Frankie Goes To Hollywood

Slate has always been obsessed with The Sopranos, and as usual, they're featuring dialogues after every episode. Timothy Noah's latest entry discusses the Nancy Sinatra guest shot last Sunday. He thinks her dad would disapprove. As Noah explains, "The Chairman was reportedly furious when Mario Puzo wrote Johnny Fontaine, a thinly disguised Sinatra character, into The Godfather."

Hmm. While it's true in later years Sinatra liked to portray himself as a well-respected citizen, there seems to be plenty of evidence he not only knew many figures from the underworld, but actually cultivated their friendship.

What infuriated him about the Fontaine character is not that he's a stand-in for Sinatra, but the nasty particulars of his subplot. Fontaine is a heartthrob whose career is in the toilet. There's a perfect role for him in an upcoming film, but the producer hates him. The Don makes him an offer he can't refuse, and--voila--Johnny gets the part.

This is based on an old, ugly rumor. Fontaine represents Sinatra in the early 50s, career falling apart, seeking the role of Private Angelo Maggio in From Here To Eterinity.

The truth is Sinatra campaigned hard for the role. Allegedly, his wife (and big star) Ava Gardner put in a good word with Harry Cohn, and Eli Wallach turned down the role, clearing the way for Sinatra.

The movie was a huge hit, winning the Best Picture Oscar, as well as one for Sinatra. It revitalized his career. But no horse heads were involved in the making of this film.