Frank Sinatra in his last major acting role. Here he is Detective Sergeant Doheny, a retired New York cop who learns that his granddaughter was kidnapped and murdered by vicious sexual predators. He tracks them to Hawaii and enlists Magnum's help without telling him why he wants to find the men. After Magnum realizes what is going on, he goes along hoping to find the killer first. Considering it is a television movie of just forty five minutes, it is very well done and in the final scenes it comes clear why Sinatra was famous as a one-take actor. He steals every scene he is in. A very good piece of acting by the Great Frank Sinatra. It is sad though how this DVD has been promoted. On the Magnum p.i. seventh season box nothing is said that Frank Sinatra appears in what it could be easily considered as the best episode of the series. Besides that, when it aired for the first time it was hugely successful, giving the cover of the TV Guide to both Frank Sinatra and Tom Selleck.
7 Reviews
WOW! Sinatra on Magnum P. I.
bmiller591 March 2021
How cool to record a few of the old Magnum episodes and one of them had The Chairman of the Board guest starring on it. Though I'm old enough to have seen most of Sinatra's shows, I didn't know he was on an episode of Magnum.
He was great, the tough persona he played in so many roles.
The old guard (Sinatra) and the new (Selleck), I really enjoyed it.
He was great, the tough persona he played in so many roles.
The old guard (Sinatra) and the new (Selleck), I really enjoyed it.
One of the more classic episodes....
dd-660567 June 2020
I thought this episode of Magnum, P. I. was one of the more classic episodes in the show's history. To me Frank Sinatra was just absolutely everything. As a kid you don't think anything of it other than its Frank Sinatra the singer. He's sung with all the greats or all the greats sang with him or you just didn't amount to much. Even Michael Jackson the King of Pop sang with the guy! So it was awesome. Sinatra was King of Cool. A tough guy's tough guy. And to me he was great in this episode as Dohenny. I'm pretty sure he was on the show one more time reprising his role as Dohenny before he cashed in his chips. Clearly Sinatra was on the downhill side of a great career in Hollywood and music period. But people still loved him. Wanted to see him and just enjoyed him overall. That's why I think this character and his role in the episode overall was great. Sinatra brought his A game like always. Here's to the Chairman of the Board forever. Salute Sir!
4-F Sinatra in another tough guy role
thwrtr195 August 2019
Aside from the plot, etc., from this episode, what undermines everything is that Sinatra---4-F during WW II, and never made any effort to bypass the odorous/embarrassing classification (punctured eardrum) after the US was attacked, again is shown as a tough guy on the screen. Couldn't stand any of his performances in such a fraudulent role... accepting such a role. A slap in the face to all the people who quietly DID serve our country.
Don't mess around with ol' blue eyes (aka Frank Sinatra)
safenoe21 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Frank Sinatra is the special guest star (as the credits state) in Laura, one of the final episodes of season 7. Frank's performance isn't half bad, and it' a shame there was no spin-off series featuring his character, Sgt. Michael Doheny. Anyway, Donehy is somewhat brutal, smashing a shaggy guy's head in the window. Donehy's brutality towards the end to avenge his granddaughter's death was quite brutal and would have made Death Wish proud. I wonder about the police cover-up at the end.
Anyway, there appears to be an in-joke where Rick's camera is damaged during a brawl featuring Donehy. According to imdb, Larry Manetti (who plays Rick) interrupted a scene featuring Sinatra when his camera flashed.
Anyway, there appears to be an in-joke where Rick's camera is damaged during a brawl featuring Donehy. According to imdb, Larry Manetti (who plays Rick) interrupted a scene featuring Sinatra when his camera flashed.
Depressing but good
feindlicheubernahme23 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
When "Laura" began, I got slightly carried away by the coincidence of happening to be watching a Christmas episode just two days before Christmas. I thought it would be a jolly old time. In fact, the rest of the episode isn't set in the festive season and it turns out to have the darkest backstory of the entire series. But it's still well worth watching.
For a start, it provides the first occasion for me to see Frank Sinatra act, as I've never watched any of his films. He does a pretty good job, in my humble opinion. His age and obvious weariness suit the character of Doheny and what he's been through. He runs the show, with Magnum and Rick always being one step behind.
The bad guys are very much secondary - even tertiary - characters who are only onscreen for a few minutes, which is probably for the best. Given the unspeakable nature of their crime, I certainly don't feel any desire for more face time or character development. And even as someone who disagrees strongly with vigilantism and personal justice, I can't help but feel that they get exactly what they deserve.
So, not the cheery Xmas treat I was expecting, but a solid, downbeat episode, featuring a true legend. According to his filmography, this is the last time that Sinatra played a fictional character in something rather than appearing as himself. A very respectable way to go out.
For a start, it provides the first occasion for me to see Frank Sinatra act, as I've never watched any of his films. He does a pretty good job, in my humble opinion. His age and obvious weariness suit the character of Doheny and what he's been through. He runs the show, with Magnum and Rick always being one step behind.
The bad guys are very much secondary - even tertiary - characters who are only onscreen for a few minutes, which is probably for the best. Given the unspeakable nature of their crime, I certainly don't feel any desire for more face time or character development. And even as someone who disagrees strongly with vigilantism and personal justice, I can't help but feel that they get exactly what they deserve.
So, not the cheery Xmas treat I was expecting, but a solid, downbeat episode, featuring a true legend. According to his filmography, this is the last time that Sinatra played a fictional character in something rather than appearing as himself. A very respectable way to go out.
Hey...that's Frank Sinatra!
grantss17 August 2019
A Magnum P.I. episode only notable for one thing: the guest appearance of Frank Sinatra. Sinatra plays a retired cop who's out to find and take vengeance upon the murderer of his granddaughter. Other than that it's pretty much a standard Magnum P.I. episode.
The problem is that Sinatra more detracts than adds to the quality of the episode. Not that his performance is bad: it's okay, though not brilliant. The problems are Sinatra's age and his presence.
Sinatra was 71 years old at the time the episode was shot, and looked it. Yet there he is, being the tough guy, beating up bad guys. It just seemed so implausible.
The fact that a part was played by the great Frank Sinatra, a colossus in the entertainment industry, was a major distraction. Every scene he was in I kept thinking "Show some respect, that's Frank Sinatra!". I could never get into his character, or even think of him as his character, such was the mental block.
Otherwise, the episode is good, though not brilliant.
The problem is that Sinatra more detracts than adds to the quality of the episode. Not that his performance is bad: it's okay, though not brilliant. The problems are Sinatra's age and his presence.
Sinatra was 71 years old at the time the episode was shot, and looked it. Yet there he is, being the tough guy, beating up bad guys. It just seemed so implausible.
The fact that a part was played by the great Frank Sinatra, a colossus in the entertainment industry, was a major distraction. Every scene he was in I kept thinking "Show some respect, that's Frank Sinatra!". I could never get into his character, or even think of him as his character, such was the mental block.
Otherwise, the episode is good, though not brilliant.
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