His massive popularity had begun to fade and his fans were getting older. His movie career had been very successful but
he was usually cast awkwardly as a “shy afraid of girls” kind of young
man” and now he was getting rather too old for this. He wanted
to do something more substantial than light musicals.
He also was involved in an affair with Ava Gardner which impinged on his
popularity. He had been married for a
long time to Nancy Barbato, his childhood sweetheart, and was devoted to their
children, but he was always a womaniser.
He was idolised by young girls,
during the early years of his singing career and he took full advantage of
the opportunities....
However, he fell deeply in love with Ava, and she with him, though she
was a very independent woman, who took lovers, to please herself…
Frank adored her and was willing to leave his wife and children for
her. His marital difficulties caused
many of his fans to turn against him, because he was seen as deserting a
devoted wife, and his kids - for a home wrecker...
He hoped to revive his movie career by getting a serious acting part, and
he focused on the upcoming adaptation of “From Here to Eternity” by James
Jones. He believed that he could play
the character Maggio, a young screwed up man from the wrong side of the tracks. He fought hard to get the part and it is rumoured that he only got a try out for it, because of Ava Gardner's influence in the movie business. However, when he got the role, he showed that he really could act.. and won an Academy Award. He began to get more solid acting roles...
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