Frank Sinatra, the iconic singer, found himself in dire straits at the age of 19 as he tried to kickstart his singing career.
Facing homelessness and hunger, Sinatra was convinced to participate in a pornographic film, shedding light on a lesser-known chapter of his life.
This revelation comes from Darwin Porter, a biographer who has delved deep into Sinatra’s past for his latest work, “Frank Sinatra, The Boudoir Singer.”
In 1934, Sinatra received a meager sum of $100 for his involvement in a film titled “The Masked Bandit.”
Despite the financial benefit, Sinatra harbored a sense of shame and secrecy about this episode throughout his lifetime, hoping that it would remain concealed from the public eye.
According to Porter’s research, the disclosure about Sinatra’s brief stint in the p^rn industry came from British actor Peter Lawford, a close friend and member of the Rat Pack, a group that included luminaries like Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr.
Lawford shared with Porter how Davis, an avid collector of illicit films during a time when they were not openly sold, possessed a copy of “The Masked Bandit.”
At a gathering in 1972 among celebrity acquaintances, Davis orchestrated a mischievous prank by incorporating snippets of the explicit film into the notorious “Deep Throat” movie reel, catching Sinatra off guard.
Sinatra, disguised in the film, remained unknown to everyone present except for Lawford, Davis, and himself.
Despite the jesting nature of the Rat Pack’s camaraderie, Sinatra did not take the prank lightly.
He concealed his vexation, realizing that severing ties with Davis might lead to the exposure of his clandestine past.
Eventually, Davis relented and agreed to dispose of his copy of the incriminating film.
Porter also delves into Sinatra’s rumored connections with the Mafia, revealing that a section of “The Masked Bandit” was contemplated for inclusion in a film featuring stars like Joan Crawford who had ventured into adult films before achieving stardom.
Sinatra promptly intervened, enlisting the help of his mob associates to ensure the footage never resurfaced.
As noted by James Kaplan, author of “Frank: The Making of a Legend,” there is scant mention of the pornographic film in the annals of Sinatra’s history.
However, it is evident that during the early 1930s, Sinatra faced significant challenges before his career gained momentum in the subsequent decade.
His breakthrough came in 1954 when he clinched an Oscar for his role in “From Here To Eternity,” marking a pivotal moment in his illustrious career.
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