FIRST AND FOREMOST
Frank was an actor. Much like Dean, the ruse he played out was a self-depreciating kind of humor meant to reflect his human quality. As an example, Dean was famously an unqualified drunk... Always sipping a cocktail during his act, slurring his words, forgetting the songs... In fact, Dean did not drink while he performed, and was, for the most part, never drunk during performances. It was an act. As Sinatra once said when asked about Martin's drunkenness, "I spill more than he drinks." Sinatra was no less an actor. And his jokes about women were for the purpose of comedy (which got lots of giggles from the ladies, by the way). Here's personal testimony, quoted I believe from Playboy--someone correct me if i'm wrong here.
"I’m supposed to have a Ph.D. on the subject of women. But the truth is I’ve flunked more often than not. I’m very fond of women; I admire them. But like all men, I don’t understand them."
"I’m supposed to have a Ph.D. on the subject of women. But the truth is I’ve flunked more often than not. I’m very fond of women; I admire them. But like all men, I don’t understand them."
It's not hard to believe that he did appreciate women, he married 4 times! And Ava Gardner, in particular, tormented his delicate sensibilities. I will admit that begrudging Mia Farrow for not giving up her career was a slap in the face of women's lib, but come on, it was the 60s! And Mia, always remembering Frank fondly:
"TV in bed, our puppies, his incredible sweetness, the purity of his feelings. His smile. Our ages finally mattered. [he was 50, she 21] I was too ill at ease with his remoteness and unable to fathom his complexities."
"TV in bed, our puppies, his incredible sweetness, the purity of his feelings. His smile. Our ages finally mattered. [he was 50, she 21] I was too ill at ease with his remoteness and unable to fathom his complexities."
Sinatra's exes all shared this sentiment. And he got along smashingly with all of them. How many people do you know that can say the same?
(quoted from Remembering Sinatra)
BTW, if anyone is judging him based on his famous "The Lady is a Tramp," check out the lyrics:
"She gets too hungry, for dinner at 8
She loves the theater and never comes late
She'd never bother with people she'd hate
That's why the lady is a tramp
Doesn't like crap games with Barons and Earls
Won't go to Harlem in ermine and pearls
Won't dish the dirt with the rest of the girls
That's why the lady is a tramp"
I think we sometimes blur the lines between the real and the fantasy. We expect that person on the screen to be the Real person, in some forms. I believe this is why some actors get type-cast.
ReplyDeleteRobert Mitchum was often a ladies-man, bad-boy in the movies. He was actually the one-woman man.
I think in some ways, the fact that we view these actors in this way, proves how great they really are.
On the tramp....
Needless to say, the lady was only called a tramp --- by the other "ladies".
What is there not to love about the ladies?
ReplyDeleteWell put Windrews!