Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music Part II (1966)

Very disappointing...

Simply A Masterpiece

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Informal, finger-snapping one-hour music special for CBS-TV starring Frank Sinatra, the second such program in what became a trilogy (the first and third installments came in 1965 and 1967). What with canned audience applause and laughter, Ol' Blue Eyes directs his performances right smack into the camera lens, giving this videotaped presentation an intimate, cajoling appeal. Sinatra is joined by two spot-on bands conducted by Nelson Riddle and Gordon Jenkins, and also by his daughter, billed as Miss Nancy Sinatra. Nancy (in pink fringe and matching go-go boots) does her father proud with a shivery performance of Sonny Bono's "Bang Bang" and an upbeat "On Broadway". The two Sinatras also share a little family banter which, like most of the writing, leans a might heavily on the joshing end. Still, FS in in fine voice on a ripping "Luck Be a Lady Tonight", pensive on a suite of sad love songs bookended by "It Was Just One of Those Things", and remarkably jolly on "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" (a new arrangement which nearly leaves the vocalist winded). Without commercials, this special seems to go by very quickly. It is a warm, likable, non-flashy effort in which Mr. Sinatra performs without vanity (allowing the camera to crawl in very close to his left profile--with his forceps-scars--and clearing his throat once during "Luck Be a Lady" but carrying on nonchalantly). An absolute must-see for fans of Frank (and Nancy) Sinatra, and '60s music aficionados in general.

Frank Sinatra: The Man and His Music 2 (1966)*** (out of 4) Follow up to the previous year's concert has Frank Sinatra at full steam and delivering countless songs including: "Fly Me to the Moon", "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You", "My Heart Stood Still", "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World", "Luck Be a Lady", "That's Life" and "Chicago" among others. Nancy Sinatra shows up to sing her hit "Bang Bang, He Shot Me Down" as well as joining her father on duets to "Downtown" and "Yes, Sir, That's My Baby". I actually enjoyed this second special more than the first one as Frank's voice is a lot better and he's certainly more energetic. Apparently he had a col during the first special but this one here features him at the top of his game with that voice as great as ever. Nancy's songs were also very good as were the duets, which had the two telling some funny jokes and working well off of one another. The production values also seemed better and I enjoyed the band much better here as well.

Another FRANK SINATRA show from '66 has him opening with FLY ME TO THE MOON and closing with PUT YOUR DREAMS AWAY FOR A LITTLE WHILE.It's a breezy hour show with Sinatra looking as jaunty and comfortable before an audience as he ever did. He seems in a bouncy mood as he goes through a whole slew of his favorite songs, as well as a brief duet sequence with Nancy, who says she'd been in the business for six months when this show aired and already had a couple of Gold platters.His songs include: FLY ME TO THE MOON, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD, MOONLIGHT IN VERMONT and NOBODY TILL SOMEBODY LOVES YOU.Then Nancy came on and sang two of her hits, BANG, BANG HE SHOT ME DOWN and ON Broadway before dad joins her for YES, SIR THAT'S MY BABY and DOWNTOWN. And finally, the two of them join in for her hit song, THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR WALKING.Sinatra winds up his segment of the show with IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS, MY HEART STOOD STILL, LOVE IS BEAUTIFUL, LUCK BE A LADY (at his zesty best), THAT'S LIFE, GRANADA and CHICAGO.With Nelson Riddle and Gordon Jenkins arrangements, it's a solid show for Sinatra fans to enjoy and a bit of nostalgia too.