THE RAT PACK
US, 1998, 120 minutes, Colour.
Ray Liotta, Joe Mantegna, Don Cheadle, Angus Mac Fadyen, William Peterson, Zeljko Ivanek, Bobby Slayton, Megan Dodds, Deborah Kara Unger, Veronica Cartwright, Dan O’ Herlihy.
Directed by Rob Cohen.
The Rat Pack is a film about Frank Sinatra and his friends, dubbed the Rat Pack in the early 1960s. They were friends, drank and gambled together, made films together.
Ray Liotta seems miscast as Frank Sinatra. However, Joe Mantegna gives a very good impression of Dean Martin and Don Cheadle won a Golden Globe for portraying Sammy Davis Jr. Angus Mac Fadyen is also strong as Peter Lawford and there is a cameo by William Peterson as John F. Kennedy. Zeljko Ivanek is earnest as Bobby Kennedy. Bobby Slayton takes a back seat as Joey Bishop, the least known of the Rat Pack. Mai Britt, Sammy Davis Jr’s wife, is played by Megan Dodds and Deborah Kara Unger is Ava Gardner.
The film shows the playboy attitudes of the Rat Pack. However, politics enter in with Peter Lawford being married to Patricia Kennedy. This was a means of introduction to John F. Kennedy for Frank Sinatra who decided to help him, was leaned on by Kennedy’s father Joseph Kennedy (Dan O’ Herlihy) to get his Mob connections to support his son’s nomination. However, Bobby Kennedy finally advises J.F. Kennedy to stay away from Frank Sinatra, even though Sinatra is building a special house for him to stay in in Palm Springs.
The race issue is also interestingly handled with a sympathetic Sammy Davis Jr and his love for actress Mai Britt, their planning to marry, the pressure on Sinatra not to attend because of the interracial marriage.
The film shows the cabaret work of the Rat Pack, especially in Las Vegas, as well as some of the scenes from Ocean’s Eleven – with a rather peremptory and dominating Frank Sinatra over the director, Lewis Milestone.
The film is interesting in its re-creation of the period – but the group, as a whole, doesn’t elicit a great deal of sympathy.
1.The interest in the Rat Pack? In Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, his friends? Their place in the 1960s, celebrities, with the Kennedys, the influence in American politics of the period? The Mafia? Film-making?
2.The re-creation of the period, the clubs, Las Vegas, film sets, politics and Washington, Palm Springs?
3.The songs, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, Dean Martin? The styles, the period, popular? Illustrating the characters? The close with ‘One for My Baby’?
4.The title, the name of the group, the five, their friendship, different backgrounds, interests, work in Las Vegas, in films? Their relationship with the press?
5.The skills of the five as entertainers, their reputations, the impersonations of their singing, acting, comedy?
6.Politics and J.F. Kennedy, Peter Lawford and the Kennedys, Frank Sinatra coming from Hoboken and wanting to come up in the world? Audience interest in the politics of the time, the Democrats, the possibility of a Catholic nomination for president? Dinners and the Kennedys, friends, influence? The work of the campaign – and the Rat Pack and their songs, Kennedy present at the concert, fundraising? The aftermath of the election, Lawford and his visits to Kennedy, pleading for Sinatra? Robert Kennedy, the information about the Mafia, about Giancarna and his relationship with Judy Campbell, J.F. Kennedy’s relationship with her? Hoover and his letters? Bobby Kennedy advising J.F.K. to not stay with Sinatra?
7.John F. Kennedy, his style, inspiration at the time, Jackie and her role? Peter Lawford and the campaign? The song ‘High Hopes’ and its use? The election, the problems, the Bay of Pigs? Kennedy sailing on his yacht with Sinatra, the sex discussions, the relationship with Marilyn Monroe, Jackie Kennedy and her not wanting the Rat Pack as guests?
8.Bobby Kennedy, his background? His role as attorney-general, Judy Campbell and Giancarna, the letter from Hoover, Kennedy and his avowed attack on the Mafia, his statements, warning his brother?
9.The Mafia and their types, their activities, connections, influence? The contemplation of hits or not?
10.Frank Sinatra and his career, the summary, his career in the 50s, the Academy Award, his films, as a singer, with Peter Lawford and the Kennedys, Sammy Davis and his support? The place of Joey Bishop in the group, the Jewish background? Talking with Dean Martin? Sinatra’s ambitions, moods, titles? Friends? Sexual partnerships, the resumption of his relationship with Ava Gardner, her drinking? His angers, fall from grace? The final song, ‘One for My Baby’ and one for the road?
11.Dean Martin, the impersonation, his career, the past with Jerry Lewis, as a singer, films, easygoing, being his own man, separating from the Mafia?
12.Peter Lawford, the British background, his film career, the marriage connections, a courier for Sinatra to Kennedy, his promiscuousness with women, Kennedy cutting him?
13.Sammy Davis and his career, the accident, his eye? Race issues? Meeting Mai Britt? The protests, his continually being the butt of jokes (even from the Rat Pack)? The plans for the wedding, Sinatra’s presence or not? Joseph Kennedy and his despising of Davis and warning Sinatra? Sammy Davis’s skills, singing and dancing?
14.Joey Bishop, Jewish comedy?
15.Ava Gardner, her life, career, relationship with Sinatra, the broken marriage, her drinking, the relationship?
16.The Rat Pack as a phenomenon of the period, American interest, admiration, celebrities? In retrospect?
