Customer Reviews

Movin' with Nancy

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Nancy Sinatra=attitude, and this wonderful DVD bubbles over with it. From the very beginning NBC Color Peacock through the final "This has been an NBC Presentation," "Movin' With Nancy" takes the viewer back in time to a modder, madder time.

The cinematography sparkles throughout, in a fantastic transfer that gives the illusion that the footage was shot a few days ago, not a few decades ago. The songs--from the opening "Gotta Get Out of This Town" through such Nancy hits as "Sugar Town" and "Friday's Child", and covers like "Up Up and Away" and "What I Say"-- all sound wonderful. Oh, and the clothes...! Mod to the max!

The guest appearances (Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and "Daddy," in particular) highlight Nancy's family connections, and in a way bring back the past, especially if you, as I do, remember seeing "The Dean Martin Show" etc. back in the day.

What I like even better than the special itself are the Royal Crown Cola commercials. Nancy notes in the accompanying booklet that the commercials were shot especially for the special, and were held to the same production values and style as the special themselves. Nancy does two different ones, both of which play up her tough kitten image and entwines it with the soft drink. Dino, Desi, and Billy make an appearance in one, as well-- filmed at the Hollywood Bowl, looking very much like it belongs in, say, "Help!" The other one, by some Australian guy who I had never heard of before, brings the style of late 1960's VOGUE magazine to the small screen in a trippy, model-filled sequence.

And Art Linkletter introduces the story of the cola nut. Enough said.

The disc also includes home movies taken on various filming locations, with commentary by Nancy and Jack Haley Jr. (the director). Nancy and Jack have audio commentary on the special itself, too, but I haven't gotten to the commentary yet because the main presentation distracts me so.

If you have any interest in the mod/pop 1960's, whether it be television, music, or fashion, you MUST buy this DVD!

After much begging and pleading by her fans, Nancy Sinatra has finally released her 1967 Emmy-winning special "Movin' with Nancy" on video and DVD. Containing an amazing soundtrack, first-rate guests, and classic '60s fashions, this campy, classy special has the potential - now that it is being exposed to a new generation of Nancy fans - to maintain cult status.

From the very first glimpse of those legendary boots stepping out the front door, to the recording studio where we witness daddy Frank crooning a tune as only he can, to an abandoned amusement park that comes alive by Nancy's presence, "Movin'" is a fantastic, exciting hour of entertainment.

Made in the days before MTV, and the expensive, high-tech music video, (when shows like "Ed Sullivan" were the only ways to hear your favorite artists sing their hit songs) this fast-paced show contains some of the '60s guiltiest of pleasures in terms of music. Nancy's vocals are tops and her performance commendable (she was nominated for a Golden Globe) as she sings and swings through such classics as "Sugar Town," "Up, Up and Away," "Some Velvet Morning," "Jackson" (both with Lee Hazlewood), "What'd I Say" (with Sammy Davis, Jr.) and "Things" (with Dean Martin).

As a bonus, this digitally-remastered classic features two RC Cola commercials with our lady singing the jingle ("it's a mad, mad, mad, mad cola"), and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the making of "Movin'" with voice-overs by Nancy and director Jack Haley, Jr. (who won an Emmy for this).

I purely enjoyed this 1-hour Nancy Sinatra special from 1967. Lots of great songs, including one by guest Frank Sinatra!

The behind-the-scenes "home movies" segment at the end of the program was nice also (with 2000 voice-over narration by Nancy and the special's director).

I also enjoyed seeing the Art Linkletter introductory piece at the start of the program -- plus all the original RC-Cola commercials (including one done by Nancy herself)! Very elaborately-done commercial spots.

Best song and best video for that song, in my opinion, goes to Nancy and Lee Hazlewood's duet "Jackson", which ends with a short clip with Nancy's brother, Frank Jr.

This is a "must-see" for fans of Nancy or Frank or if you simply want to immerse yourself in the 1960s again!

A trip down memory lane, for those of us who grew up in the 60's. Lots of fun even for those who weren't even around in the 60's: Upbeat songs, great costumes, dancing and choreography. We love seeing those groovy 60's fashions and their bright colors, too. Also--the bonus RC Cola commercials throughout are a fun nostalgic trip (they just don't make commercials like thye used to!)

Our entire family loves watching and singing along with this video and has done so many, many times!!

Innovative and definately ahead of it's time MOVIN'WITH NANCY truly deserves the title "special". Her hairstyle and clothing are the only real clues that it is from 1967. It could as easily have been made this year for VH1. It is fitting that part of the WHO WILL BUY number is staged on a roller coaster. This program takes you on a roller coaster ride of dizzying emotions. There is comedy, drama, and pathos. FRIDAY'S CHILD in my opinion is the best,set against a stark, somewhat disturbing backdrop. It packs a wallop. Nancy wisely dropped backing vocals that were present on the single. The effect is staggering. She totally sells the song, except for the "born a little ugly" line. The woman is gorgeous. This is a must have for Nancy Sinatra fans, and has something to offer for music fans in general. I do believe it will be "Movin'" right off the shelves, so act now!

