Like many people, I have mixed feelings about Sinatra. Someone once said he was a greater actor than a singer: he created a character and acted out his songs. I certainly agree he was an outstanding actor, as in "From Here to Eternity" or "Man With Golden Arm" — a disappointing film but a great performance. I also love him in "Guys and Dolls." A very complicated guy, and at his best really dedicated and artistic. But he totally could not get the huge transformation of the 60s. That fact put him into a box for the whole last part of his career and he was marginalized.
Yet here is Frank at his televised 80th birthday party listening to Bob Dylan singing a very long adaptation of an Irish folk song that Dylan wrote when he was in his early 20s. And from what has been said about this show, Frank loved it. In fact, he had specifically requested that Dylan sing this song. That was the authentically artistic side of Frank, not the ring-a-ding-ding bullshit.
As the camera pans across the worthies in attendance, you’ll see many you’d expect: Tommy LaSorda, Don Rickles etc. But no Dean Martin! Not long before this event Frank and Dean had a big argument when Frank was pissed off about Dean’s lack of effort on a farewell tour they were doing with Sammy Davis. So Dean just left the tour. Supposedly they made up eventually. Many nights Dean could be found alone at a table at the Hamburger Hamlet on Sunset Blvd watching television. If you asked if you could join him, he would politely decline and say he was waiting for someone.
Readers of Dylan’s book "Chronicles" know that one of his greatest gifts is to see what’s positive in almost any act, including the Kingston Trio, or the Royal Teens doing "Short Shorts." He certainly saw what was great in giants like Elvis and Frank — yet unlike Bob, neither of them both wrote and sang. Bob is the king!