This Is Tom Jones: Christmas [2007] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-08-05 rating:
Tom's Christmas Extravaganza
Hot on the heels of the brilliant DVD box set 'This Is Tom Jones - Rock 'N' Roll Legends' comes another (single disc) themed release, this time relating to a more seasonal flavour, namely christmas. This DVD actually consists of the two seasonal episodes of the series broadcast christmas 1969 and 1970 respectively.

Many of the features which made 'This Is Tom Jones - Rock 'N' Roll Legends' indelibly great are once again in evidence here - namely some tremendous performances from Tom, including 'Gonna Build Me A Mountain', 'Tutti-Fruiti', 'Not Responsible', 'Patches', Scarlet Ribbons', and my personal favourite, Tom's fabulous reading of 'Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?' - these performances being very much split between the concert spot on the show, and those performances with a backdrop of dancing and elaborate set designs. However, of course this DVD also has a festive flavour and features a host of guests who enjoy getting into the spirit of things, Ella Fitzgerald, perhaps being the artist who tends to stand out the most. Her performances of 'Good Morning Blues', 'My Ship', and her duet with Tom 'Sunny', being amongst the highlights.

There are also a fair number of christmas carols in evidence with Tom's regular guests, the Treorchy Male Choir, who if anything evokes the christmas spirit more than any of his other guests. What is immediately striking on watching this segment of the show is the sincerity with which the choir, with the occasional aid of Tom (and guests), sing, which really does seem a world away from today's more cynical attitude to the christmas tradition. However, to a degree the choir's dominance perhaps leaves less opportunity for Tom and his guest singers to do what they do best, namely sing in their own genres of music, which if you're like me can seem a little frustrating. This is perhaps the reason i believe this DVD may not prove a perennial favourite like the first volume. Having said that what is on offer here is nevertheless extremely impressive.

There are as always a few comedy guests, namely the resident Ace Trucking Company and David Frye, but they prove pretty expendable when compared with the many real delights on offer. However, Rudolph Nureyev and Merle Park's ballet dancing extravaganza is pretty impressive.

When 'This Is Tom Jones Christmas' is good it is brilliant, although its highlights occur a little less frequently here than with the first volume. However, if much of its contents don't quite seem to capture the spirit throughout the rest of the year, there's certainly enough on offer here to brighten up any christmas, especially if you're feeling alone.

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Similar categories

Music . Styles . Pop . General AAS
Music . Styles . Christmas Music . Comedy
Music . Styles . Christmas Music . Pop
Music . Styles . Christmas Music . General AAS
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Classics . Comedy
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Comedy . All Comedy
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Musicals & Classical . Ballet & Dance
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Documentary . All Documentaries
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Television . All Television
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Television . Comedy
Video . DVD & VHS . Special Features . Region 1
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . DVD
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Editions (feature_two_browse-bin) . Standard Edition
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Region(feature_browse-bin) . Region 1
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 1960 - 1969
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Language (theme_browse-bin) . English

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