

Btw, I remember the Lucky Strike commercials. It sure does seem strange. LSMFT is what it became known as (Lucky Strike Means Fine Tabacco)

TIS

Here's one specially for Beth:

ESPECIALLY FOR BETH

You're too good to me.

I wish I was leaving today. Nicole has her picture taken sitting in that "Love" sign. I have no idea what that's for.

What time does the bus get in?

That song is so associated with Sinatra.... others have done it but none can match his rendition.

Of course, it sounds as if it was written for you, though.

You know I have the bus schedule phone number on my speed dial, don't ya?

It does sound like it was written for me. Maybe I should get royalties.

Sinatra (IMO) was at his best when he became reminiscient about things long gone. Here's an example of such a song... its "There Used to be a Ballpark". It came out late in his career when his voice was already gone, but that impeccable timing and that sadness in the voice still remain:

THERE USED TO BE A BALLPARK RIGHT HERE

Memorial Stadium is the first ballpark shown. How ironic.

Now THAT was when Orioles baseball was fun, at old Memorial Stadium.

That song did put a lump in my throat. How nice to see old Ebbets field.

So when ARE you coming in for a visit, Miss Beth-ee?

Autumn in New York (Sinatra sang it, so I'm not hijacking the thread) is just beautiful.

I have to shoot down the upper west side this afternoon. I'll have a pretzel for you. I just hope I can digest it.

When am I coming to visit PB? Fire one of your waitresses and I can come work for you and move there.

Anything referencing New York is welcome and not considered hijacking.

Make that a chocolate covered pretzel.

Eeeeeeeeeeew.

Just mustard, you Baltmorian. Or is it Marylandian?

Whatever it is, just move here already!

I only put mustard on hot dogs. And it's Baltimoran, thank you very much.

I would move there already, but your aunt never sent me the keys yet.

Beth, If you're gonna wait to meet pizzaboy, you'll be collecting your Social Security before you do.

So in other words, no pretzel for me?

I'm feeling a little better.

Thanks for the concern.

Lead! Where ya been all my life??

Always loved how he did THE HOUSE I LIVE IN

Hey there, young lady. I've been a little under the weather but I'm feeling just healthy enough for the company of a younger, Southern Belle type of woman. Someone from West Virgina, in particular.

Know anyone?

You two mind taking your sexcapades over to a PM or the shout box?

Or PB, at least stay on topic here and tell Miss Bogey "I've Got You, Under My Skin."

j/k

"I've got a crush on you, Bogey Pie...."

I think I'm gonna be sick.

Is that a Sinatra song?

"I've got a crush on you....sweetie pie"

Duh.

Although the pie reference didn't have the same connotation it had in the 40's.

I guess she makes him feel so young.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Uoczc_lY1kA

Beth-ee, I just got back from Manhattan.

I see no pretzel waiting for me either.

Honestly, I didn't even have one. I just had to run down Broadway and 74th to my cousin's apartment to pick up some legal papers. The doorman kept my car double parked for me, so I was down and back in less than an hour.

Broadway and 74th? You were close by, did you stop by and say "hey" to Yoko?

The Dakota is soooo overrated. The Beresford, at 81st and CPW, is much nicer. It's been home to loads of famous people, if you're into that kind of shit. From Meyer Lansky (yup) to Jerry Seinfeld.

When I took a carriage ride through CPW they pointed out where Jerry Seinfeld lives. Is that were he has like 4 floors rented out just to store his cars?

Yeah, that's the one. His neighbors were none to happy about him getting the zoning to tear down the walls and the like. As rich as he is, they're not impressed by his money. They don't need to be, they have their own.

But that's "new" money. Nothing compared to the "old" money on the East side. There's class wars even between the rich.

I bought this movie today.

Kewl. Let us know how you like it.

This is a great old footage of Sammy Davis JR in 1955 doing a skit for The March of Dames. It's fabulous.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2RQJOI-n5zY

Do you remember when Sammy was on All In The Family?

