For the first time, the full story of what happened when Frank brought his best pals to party in a land called VegasJanuary 1960. Las Vegas is at its smooth, cool peak. The Strip is a jet-age theme park, and the greatest singer in the history of American popular music summons a group of friends there to make a movie. One is an insouciant singer of Italian songs, ex-partner to the most … ex-partner to the most popular film comedian of the day. One is a short, black, Jewish, one-eyed, singing, dancing wonder. One is an upper-crust British pretty boy turned degenerate B-movie star actor, brother-in-law to an ascendant politician. And one is a stiff-shouldered comic with the quintessential Borscht Belt emcee’s knack for needling one-liners. The architectonically sleek marquee of the Sands Hotel announces their presence simply by listing their names: FRANK SINATRA. DEAN MARTIN. SAMMY DAVIS, JR. PETER LAWFORD. JOEY BISHOP. Around them an entire cast gathers: actors, comics, singers, songwriters, gangsters, politicians, and women, as well as thousands of starstruck everyday folks who fork over pocketfuls of money for the privilege of basking in their presence. They call themselves The Clan. But to an awed world, they are known as The Rat Pack.
They had it all. Fame. Gorgeous women. A fabulouse playground of a city and all the money in the world. The backing of fearsome crime lords and the blessing of the President of the United States. But the dark side–over the thin line between pleasure and debauchery, between swinging self-confidence and brutal arrogance–took its toll. In four years, their great ride was over, and showbiz was never the same.
Acclaimed Jerry Lewis biographer Shawn Levy has written a dazzling portrait of a time when neon brightness cast sordid shadows. It was Frank’s World, and we just lived in it.
more
TMI. Details of Vegas added little of interest. Much of information has been generally known for years. They were not a particularly interesting group
A lot of information about the characters.
Loved the stories about the Rat Pack
I’ve always loved the era of the Rat Pack. I enjoyed getting to know them and sorting through their legend.
I would give this book an easy FIVE STARS but in the end, these guys were pigs and that’s not what I wanted to get from this book when I bought it. Sure, I knew they were ‘naughty’ but the reality of their lives depicted here was at best, depressing.
some interesting details to help sort out what happened in the 60s and revealing items on JFK and the Rat Pack. A bit breathless in approach, but informative.
Doesn’t read well and not as interesting as it sounds.
I did not finish reading this book. I’m not sure if all that it claims is true because the people that it involves are no longer alive. I found the book disgusting and deleted it from my Kindle half way through.
Enjoyed all the gossip!
Meh. Not much new here. Chunks of time missing from the chronology and it struck me as somewhat mean spirited.