Product Details

• Actors: Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (PCM Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Warner Bros / Wea
• DVD Release Date: June 8, 1999
• Run Time: 50 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305459576
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #76,245 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video

This 1973 televised concert announced to the world that Frank Sinatra's retirement was over. In a setting that balances the intimacy of nightclubs with a concert hall layout, Sinatra (backed by a 40 piece orchestra led by Gordon Jenkins and Don Costa) confidently delivers a slate of quintessentially Frank tunes: "I Get a Kick Out of You," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "I've Got the World on a String," and a short medley of ballads. A series of "singing sailor" film clips introduces guest star Gene Kelly, who joins Sinatra in a self-effacing song and dance number called, "We Can't Do That Anymore," followed by a gentle Kelly tap dance to Sinatra's rendition of "Nice and Easy." Having mined the past, Sinatra looks to the future with three new numbers: "Let Me Try Again," the beautiful "Send in the Clowns," and "You Will Be My Music." Sinatra's voice is no longer in its prime, but his phrasing and showmanship are topnotch and his interaction with an audience nice and easy. The Chairman of the Board wasn't just back, he was back on top singing his songs. --Sean Axmaker

Product Description

Studio: Wea-des Moines Video Release Date: 06/08/1999 Rating: Nr

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW! this is a SHOW., March 24, 2004

By	jason_francisco "jason_francisco" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

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after viewing this DVD twice, i cannot but say, this is truly a gem. this represents the lost era of american pop music. in this age of rap and hard rock, the gentleness, the elegance, the 40 piece big band. a time when ladies wore night gown and gentlemen wore black tie to show like this.... no more. i encourage young people below 30 to watch this... to learn about a time when there was good manner, elegance.

back to the DVD. sinatra may be a bit older but still sings great. gordon jenkins and don costa's big band (with string) provided superb support. also, to my surprise, i saw a few famous faces in the audience. i saw fred astaire, sammy davis jr. Lucy Ball plus many others i can't recall their names but know that they are movie stars of some sorts......

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Difficult to resist, January 28, 2004

By	Vincent T. Lynch "vtl" (Falls Church, Virginia USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Yes, it is always difficult for me to resist peformances by Frank Sinatra. I always imagined I would dislike him, personally, but there is no question that he is one of the finest performers of his era.

This television special is a must-have for any Sinatra buff. After all, it's from when he came out of retirement in front of an all-star audience.

There's a very nice balance between what was new material from arguably his finest album (of the same title -- particularly including "You Will Be My Music", "Let Me Try Again", and "Send In The Clowns") and Sinatra standards (who can resist his joy in singing "I Get A Kick Out Of You", "I've Got You Under My Skin", or "I've Got The World On A String"). The saloon segment is typically sentimental Sinatra.

The segment with Gene Kelly is great fun! Their personal pleasure in working together is quite evident, and the blend of flash-back scenes to the MGM years and their ability to still do a few dance steps is charming.

The video quality is good for the era, but too bad it had not been recorded in stereo. However, it's difficult to imagine many people not enjoying this delightful trip into the past, and certainly one of the best television performances by a performer who didn't always shine in that medium.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than ever!, July 13, 2003

By	Candace Scott (Lake Arrowhead, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frank Sinatra - Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back [VHS] (VHS Tape)

While it's true that Frank in 1973 didn't have the vocal range or exuberance from the Capitol years, his phrasing, intonation and presence were still wonderfully intact. His ability to convey emotion in a song is unsurpassed. I'm one of the few Sinatra fans who actually prefers his Reprise period and think his voice became more resonant, deeper and expressive as he aged. Certainly he couldn't sing as exquisitely as he had in 1955, but he added a world-weary pathos and life experience to his performances as he entered his sixth decade.

The format of this performance is intimate and interesting; it's not just Frank swinging in front of an orchestra on stage. The camera does many close ups which capture Sinatra's ability to convey the meaning of a lyric not just in phrasing, but in facial expression. It's fascinating because we usually only hear Frank sing, we don't see him when listening to a record. The highlight has to be "Send in the Clowns," which is a bare-bones and nearly definitive interpretation of this song, which in 1973 was still brand new. Who else can bring such remarkable clarity and emotion when singing? No one!

The segment with Gene Kelly is interesting and their chemistry is obvious. It's interesting to contrast how Kelly's dancing ability had radically declined and that Sinatra's vocal majestry hadn't diminished since their initial onscreen pairing in 1945.

If you appreciate the older, more mature Sinatra, then by all means purchase this video. I've watched it several times and enjoy it immensely. It makes us wish there was someone today... anyone... who could sing like this amazing man.