The Frank Sinatra Show - High Hopes - With Dean Martin & Bing Crosby
For all his dominance of showbiz during the Eisenhower era, Frank Sinatra never quite mastered a regular TV gig. This hour-long live variety special from 1958 at least provides top-of-the-line talent, even if its lackadaisical approach gives a hint of why Sinatra didn't take to the small screen. The show consists almost entirely of song, with banter squeezed in around the edges--but with Bing Crosby and Dean Martin flanking ol' Blue Eyes, that's a pretty decent collection of pipes. The three boys goof early with "Together," a slaphappy number with special in-jokey material by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen. The Rat Pack aura peaks with the threesome doing a medley of songs with "old" in the title. Dino, who solos on "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams," looks especially loose and ad-libby throughout the program, as though he dropped in between highballs at the Copa. The other main guest, Mitzi Gaynor, does some dancing and lends her brittle brand of pertness. The best section is a three-tune Sinatra solo stint (Nelson Riddle leads the band) including "The Lady Is a Tramp" and the torch-burner "Angel Eyes." Picture and sound quality are ragged, but at least the spirit is infectious. Added treat:  John Cameron Swayze manning the live commercials for Timex watches, which do indeed keep on ticking.--Robert Horton