SUMMARY
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Palm Springs, a small desert oasis 100 miles East of Los Angeles was Sinatra's true home for 50 years. During his brief yet turbulent marriage to Ava Gardner his Palm Springs home was center stage. For the rest of his life, the Rancho Mirage compound on Frank Sinatra Drive, was the home he called “My Heaven”. Palm Springs still feels the ghost of Frank Sinatra.
SYNOPSIS
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“Sinatra in Palm Springs – The Place He Called Home”, a documentary film by Leo Zahn, explores Frank Sinatra’s deep attachment to Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley, his primary home for almost 50 years. The film captures the spirit of the Sinatra era and pays tribute to the unique lifestyle of Sinatra’s Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage.
Steeped in affection and appreciation for the deep bond between Sinatra and these beguiling desert towns, “Sinatra in Palm Springs” tells the story of a man whose generosity and compassion for his fellow citizens had no bounds. He loved the desert and its people. He loved the local restaurants and bars. His best friends lived nearby. Revealing interviews bring to life a bygone era . . . beginning with the post WWII years and Sinatra’s 1947 home in Palm Springs, tumultuous times with Ava Gardner, his 1954 move to Cathedral City/Rancho Mirage, his marriage to Barbara, and life at the “compound”.
More than 50 clips from his movies and television appearances bring to life the Sinatra of legend during the Palm Springs years. Major sequences are dedicated to historic restaurants Sinatra frequented for decades. Featuring interviews with Barbara Sinatra, Mel Haber, Tom Dreesen, Nelda Linsk, Bruce Fessier, Trini Lopez, Michael Fletcher and many others who knew and lived and played with Frank Sinatra.
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DIRECTOR BIO
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Leo Zahn attended the USC Cinema Film School Los Angeles. He began his film career as director and editor of short-form promos and making-of featurettes for Hollywood studios. Based in Los Angeles full time Leo transitioned into advertising, directing commercials filmed in the US, Canada and Europe, specializing in fashion, lifestyle, beverages, table-top and toys.
Over the course of his 30-year career Leo directed and photographed more than
600 commercials. He was awarded the International Cinema Advertising CLIO
and the Creativity Award from British Art Direction Magazine and has been a
member of the Directors Guild of America since 1988. In 1996 Leo directed
the pilot for the “Cobra 11” television series for RTL Network.
The series just completed its 20th season and is shown in 25 countries.​
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In 2014 he was a working group member of the Motion Picture Academy (AMPAS)
Science and Technology Council, charged with creating test materials for the Next
Generation Cinema Technology (NGCT) program.
His first feature-length documentary "Desert Maverick" premiered during
Modernism Week 2016. The film was Official Selection at Newport Beach and
American Documentary Festival and won "Best Documentary" at the 2016
Laughlin International Film festival. Leo’s 2nd feature length documentary
"Sinatra in Palm Springs" had its World Premiere with two sold-out screenings
during Modernism Week 2018 and was Official Selection of Santa Fe, Phoenix,
Pasadena, Newport Beach, Albuquerque, New York and Amsterdam festivals.
“Sinatra in Palm Springs” was released in North America by Shout!Factory in
June 2019 after a 10-month theatrical run in selected theatres in Southern
California, Arizona and Florida. His 3rd documentary film "Iconicity" premiered at
the 2020 Palm Springs International Film festival und was Official Selection at 9 film festivals across the globe. His 4th feature documentary film "The Green Desert" had its World Premiere at the Palm Springs International Film Festival 2024.​
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