Sammy & Archie

Who can ever forget when Sammy kissed Archie. That was truly priceless.

"High Society" with Frank, Bing and Grace Kelly is on tv now. One of the best musicals made I think.

"Pal Joey" follows.... its a better movie for Sinatra fans.

"You treat a dame like a lady, and you treat a lady like a dame."

Luck be a lady tonight.

The brilliant tv programming folks had High Society on twice. I just watched it on WETA, plus it came on a half hour later on TCM. I can watch what I missed now.

The ending kind of threw me. I felt for sure she would end up with Frank. I don't like Frank with his publisher. It looks like she's robbing the cradle.

I don't know if your showing is at the same point as mine. But Grace Kelly I guess is drunk or tipsy and they are in this absolutely luxurious suite with a party/wedding going on. I really like the plushness of some of these old movies. Sinatra looks good and in his prime.

TIS

If I didn't see the movie 400 times, I'd yell at you for not putting up a spoiler warning, Miss Beth-ee.

Ha ha!!! You know what. I didn't remember the ending either. That's ok though, this is more of a "fun" movie to me and I don't think knowing the ending is a big deal. Not to mention how old it is. We'll just have break Beth's legs at a later date, that's all!!!


TIS

Break my legs. I like things rough.

For an encore I'll give away the ending to "The Ten Commandments".

This isn't the Rat Pack, but I found this clip of Johnny himself, Al Martino, singing "Spanish eyes".

http://youtube.com/watch?v=D7ppwWd0kJs

Public tv station WETA is showing a Dean Martin biography show right now.

WETA started the Frank Sinatra biography special at 4:00.

FYI...the 'luxurious suite' is actually the home of the Grace Kelly character, and the party that is taking place is to celebrate the eve of her second wedding.

For those who don't know (and apparently some do not)...'High Society' is a musical remake of 'The Philadelphia Story'.

Apple

I'm just catching up with this thread now. "The Rat Pack" is a deliciously trashy movie. It has everything you want, and expect, from a Rat Pack film: Joe and Marilyn! The Kennedys! Momo! Dancing! Singing! Joe Mantegna looks more like Dean Martin than Dean Martin did, but the star is Don Cheadle (who used to be a song-and-dance guy in a previous life). Liotta as Sinatra is...well...Liotta. I loved every minute of it. It's close to replacing "Women's Prison" as my all-time top B-movie.

Sinatra was a fine actor. My favorite of all his performances was in "Suddenly!", a taught little gem of a thriller from the mid-Fifties, co-starring Sterling Hayden.

I saw 'Suddenly' for the first time in 1998 just after Sinatra's death. It was shown on local PBS station as part of a tribute weekend. Very obscure film on his resume, I had never heard of it. At first I was thinking what the heck is this, gimme 'Pal Joey' or something more well known! But got intrigued by it almost immediately and agree it and Frank were VERY good!!

It's actually become one of my favorite Sinatra movies!!
Go, Turnbull!!!

And by the way...that character played by Celeste Holmes is NOT Sinatra's 'publisher'. She's the magazine photographer and his partner on the story they're both assigned to, covering Grace Kelly's 'society' wedding.

Ole' blue eyes is going to get his own stamp. I'd like to buy sheet just to collect. I don't know if I'd actually use one to mail a letter.

Frank Sinatra Stamp Scheduled For Spring

NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2007

(CBS) Frank Sinatra, one of the most notable entertainers of the 20th century, will be commemorated on a postage stamp next spring, Postmaster General John Potter announced Wednesday.

"We've had a lot of requests for a Frank Sinatra stamp, certainly one of the great American icons, and to be able to feature him in our stamp program is a big thrill for all of us," Dave Failor, executive director of Stamp Services, told CBS News reporter Lloyd de Vries.

Sinatra died May 14, 1998.

"On behalf of our family, we are honored that the United States Postal Service has recognized our Dad's achievements with a stamp," said Tina Sinatra, in a statement, on behalf of her siblings, Nancy and Frank Sinatra, Jr. "Of all the awards he has received, this one would have been very special to him."

