# Sinatra (miniseries)

Sinatra is a 1992 CBS biographical drama miniseries about singer Frank Sinatra, developed and executive produced by Frank's youngest daughter Tina Sinatra and approved by Frank himself. Directed by James Steven Sadwith, produced by Richard M. Rosenbloom, and written by William Mastrosimone and Abby Mann. It stars Philip Casnoff, Olympia Dukakis, Joe Santos, Gina Gershon, Nina Siemaszko, Bob Gunton, and Marcia Gay Harden, with some of Sinatra's vocals recreated by Tom Burlinson. It won two and was nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards, along with a win and two nominations for a Golden Globe Award. Released on November 8, 1992, it was re-released on a two-disc DVD Warner Home Video on May 13, 2008.

## Plot

Frank Sinatra (Casnoff) emerges from Hoboken, New Jersey, the son of local politician Natalie "Dolly" Sinatra (Dukakis) and fireman Anthony "Marty" Sinatra (Santos). Beginning his career as a singer for the Harry James (Posey) and Tommy Dorsey (Gunton) big bands, Sinatra struggles to keep his marriage to his teenage sweetheart Nancy Barbato (Gershon). Before long, his talent catapults him to both music and movie fame, but his personal failings place his career and marriage in danger. He endures tumultuous marriages and divorces with starlets Ava Gardner (Harden) and Mia Farrow (Siemaszko) while juggling his movie and singing careers and forming significant friendships with an ambitious young senator named John F. Kennedy (Kelly) and powerful Chicago mob boss Sam Giancana (Steiger).

## Cast

* Philip Casnoff as Frank Sinatra
** Tom Burlinson as his singing voice
* Olympia Dukakis as Natalie "Dolly" Sinatra
* Joe Santos as Marty Sinatra
* Gina Gershon as Nancy Barbato Sinatra
* Nina Siemaszko as Mia Farrow
* Joe Grifasi as George Evans
* Marcia Gay Harden as Ava Gardner
* Bob Gunton as Tommy Dorsey
* David Raynr as Sammy Davis Jr.
* Ralph Seymour as Budd
* Jeff Corey as Quinlin
* Danny Gans as Dean Martin
* Vincent Guastaferro as Hank Sanicola
* James F. Kelly as John F. Kennedy
* Matthew Posey as Harry James
* Rod Steiger as Salvatore Giancana
* Carol Barbee as Marilyn Maxwell
* David Byrd as Michael Romanoff
* Paul Collins as Westbrook Pegler
* Maggie Egan as Jo Stafford
* Brian Markinson as Sonny Werblin
* Tony Simotes as Buddy Rich
* John Wesley as Sy Oliver
* Marc Grady Adams as Lee Mortimer
* Tony Gaetano as Humphrey Bogart
* Leata Galloway as Billie Holiday
* David A. Kimball as Benny Goodman
* Bruce Gray as Fred Zinneman
* Shelly Lipkin as Joey Bishop
* Jack Betts as Earl Wilson
* Rena Riffel as May Britt
* Brad Blaisdell as Skitch Henderson
* Chris Weatherhead as Mercedes McCambridge
* Patricia Supancic as Nancy at 14
* Beverley Mitchell as Nancy at 7-9
* Samantha Ward as Nancy at 3
* Cameron Phillip Williams as Frank Jr. at 10
* Jameson Rodgers as Frank Jr. at 4-6
* Jenny Regli as Tina at 6
* Floyd Levine as Director

## Production
### Filming

Filming was shot on location in Hoboken, New Jersey, and at the Los Angeles Union Station in California.

## Reception

The series got a mostly positive reception but was accused of whitewashing the controversial aspects of Frank Sinatra's life.

### Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
| 1993 | American Cinema Editors Awards | Best Edited Episode from a Television Mini-Series | Scott Vickrey (for "Part I") | Nominated | |
| 1993 | American Society of Cinematographers Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Miniseries | Reynaldo Villalobos | Nominated | |
| 1993 | Artios Awards | Best Casting for TV Miniseries | Marcia Ross and Robert Litvak | Nominated | |
| 1993 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Won | |
| 1993 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Philip Casnoff | Nominated | |
| 1993 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Olympia Dukakis | Nominated | |
| 1993 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Miniseries | Tina Sinatra and Richard M. Rosenbloom | Nominated | [14] [15] [16] |
| 1993 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Miniseries or a Special | James Steven Sadwith | Won | [14] [15] [16] |
| 1993 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction for a Miniseries or a Special | Veronica Hadfield, Richard L. Johnson, Cindy Carr, and Robin Royce (for "Part I") | Nominated | [14] [15] [16] |
| 1993 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Special | Reynaldo Villalobos (for "Part I") | Nominated | [14] [15] [16] |
| 1993 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Miniseries or a Special | Shelley Komarov (for "Part I") | Won | [14] [15] [16] |
| 1993 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Editing for a Miniseries or a Special – Single Camera Production | Scott Vickrey (for "Part I") | Nominated | [14] [15] [16] |
| 1993 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Miniseries or a Special | Bette Iverson and Adele Taylor (for "Part I") | Nominated | [14] [15] [16] |
| 1993 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Direction | Artie Butler (for "Part I") | Nominated | [14] [15] [16] |
| 1993 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Miniseries or a Special | Maury Harris, Wayne Artman, Robert Fernandez, and Tom E. Dahl (for "Part I") | Nominated | [14] [15] [16] |