Sinatra’s Rat Pack Style

When I was growing up every man wanted to be as suave as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin who were the epitome of style and smooth crooning vocals. In the 1950s and 1960s, the popularity of the infamous Rat Pack’s antics, on stage and screen, with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop, captured the public’s attention. They were the ‘gold standard’ of hip and cool – confident and independent self-made men who rose to the top through their own merits.

Always setting the standard in style, either formal or casual, they wore it with a sign of confidence and respect. All of them were self-made men from humble beginnings who rose to the top through talent and hard work. They were the leaders of their time in entertainment, recordings, stage, Las Vegas, film, and TV.

Other members of the Rat Pack were the so-called “Mascots”: Marilyn Monroe, Angie Dickinson, Juliet Prowse, Buddy Greco, Jimmy Van Heusen, Shirley MacLaine, Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, Jill St. John, and others.

Frank Sinatra (1915-1989) singer, and actor, was one of the most popular entertainers in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. Nicknamed ‘Chairman of the Board’ and ‘Ole’ Blue Eyes’. He made it big as a singer and in the movies. One of the best-selling recording artists in history. Sinatra formed the Rat Pack to continue the Bogart Rat Pack and for publicity to maintain his cool and hip image. Awards- 11 Grammys, Oscar, 4 Golden Globes.

Dean Martin (1917-1995) singer, actor, stage, film, TV, ‘The King of Cool’. One of the most popular entertainers in the 20^th Century. Made it big by teaming up with Jerry Lewis on stage and film. Had two popular TV shows.

Sammy Davis, Jr. (1925-1990) dancer, singer, actor, stage, film, TV, civil rights activist. Awards – 2 Grammys, 5 Emmy nominations.

Peter Lawford (1923-1984) British leading man actor, film, TV. Brother-in-law of President John F. Kennedy.

Joey Bishop (1918-2007) comedian, actor, stage, film, and TV. Had three popular TV shows.

The original 1950s Rat Pack was the Holmby Hills Rat Pack which included Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, David Niven, Clifton Webb, Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and others. “Associate” members included Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Jerry Lewis, Angie Dickinson, Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, Marilyn Monroe, and others.

Movies with Rat Pack members and associates working together include:

Artists and Models (1955) (Dean Martin, Shirley MacLaine)
Around the World in 80 Days (1956) (Frank Sinatra, MacLaine)
Some Came Running (1958) (Sinatra, Martin, MacLaine)
Kings Go Forth (1958) (Sinatra, Tony Curtis)
Never So Few (1959) (Sinatra, Peter Lawford)
Rio Bravo (1959) (Martin, Angie Dickinson)
Some Like It Hot (1959) (Curtis, Marilyn Monroe)
Career (1959) (Martin, MacLaine)
Ocean’s 11 (1960) (Sinatra, Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Lawford, Joey Bishop, Dickinson, MacLaine)
Who Was That Lady (1960) (Martin, Curtis, Janet Leigh)
Can-Can (1960) (Sinatra, MacLaine, Juliet Prowse)
Pepe (1960) (Sinatra, Martin, Davis, Lawford, Bishop, Curtis, Leigh)
All In a Night’s Work (1961) (Martin, MacLaine)
Sergeants 3 (1962) (Sinatra, Martin, Davis, Lawford, Bishop)
The Manchurian Candidate (1962) (Sinatra, Leigh)
Some Things Got to Give (1962) (Martin, Monroe)
Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed (1963) (Martin, Jill St. John)
Come Blow Your Horn (1963) (Sinatra, Martin, St. John)
Johnny Cool (1963) (Davis, Bishop, Lawford)
4 for Texas (1963) (Sinatra, Martin)
Who’s Been In My Bed (1963) (Martin, St. John)
Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964) (Sinatra, Martin, Davis)
What a Way to Go (1964) (Martin, MacLaine)
Marriage on the Rocks (1965) (Sinatra, Martin)
A Man Called Adam (1966) (Davis, Lawford)
Texas Across the River (1966) (Martin, Bishop)
Tony Rome (1967) (Sinatra, St. John)
Salt and Pepper (1968) (Davis, Lawford)
Sweet Charity (1969) (Davis, MacLaine)
Young Billy Young (1969) (Martin, Dickinson)
One More Time (1970) (Davis, Lawford)
The Cannonball Run (1981) (Martin, Davis)
Cannonball Run II (1984) (Sinatra, Martin, Davis, MacLaine)