The Sinatra Kidnapping
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Bill Kurtis
Dave Abott
Ralph Beerhorst
Michael Cascio
Ted Esko
Mark Eveslage
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Examines the kidnapping of Frank Sinatra Jr. from Harrah's Casino in Lake Tahoe, Nevada on December 8, 1963. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, FBI director J. Edgar Hoover and Chicago mob boss Sam Giancana all phoned Sinatra Sr. to offer their help. Over the next 53 hours, Frank Sr. took a series of calls from the kidnappers. He paid $240,000 in ransom and his son was safely returned on December 10th. The three kidnappers, Barry Keenan, Joseph Amsler and John Irwin, were in custody by December 14th. As the trial approached, defense attorneys hinted that Frank Sinatra Jr. had a hand in the abduction as a way of getting publicity for his new singing career. All three defendants were convicted but the "publicity stunt" defense has haunted Frank Jr. Twenty-five years later, Frank Jr. has filed a lawsuit to prevent the kidnappers from making money off a feature film about the abduction.
