How did she manage that? Despite Joey being the clear main character here, I also thought Sinatra was bigger than Rita at the time, he was an Oscar winning actor just coming off successful films like Guys and Dolls and High Society and she had taken a break for a few years so I was surprised to see she still had that big of a clout to get top billing over Frank Sinatra.
shareAlthough I have yet to see this film, I just finished reading 'Rita Hayworth: A Photographic Retrospective' and it mentions just this point -
Sinatra was extremely gracious when the subject of billing came up. Expecting fireworks, Columbia executives were surprised when Sinatra conceded top billing to Rita. "Rita Hayworth is Columbia," he stated.
I believe Rita Hayworth's Columbia contract stipulated that she would always take top-billing. However her star was on the wane at the time and Sinatra had the clout to demand top spot but, as darkangel says, he graciously agreed to take second billing.
He did something similar a few years later when working with Spencer Tracy on The Devil At 4' 0 Clock-Tracy's recent movies had all failed at the box office and Sinatra could have insisted on taking top-billing but Tracy was one of his idols so Frank was happy to allow him to take top billing.
Sinatra may have had the reputation of being difficult and arrogant but, from what I have read, the reality was very different-he had the occasional bust up with co-stars (eg Marlon Brando) but in most cases his co-stars found him to be a very easy man to work with who was also kind and generous. Trevor Howard for example was apparently nervous about working with Sinatra on Von Ryan's Express because he had heard he could be difficult but he found it very easy to work with Frank. A fair few directors may not have enjoyed working withSinatra but most of his fellow actors had no problems at all.
Sinatra took second or third billing a few times, under the stipulation that he be paid more than anyone else. Or so I've read.
share