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  • English: Linear PCM 2.0 Mono
  Subtitles
    English
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Frank Sinatra - The First 40 Years
Warner Music/Warner Music . R4 . COLOR . 78 mins . E . PAL

  Feature
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In 1979 Frank Sinatra had been in showbiz for an astonishing 40 years. He moved up from Buffalo bars to the Paramount theatre, and onwards but perhaps not upwards, to this celebration's venue, the glitzy paean to bad taste, Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.

Now this celebration features very little of Frank. He sings four songs in all, towards the close of the evening. The rest is a tribute-fest, from Cary Grant (we'll mention the REAL star first), the repulsive racist Glenn Ford (I guess everyone's allowed one off friend), Frank's first bandleader Harry James, Lucille Ball, Red Skelton, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, Paul Anka, and many more.

Highlights include Paul Anka singing a new witty birthday version of My Way (a French song which Paul wrote English lyrics for and which Frank turned into his personal anthem). Within the new lyrics, this neat reflection: "And here's a thought/That's most forlorn/The man began/Before I was born."

Red Skelton reminisces about performing with Frank 40 years ago; Lucille Ball reminisces about being a fan in those far-off teen-scream years, and in a stylish moment, Cary Grant leads the audience in Happy Birthday.

This DVD is strictly for fans only, and if you are a fan you'll love it.

  Video
  Audio
  Extras
Contract

This is a decent quality video transfer for a television film of its time. Audio is billed as LPCM Stereo, but is in fact processed mono; it is however in very fine condition; a great concert sound.

Extras... what extras? There's an illustrated catalogue of other DVDs in this collection, a song menu, and that's that. No attempt to place this concert in any sort of context in the singer's history, nothing.

The strangest of all the 'special features' are the subtitles. I've listed English only, although the menu offers four other languages. Sure, there are French, Dutch, Spanish and Italian subtitles for words, but for the song lyrics - English text only. Not quite good enough.


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  •   And I quote...
    "Old Blue-Eyes had been singing for 40 years, and here's a tribute-fest from Cary Grant, Lucille Ball, Paul Anka and whoever else could be rounded up for the night."
    - Anthony Clarke
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Player:
          Panasonic A330
    • TV:
          Loewe Profil Plus 3272 68cm
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