Am I talking about Frank Sinatra or Kitty Kelley? Both actually. This unauthorised biography was written whilst old blue eyes was still alive and kicking (1986), so Kitty Kelley is either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. I let you decide which, but it has to be said that this is also incredibly entertaining reading.
In the Author's Note at the beginning of the book, Kelley writes, "On September 21st, 1983, Frank Sinatra sued to stop this book from being published before a word was ever written. He filed suit in California seeking two million dollars in punitive damages from me for presuming to write without his authorisation. He claimed that he and he alone, or someone he anointed, could write his life story, but no one else was allowed to do so."
Having pursued the matter through the courts for over a year, his allegations of misrepresentations and misconstructions were proved groundless and eventually the case was dropped in late 1984. Her book followed two years later.
Again this is a study where few stones, if any, have been left unturned. She has mercilessly tracked down and investigated every nuance of the legend that is Mr. Sinatra. And for most part, none of it surprises you.
Only Frank believed Frank when he denied the Mafia connections, despite the photographs of him and such people as Paul Castellano, Carlo Gambino, Jimmy Fratiano and Salvatore Spatola, amongst others. Of course the heads of crime families get together to simply wish people well before concerts, they do it all the time.... One thing is for sure, they've done it all of Frank's lifetime.
Widely reputed to be responsible for putting Sinatra where he was, the Mafia figured largely throughout his career. This made his connections with the Presidential Kennedy family all the more interesting gossip-wise.
His involvement with women is explained in great detail throughout. First, his poor long suffering wife Nancy, quickly followed by all the famous and beautiful women that took his fancy. Ava Gardner and Mia Farrow are some of his well known romantic conquests, but what about Nancy Reagan or Lauren Bacall?
What was behind him being taken to court for the "Wrong Door Raid" of 1957?
Then you have the Rat Pack Days. Rat Pack no.1 consisted of Frank, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, Sammy Davis Junior and Peter Lawford who made themselves famous for their drunken and riske (in those days) patter. When they needed a rest there was then the Rat Pack no. 2 whose members included Burt Reynolds, Shirley McLaine and Liza Minelli at various times who again hit the road with an irreverent sort of roadshow.
His drinking, his violence, his arrogance, his selfishness is all here.
As my Dad said after I'd loaned him the book to read, "I wish you hadn't done that. I used to like these people".
If you're a major fan of Frank's that wouldn't believe the government documents that will be put in front of you as evidence, then DO NOT read this book.
For those that want a look at the rise, fall and re-assisted rise of a man who trampled his way to the top, behaving in an un-golden idol like way, then pull that chair a little closer to the fire and settle down for a rivetting read.
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