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This is your source for news, links and notes from our program celebrating the life and career of the Entertainer of the 20th Century.

Video Episode 3: The House I Live In

I've released video episodes of The Frank Truth so infrequently that in over three years of Podcasting we're now up to only number 3 - but this one's a doozy.

On September 11th of 1945, Frank Sinatra made The House I Live In - a short film in which he portrays himself, teaching the American values of tolerance and unity to a group of kids on the street. According to Nancy Sinatra's excellent book Frank Sinatra: An American Legend "The film was written by Albert Maltz, produced by Frank Ross and directed by Mervyn LeRoy, but it was Dad's baby from start to finish."

In the last post, I linked to the video from the Internet Archive site. I decided that I'd also put it in the Podcast feed, so that people who don't visit this site can view it.

I believe that the film gives us some insight into the character of Frank Sinatra. Though the ideals expressed might find little vocal opposition in our society today, these were fairly radical notions for an entertainer to champion in 1945 - and Sinatra paid the price for getting on the wrong side of right-leaning newspapers of the day.

I think this film really demonstrates Sinatra's way with a lyric too. The song, penned by Lewis Allan and Earl Robinson, has long been an inspiration to me. I hope that the film will provoke some thought (and perhaps some measure of soul searching) as well.

I'd love to hear your reactions and views. Feel free to leave comments here on the Weblog, send me an email to frankfeedback@gmail.com or call our listener comment line at (312) 235-2139.

Click here to download the MP4.

IMDB Page

Internet Archive Page

Wikipedia Page