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 Roles turned down by Frank Sinatra:

Born Yesterday (1970s)
In 1970, there were talks of Sinatra playing he uncouth gangster "Harry" to Barbra Streisand's dumb-as-a-fox "Billie" in a musical movie based on the famous play.
Actor who got the part: Project Abandoned

Carousel
Recorded the songs and began filming the movie version of the hit musical, but walked out when he learned he had to do the film once for widescreen and once for regular-size screens.
Actor who got the part: Gordon MacRae

Casino Royale (1967)
Frank Sinatra was supposed to have a cameo in this movie.

Death Wish
Frank Sinatra was offered the role of vigilante Paul Kersey.
Actor who got the part: Charles Bronson

Dirty Harry
Frank Sinatra turned down the lead role.
Actor who got the part: Clint Eastwood

Easter Parade
Frank Sinatra was originally cast in Easter Parade as Jonathan Harrow III.
Actor who got the part: Peter Lawford

Flaming Star
The Western about a man with a white father and a Kiowa mother was envisioned for Sinatra or also for Marlon Brando.
Actor who got the part: Elvis Presley

The Fortune Cookie
Director Billy Wilder proposed Sinatra as Jack Lemmon's co-star in the sports comedy, but Lemmon insisted on Walter Matthau.
Actor who got the part: Walter Matthau

Funny Girl
Although seriously considered for the role of gambler, crook, and ladies' man Nicky Arnstein, the gifted, demanding Sinatra was vetoed by star Barbra Streisand who respected his talent but did not like him personally.
Actor who got the part: Omar Sharif

The Godfather
Sinatra lobbied hard for the role of Don Vito Corleone but Coppola & company wanted an actor with a "bigger" screen presence to fill the larger-than-life role.
Actor who got the part: Marlon Brando

The Godfather: Part III
Frank Sinatra turned down the role of Don Altobello.
Actor who got the part: Eli Wallach

The Graduate
Frank Sinatra was considered for the role of Mr. Robinson.
Actor who got the part: Murray Hamilton

Guys and Dolls
Hotly pursued the role of gambler "Sky Masterson," but lost out.
Actor who got the part: Marlon Brando

The Hustler
Frank Sinatra wanted to play the part of hustler Eddie Felson.
Actor who got the part: Paul Newman

The Music Man
Sinatra was the studio's top choice to play "Harold Hill" in the movie version of the Broadway smash hit.
Actor who got the part: Robert Preston

North By Northwest
Was considered as a possibility to star as the wrong man sent running across America is Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller.
Actor who got the part: Cary Grant

The Odd Couple
Sinatra's friendship with producer Howard Koch unraveled when Sinatra lost the role he badly wanted in the movie version of Neil Simon's play. Reportedly, the singer-actor wanted too much money.
Actor who got the part: Walter Matthau

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
According to Christopher Andersen's book "Barbra: the Way She Is", Frank Sinatra was considered for the part of Dr Marc Chabot.
Actor who got the part: Yves Montand

On The Waterfront
Frank Sinatra was signed for the role of Terry Malloy after Marlon Brando initially turned it down because of director Elia Kazan's testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee but producer Sam Spiegel continued to push for Brando and he eventually was convinced to take the part.
Actor who got the part: Marlon Brando

The Only Game in Town
Walked off the George Stevens-directed film after he began production.
Actor who got the part: Warren Beatty

The Pajama Game
Turned down the role of the factory foreman in the movie version of the hit Broadway musical.
Actor who got the part: John Raitt

Some Like It Hot
Was director Billy Wilder's first choice to play musician on the run from the mob, "Jerry/Daphne."
Actor who got the part: Tony Curtis

The Verdict
Sinatra was considered for a part in the movie.

What a Way to Go!
First choice to play "Rod Anderson," but the studio balked at his fee.
Actor who got the part: Robert Mitchum

What Makes Sammy Run?
One of the first actors to be mentioned as the star of a possible movie version of Budd Schulberg's 1941 novel about an amoral manipulator who scams his way to the top of the movie business.
Actor who got the part: Project Abandoned






Did you know that Frank Sinatra was not the only choice for these movies? (click to learn more)
» From Here to Eternity
» Guys and Dolls
» The Man with the Golden Arm
» Pal Joey

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