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Storyline
In the 1950's and 1960's Frank Sinatra was the head of the infamous "Rat Pack". He, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop worked and played together. This film dramatizes their volatile relationships with each other and the Kennedys, Marilyn Monroe, mobster Sam Giancano, Judith Cambell and the FBI. Sinatra helps John Kennedy get elected in 1960 with a little help from Giancano. Lawford, married to a Kennedy, is an unhappy go-between. Davis is fighting racism and insecurity. Cambell is sleeping with both Giancano and JFK who is also sleeping with Monroe. Written by
Jim Sadur <jsadur@keyflux.com>
Plot Summary
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Taglines:
It was their world. We just lived in it.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
'Tommy Davidson' auditioned for the role of Sammy Davis Jr.
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Goofs
On election night, Frank Sinatra is talking on a phone. The receiver is clearly connected to the phone wire with an RJ-11 jack. That kind of connection is common now but did not exist in 1960.
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Quotes
Frank Sinatra:
There's a reason why we're all here tonight...
Dean Martin:
You threatened us.
[
laughter]
Dean Martin:
Did he threaten you too Sammy?
Sammy Davis, Jr.:
Um, I refuse to answer that on the grounds that it might incinerate me baby.
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Connections
Referenced in
Sex at 24 Frames Per Second (2003)
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Soundtracks
"I've Got the World On A String"
Written by
Harold Arlen &
Ted Koehler
performed by
Michael Dees See more »
Most of us of a certain age will remember the events in this movie as newspaper headlines. I have no idea how much fictionalisation there is but the film does capture the mood of the time and the sleazy blend of Las Vegas show business, gangsterism and American politics. There is no attempt to get look alikes for the main roles but their personalities are suggested rather cleverly. In the smaller roles I thought Dan O'Herlihy was a standout as the evil, conniving Joe Kennedy. The musical numbers are well integrated into the plot and nicely done.