Frank is his Ring-A-Ding 1950s self, cool and collected and acting like God's gift to his guest Juliet Prowse (co-star in his then-new picture, Can-Can). They have one number where he sings to her and the camera doesn't pull away fast enough before their mock kiss, so we see their faces hovering side by side, as if repelled by static electricity. Lawford is his bland self and Gingold cute enough, but both struggle in the variety format that leaves little room for spontaneity. The great diva Fitzgerald either sits or stands but never moves, yet her voice is still the center of the show. You can tell she's a legend by how much Sinatra worships her.

Nelson Riddle is also treated like quality goods, and Sinatra addresses a personal get-well greeting to Cole Porter, who I believe at this time was on his deathbed. Perhaps because it's his own show, Sinatra is especially polite to his guest performers - no late-career sarcasm here. An unexpected highlight comes when he sings in harmony with the Hi-Los, just as he used to do as a young performer.

The show comes intact with all of its cornball Timex ads. John Cameron Swayze officiates as a Timex is shot through a plate glass window on the nose of an arrow. With their poor-quality supered titles, the ads really are a time capsule. Swayze talks to one of Santa's tiny elves matted like an ornament into a yule tree, reminding us that this was a Christmas show that aired on December 10, 1959.

Quantum Leap's liner notes say that "While the quality of reproduction may not meet modern technological standards, (the show) is a rare record of two of the most popular performers of the twentieth century performing together.." The rarity part is true, but the quality of the disc isn't up to minimum 1959 standards, either. The picture has videotape wrinkles, film scratches & dirt, and some very badly blooming video. When Juliet Prowse dances in the desert, she's surrounded by a black aura of video burnout. In other words, I'd place the quality of the show as the same as a graymarket videotape, with a more stable picture. This disc is clearly for Sinatra and Fitzgerald's key fans of the kind who will be pleased to have it in any form.

The star photos on the attractive cover are unrelated to the show.

On a scale of Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor, The Frank Sinatra Show with Ella Fitzgerald rates:
TV Show: Very Good
Video: Fair or slightly worse
Sound: Good -
Supplements: partial star bios and discographies
Packaging: Keep case
Reviewed: December 5, 2004