Elly Roberts reviews
Sammy Davis Jnr: Live
Distributed by
Demon Vision
- 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 ‘greatest
entertainer 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 every
department.
This guy was the supreme performer, with a huge arsenal of disciplines at
instant disposal. As a record, this is the greatest example of all-round
entertainment you’ll ever find. There was nobody in his league before him and
certainly 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 wowing
the crowds in Holiday in Dixieland, a black vaudeville troupe.
Age seven, he appeared in the legendary musical short Rufus Jones for
President, later receiving tap lessons by the great Bojangles himself – Bill
Robinson. In 1941 Davis was working with the Mastin Gang, where they opened
for Tommy Dorsey, during which time he met Dorsey’s vocalist Frank Sinatra.
Pooling together all his Broadway, film, cabaret and nightclub experience, he
turns on the style in this NBC broadcast.
Mimic, singer, dancer, clown and impressionist, Davis gives a tour-de-force
lesson in cross-over skills. He lifts numerous songs from his wide ranging
repertoire, a highlight being the early medley sequence. This breathtaking
account of the diminutive all-rounder is a truly remarkable showcase of the
talents which eluded many of his contemporaries.
As with most recordings of the period, the video film lacks today’s digital
sharpness, nevertheless, the entertainment standard is blown off the Richter
scale. Segueing smoothly from ballads I Want To be With You, Yes I Can
to big-band showstoppers like Trouble In River City and There’s A
Boat 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 of
15 shows from '66. Also known for his legendary mimicking, he drops in a
few Hollywood stars – Bogey, Jimmy Cagney, WC Fields, Jimmy Stewart, Carey
Grant, Brando, and fellow Bratpacker Dean Martin – all done with great
attention 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 a
clown singing What Kind Of Fool Am I?
Snippets of Bruce Forsyth and Davis performing and interview are worth their
weight 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 :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