The design of the stamp will be released next Wednesday when a 10-foot image of the stamp is unveiled in Beverly Hills, Calif. Sinatra's three children will attend.

The stamp design is a vertical format, and shows Sinatra in the mid-1950s.

"It's a wonderful portrait by an artist who we've used before, Kazuhiko Sano, and I think people will be very happy with Ol' Blue Eyes," Failor said.

We've had a lot of requests for a Frank Sinatra stamp."
David E. Failor, USPS
Many stamp collectors had been surprised when the 2008 stamp program was first announced in August, and Sinatra wasn't in it, says de Vries. Bette Davis will be the entry in the Legends of Hollywood series; the Sinatra stamp is not part of any series.

Most of the remaining designs for 2008 stamps will be released between Christmas and New Year's Day. The designs for Lunar New Year, Alzheimer's Awareness, Charles W. Chesnutt (Black Heritage Series), and American Journalists (including CBS News' Eric Sevareid and George Polk), have already been made public.

A native of Japan, Sano studied painting in Tokyo before moving to San Francisco in 1974 to study at the Academy of Art College. He designed 12 of the 15 stamps in the Celebrate the Century series in 1999.

When the stamp will be issued will depend largely on whether the Postal Service raises rates in the spring.

"We want to time it so it would be at the new rate, as not to issue it at the old rate and only be able to have a very short shelf life of say a month or two," Failor said.

The release is likely sometime in May or June.

I hope my rinky dinky post office will have them. I'll buy a book of them and keep a couple out of it.

If they don't we'll all mail you a letter with one on it Mig.

I hope to buy some. It's about time!!



TIS

How many people went out and brought the Elvis stamps? I don't have any of them. I remember the contest to see which version they wanted, the young or the old Elvis. I wonder if they'll do the same thing with the Frank stamp.

As a big fan, I would have loved to have an Elvis stamp. But no, I never got one. Ha ha...I really don't remember if I missed the debut or what. Yea, a day late and a dollar short, that's me.



TIS

I LOVE THE RAT PACK and I am only 14

I just found these two incredible performances on Youtube. They're from the old Dean Martin show and, imho, are absolutely fantastic. Dean has SOOOOO much fun all by himself, how could you not adore this guy?!

If you're a Rat Pack lover, or even if you're not, I implore you to watch these.

Almost Like Being In Love

L-O-V-E

I L-O-V-E the rat pack

Dean Martin and Tony Bennett

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Sammy Davis, Jr.'s widow dies at 65

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Altovise Joanne Gore Davis, a dancer and actress and the widow of Sammy Davis Jr. , has died. She was 65.

Davis died Saturday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering a stroke, said Amy Malone, a publicist for her family.

Davis worked her way to the Broadway stage where she met the legendary entertainer when they performed together in the musical "Golden Boy" in 1967.

She became his third wife when they wed in 1970 (Davis was previously married to dancer Loray White and Swedish actress Mai Britt). They adopted a son and remained together until Davis died of throat cancer in 1990 at the age of 64.

After his death she was left to sort through his multi-million dollar IRS tax debt and oversee his troubled estate. Last year, she sued two former business partners in federal court, claiming they tricked her into signing away the rights to the estate. The suit is pending.

Davis is survived by her son Manny.

A private memorial service was being planned

I just read that today. I guess I didn't know much of Sammy's personal life. I thought he was married to Mae Britt? Remember her? He was married to her at one time no? Or were they just going together?


TIS

They were married, TIS. They even had a daughter and, I think, adopted a couple of more kids. But their marriage only lasted about 7 or 8 years.

My parents knew how much I loved Davis and took me to see the play. We were up in nose bleed territory and Davis looked about two inches big but I'll never forget that he ad-libbed a line about watching "Batman" on tv (it was a big show then). The audience roared with laughter.

I read his autobiography, "Yes I Can" when I was a kid and would highly recommend it as a very enjoyable read. He talks a lot about his friendship with Sinatra and his marriage to May Britt.