To add a stereo note to the other reviews, all the Nancy Sinatra videos on this DVD are in true stereo (except the RC Cola jingle). The sound engineer obviously took some time to remaster the audio very well. When I first played this DVD on my computer, I assumed I would hear the mono track from the original film print of this NBC special. After all, this was 1967, TV specials weren't recorded in stereo.

But in fact, they used stereo sources for remastering this video. Even some of the background music used between videos was stereo. Hey, even that waterfall (background during the song "Things"), sounded stereo. Great CD sound quality here. If you have a home theater system, this will be a real treat. The audio selections when playing are "5.1 Dolby Digital" and "2.0 Dolby Surround".

If you're a big Nancy Sinatra fan like I am, feel confident in ordering this DVD. I had reservations at first because most DVDs produced in South Korea are Region 3, but the seller assured me that it was indeed region free. When it arrived, the box stated on the back that it was region 3, but when placed in my decidedly Region 1 drive it played with spectacular results.

A great retro-music-TV disc, it even includes original commercials from the sponsor, Royal Crown Cola (RC) featuring Nancy and even one with the old Junior Rat Pack band, 'Dino, Desi & Billy'!

Superb 5.1 Dolby Digital sound is the icing on the cake.

Nancy Sinatra's boots were made for walking & boy does she ever prove it! I really dug all of the different styles of boots Nancy was wearing for her special "Moving" with Nancy. Real cool outfits & clothes! The 60's was a very hip & cool time & Nancy really proved that fact! After watching the video you'll no what I mean. I was only 4 at the time when Nancy's special originally aired, & after watching "Moving" with Nancy for the first time, made me realize that i have really missed out! Nancy your special "Moving" is timeless & quite frankly will never be outdated. It top's all the specials of the time period & to no surprise you won an Emmy for it! Nancy I wan't to say that i am very happy that you decided to re-release your wonderful special so that all of your fan's & new fan's can enjoy once again or for the first time! Nancy I also most tell you that i saw your special being aired on AMC Americanpop & it was very nice to see you for the introduction & at the end. You look good! You alway's have & alway's will! May your boot's always keep you walkin!

Thank you Nancy! James Burningham

In the days before cable and home video, a network "special" was usually special only in contrast to the weekly series it pre-empted. The format rarely varied. The star (Bing Crosby, Jack Benny, Perry Como, et al) stepped into the spotlight, sang a song or told a few jokes, then performed in a sketch featuring one of the guest stars. If the guest was a musical performer, he or she would have a solo before joining the host in a duet. A few more sketches and musical numbers followed, then came the grand finale involving the entire cast. After the final commercial break, the star returned to the spotlight for a quiet farewell. The only variable was the host.

Nancy Sinatra's 1967 NBC-TV special, "Movin' With Nancy," broke from this pattern. Today it stands as an innovative hour that might have inspired MTV. Ms. Sinatra, whose hit "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" was the most assertive statement made by a female pop singer, exudes a star quality independent of her famous name. She has presence, and shows that she can do just fine without Daddy, though Papa Sinatra puts in an appearance nonetheless.

Filmed, rather than videotaped, "Movin' With Nancy" has a lush quality unusual in specials of the era. Sinatra's cinematic duet with Lee Hazelwood on "One Velvet Morning" is presented like a filmed poem, something Edgar Allen Poe might have imagined if he hadn't been so gloomy.

As for the special guests, Dean Martin wanders in for an imaginatively staged "Bummin' Around" before joining the star for a duet on Bobby Darin's "Things." Big Daddy Frank is not so much a guest as the recipient of a tribute at hour's end. Sammy Davis, Jr appears briefly as a lisping fashion photographer named Bruce (a name that was synonymous with "homosexual" in those days before Gay Liberation and Springsteen).

The RC Cola commercials, most featuring Art Linkletter, are sure to bring back memories for baby boomers who saw the original telecast, yet Movin' With Nancy sometimes looks like it could have been filmed yesterday. In reminiscing about the show, Ms. Sinatra doesn't appear to have aged a day.

Are you ready, boots? Start walkin'.

Brian W. Fairbanks

Great show, historical show ! If you are a Nancy fan, Sinatra fan, Dino fan or Sammy fan then you should buy this DVD. And if you are a Nancy fan, it is a must for you. So many Nancy hits including boots. This time her boots are made for flying.. She starts his show in a balloon. Even Frank Sinatra, Jr. is there. Very entertaining, particularly the part where she sings "Things" with Dean Martin. There is a clip showing Sinatra in studio. Nancy enters and watches her father. So intimate !! And original ads flavor the whole show... I strongly recommend it.