Sammy Davis Jnr: Live

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Elly Roberts reviews

Sammy Davis Jnr: Live
Distributed by
Demon Vision

    Cover

  • Cert:
  • Pressing: 2005
  • Region(s): 0, PAL
  • Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1, Stereo
  • Languages: English
  • Subtitles: None
  • Fullscreen: 4:3
  • Disc Format: DVD 9
  • Price: £8.99
  • Rating: 10/10
  • Extras:Extract from Bruce’s Big Night (Nov 7, 1978)

If proof was ever needed that Sammy Davis Jnr was the greatest performer of all-time – this is it.

At the time of filming this show, Davis was regarded as the ‘greatestentertainer in the world’. He was 40 years old and at the peak of his career.By comparison with his Brat Pack chums; he was way ahead of them in everydepartment.

This guy was the supreme performer, with a huge arsenal of disciplines atinstant disposal. As a record, this is the greatest example of all-roundentertainment you’ll ever find. There was nobody in his league before him andcertainly not since. He was a rare breed, and a hard act to follow.

Davis entered his first talent competition at the age of three, soon wowingthe crowds in Holiday in Dixieland, a black vaudeville troupe.

Age seven, he appeared in the legendary musical short Rufus Jones forPresident, later receiving tap lessons by the great Bojangles himself – BillRobinson. In 1941 Davis was working with the Mastin Gang, where they openedfor Tommy Dorsey, during which time he met Dorsey’s vocalist Frank Sinatra.

Pooling together all his Broadway, film, cabaret and nightclub experience, heturns on the style in this NBC broadcast.

Mimic, singer, dancer, clown and impressionist, Davis gives a tour-de-forcelesson in cross-over skills. He lifts numerous songs from his wide rangingrepertoire, a highlight being the early medley sequence. This breathtakingaccount of the diminutive all-rounder is a truly remarkable showcase of thetalents which eluded many of his contemporaries.

As with most recordings of the period, the video film lacks today’s digitalsharpness, nevertheless, the entertainment standard is blown off the Richterscale. Segueing smoothly from ballads I Want To be With You, Yes I Canto big-band showstoppers like Trouble In River City and There’s ABoat Leaving For New York is hard to see the performance join.

Editing is dated, but doesn’t affect the charm of the last from his season of15 shows from ’66. Also known for his legendary mimicking, he drops in afew Hollywood stars – Bogey, Jimmy Cagney, WC Fields, Jimmy Stewart, CareyGrant, Brando, and fellow Bratpacker Dean Martin – all done with greatattention to detail and maximum effect. When he goes into tap dance mode,his Bojangles’ hoofer’ experience shows its class.

Closing the main feature, we see Sammy in typical comedic fashion as aclown singing What Kind Of Fool Am I?

Snippets of Bruce Forsyth and Davis performing and interview are worth theirweight in gold on the bonus feature.

This might be a no frills DVD, but its top class showmanship.

The full list of tracks included are :

1. Opening theme
2. Look Down The Lonesome Road
3. Gonna Build A Mountain
4. Yes I Can
5. I Want To Be With You
6. Ethel, Baby (from Mr. Wonderful)
7. Too Close For Comfort
8. Something’s Got To Give
9. I Love All Of You (I Like The Look Of You)
10. Hey There, You With The Stars In Your Eyes
11. Birth Of The Blues
12. Oh Yes, I Remember It Well13. Trouble In River City
14. Street Of Laredo
15. There’s A Boat Leaving Soon For New York
16. My Boy Bill
17. Scat & Intro
18. Put On A Happy Face
19. Dixie Melody
20. Dixie Melody (with impressions)
21. Be A Clown
22. What Kind Of Fool Am I
23. Closing theme

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