MULTIPLE SAMMY DAVIS, JR. PROJECTS PLANNED

'OCEAN'S THIRTEEN' WEEK CONTINUES!

Studios always have dueling film projects. Look up Truman Capote, Alexander the Great and Christopher Columbus at imdb and you'll see. The New York Times reports that there's four separate features in the works based on the life of Sammy Davis, Jr. - the REAL hardest workin' man in showbiz.

I've always said that the life of Sammy Davis, Jr. was worthy of a film or TV mini-series. I mean, the guy did it all - a child performer/hoofer; a teenage crooner; perfected talents in the Will Mastin Trio as a young adult before going into the army (where he was confronted by strong racial prejudice); endured an awful car crash in 1954 that took his eye; became a charter member of Sinatra's Rat Pack; married white actress May Britt to the disdain of a racially-divided nation; famously supported Republican President Richard M. Nixon and endured lung cancer, passing away in 1990. What more he danced his booty off, did awesome impressions, churned out tune after swingin' tune. And sang 'em right up until the day he got sick.

I've always said that The Rat Pack guys are the hardest to capture on screen. They embodied an effortless swagger that just can't be reproduced. If, by chance, someone can duplicate it, they usually look nothing like them. It's a tough sell. Need proof? The HBO biopic "The Rat Pack" seemed like such a farce because everyone was so woefully miscast.

Ray Liotta as Frank Sinatra was laughable and Joe Mantegna's Dino bordered on pantomime. While the always-dependable Don Cheadle's award-winning turn as Sammy Davis was the best aspect of the so-so film, his frame was all wrong. Sammy was a little little dude. I didn't buy it.

In any case, the four Davis projects consist of:

"In Black and White" - Denzel Washington stars in and may direct Wil Haywood's biography for Universal. NO! Washington, while a top thesp, is NOT Sammy.

"Sammy and Kim" - Andre Benjamin (aka Andre 3000) stars in the film which deals with Davis's affair with actress Kim Novak in the '50s. If Andre is up for the challenge and I believe he may be, he'll snag an Oscar nod for sure. Not only do they sort of look the same, but he's got natural dance talent. Sammy was a hoofer of the highest order. My money's on this project.

"Yes, I Can" - Based on Davis 1965 autobiography, this is the project that Davis's widow has endorsed. The source material here is perhaps the best, but they REALLY REALLY need to get someone to fill the shoes. I nominate Tommy Davidson who can prove that Jamie Foxx ain't the only one with acting chops from "In Living Color."

"Yes, I Can" Documentary - A documentary also based on the 1965 autobiography and Burt Boyar's filmed interviews with Davis.

Now sit back and enjoy some of the WHAM of SAM ...