The Frank Sinatra Show: Welcome Home Elvis DVD Review
By Jonathan Boudreaux
Elvis Presley burst onto the music scene in 1955 with hits like "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Hound Dog," helping to usher in the rock and roll era. While his music became immensely popular with teenage fans, older listeners were less impressed. According to Peter Guralnick's excellent Elvis biography, Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley, crooner Frank Sinatra proclaimed that "rock 'n' roll smells phony and false...sung by cretinous goons and...sideburned delinquents." Elvis took such criticism in stride, replying that "you can't knock success."
At the height of his newfound popularity, Elvis faced a bigger threat than the opinion of another generation's teen idol - he was about to serve a two year stint in the army under the country's draft laws. Two years is an incredibly long time in the entertainment world, and some wondered whether or not the young singer would have a career by the time he left active duty. Thanks to the shrewd business practices of Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis' popularity did not wane after he entered the armed services in 1958. Even Frank Sinatra came around...sort of. Realizing that the music he disliked was probably around to stay, he invited the hip-swivelling star to appear on one of his TV specials upon his discharge. The show would be broadcast from Miami Beach in March of 1960.
The show, officially called The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: It's Nice to Go Traveling, or Welcome Home Elvis begins with Frank Sinatra, daughter Nancy, Joey Bishop, and Sammy Davis, Jr. singing "It's Nice to Go Traveling." After the opening credits and a brief reprise, Elvis enters the stage wearing his military dress uniform. To the delight of the audience, he joins in for the end of the song.
Left alone on stage, Frank and Joey perform a lame, Elvis-related comedy routine that plays like a Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In reject. Sinatra reveals that he has arranged for Elvis to regain the two years he missed while in the army. He brings out his "Time Machine" which consists of Nancy and two Ken doll-esque dancers performing a robotic dance step. Afterwards, Joey proclaims that it is now 1957 before Frank inexplicably launches into "Witchcraft" while standing before a backdrop of crepe streamers.
With the help of Nellie the porpoise, Timex spokesman John Cameron Swayze reports from Marine Studios on Timex's waterproof abilities. Carrying the watch in its mouth as it jumps over several hurdles, the porpoise proves that Timex takes a licking and keeps on ticking.
Next we're off to April of 1959 or September of 1958...the conceit here is so confusing that even Frank gets confused. He introduces Sammy Davis, Jr., who sings "There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York" from Porgy and Bess.
Back to April of 1959, Frank provides a casually racist introduction to the Tom Hanson Dancers as they perform an "Oriental"-themed dance complete with slanty-eyed makeup and headpieces that appear to be made of table centerpieces from a Chinese restaurant. Surely by now Elvis is wishing he had re-enlisted.
Frank continues his salute to Elvis...by looking at his own album covers. He lights a cig before singing "Gone with the Wind."
Thanks to the time machine, we head off to May of 1959. Joey introduces the Tom Hanson Dancers who perform on a Miami beach to the annoying sounds of an Alvin and the Chipmunks rip-off...er, tribute...called "Uh Oh!" Uh oh indeed.
March of 1958 is the next stop. Sammy performs impressions of Cary Grant and other stars in honor of the first ever broadcast of the Academy Awards. Or so it seems. Joey and Frank interrupt the sketch before it really gets started, and Sammy starts performing terrible musical impressions of Nat "King" Cole, Tony Bennett, Louis Armstrong, and Dean Martin. Peter Lawford, making a not-so-spontaneous spontaneous appearance, puts that part of the sketch out of its misery. Unfortunately, he joins Sammy for a song and dance number to the tune of "Shall We Dance?." By the time they segue into a (tap) dance-off, viewers will be left wondering whether Elvis has collapsed backstage and they have been sent out to either stall for time or to encourage the viewers to switch channels.
A truly horrifying Timex commercial featuring mimes at a graduation ceremony follows. Watch this segment at your own risk. It will surely lead to many sleepless nights.
With the time travel part of the show over, Frank observes that "looking back over it, I'm struck with the realization that maybe you didn't miss so much after all." No kidding. When Sinatra asks "What would you say if I sang another song now?", the audience breaks into jeers, yelling "we want Elvis!" Surely this planned insurrection didn't take much goading.
Elvis, with his miraculously restored pompadour, enters the stage to sing a mellow "Fame and Fortune." The full pelvis-gyrating impact of Elvis doesn't arrive until his next number, "Stuck on You." Frank joins Elvis for a duet. Well, not exactly a duet - Frank sings "Love Me Tender" while Elvis takes on "Witchcraft." You just can't hear that song too many times in a single hour!
John Cameron Swayze returns with Nellie the porpoise for another Timex waterproof watch test. It's truly comforting to know that if one is ever attacked by a rogue porpoise, one's Timex watch will continue to run.
Nancy takes Elvis' place on stage. She and her father duet on "You Make Me Feel So Young." Twenty year-old Nancy comes across very well in this number. Of course, she's then forced into another lame dance number with the Tom Hanson Dancers.
And then the show's over. Welcome home, Elvis!
The video is far from perfect. Parts of the picture look burned in while other parts look faded out. The focus is very soft, often leaving faces indistinct blurs. It is less black and white than sepia-toned. There is also an abundance of dirt and blotches. All in all, this special has the appearance of a poorly filmed kinescope.
The sound is okay, but nothing special.
Skip the extras. The "Bonus Programme" is "The Story of Elvis Presley: A Documented Legend," photo montages of Elvis accompanied by cheesy narration. In his haste to make his way through Elvis' life, the speed-reading narrator even mispronounces the name of the singer's hometown. How long is this thing? Who knows - twenty seconds was enough for me.
The "Extra Features" menu contains discographies, biographies, and other information about Frank, Nancy, Joey, Elvis, Sammy, and Peter Lawford.
The Frank Sinatra Show... is best viewed as a curio. Elvis fans may be disappointed by his all too brief appearance (the Colonel kept tight contractual control over how many songs his "boy" performed), and Sinatra sometimes comes across as dismissive and cranky. The poor film condition also has a negative effect.
© Copyright 2024 by www.elvis.com.au & www.elvispresley.com.au
No part of any article on this site may be re-printed for public display without permission.
Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVDNever before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.
This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.
The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.
Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.
Elvis Australia was founded in 1996 ... www.elvis.com.au was literally born from the concept of wanting to represent 'Elvis in Australia', so www.elvis.com.au ... Read more.
Elvis Presley's songs are unforgettable - they have stood the test of time, especially his singles of the 1950s, a decade in which he had a song at No. 1. for 59 weeks and 4 No. 1 albums ('56-'59). Read More.
