DVD Review: Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends

By Jeff Swindoll Dec 19, 2007, 16:00 GMT

A class act in every respect, Tony Bennett deserves the same in a documentary tribute, and The Music Never Ends is just that, an 87-minute compilation of music and words that\'s as likably modest as the octogenarian singer himself. Born in New York in 1926, the former Anthony Benedetto grew up during the Depression, served in World War II, hit the big time in the 1950s, marched in Selma, Alabama ...more

Anthony Dominick Benedetto knows how to swing.  You may know him better as Tony Bennett and with the death of the Chairman of the Board he became the last of the great crooners.  He may have left his heart in San Francisco, but he’s found a place in the hearts of music lovers everywhere.  

Tony Bennett is an American singing icon and is truly a gentleman and a scholar.  His dulcet tones are a pleasure to listen to, but what you may not know is that he’d really rather just paint.  However, fate had other plans for him and he became the singer that we love today. 

The winner of fifteen Grammy awards and selling over fifty million records (and still selling since he’s still making them) he’s rightfully assumed legend status and with such a voice none is more deserving.  Producer Clint Eastwood sits down at the piano with the crooner and they chat about Bennett’s life.

A diverse group of Bennett friends are interviewed about the singer, including author Gay Talese, painter Everett Raymond Kinstler, Mitch “sing along” Miller, and even Alec Baldwin who has done a Bennett impersonation on Saturday Night Live (one time joined by the real deal no less).  Not only do you get musical highlights form his career but we see him on the Tonight Show and the Danny Thomas Show. 

Director Bruce Ricker has assembled a wonderful portrait of the crooner and one that is sure to please fans of music as well as fans of Bennett.  However, it’s the music that Bennett is known for and this documentary delivers and the special features offer even more in that regard. 

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” made Tony Bennett an international superstar and a citizen of the world, long may he continue to sing it and he’s won our hearts over with it and his many other hits.  

Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends is presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions.  The first disc contains the documentary and also features the 30 minute “At the Piano with Tony and Clint” in which the two legends chat at the piano as Eastwood tinkles the ivories. 

The second disc is just as excellent as the first in that it contains the 45 minute “Tony Bennett Concert Performance at the 2005 Monterey Jazz Festival” (Eastwood also introduces Bennett here).  

The documentary is excellent and the concert is also the same.  It’s a grand tribute to the singer and the music is the thing and this two-disc set delivers it in spades.  Do yourself a favor and pick this one up for the music lover in your life. 

A great concert that you’ll just want to put in the DVD player and hear again and again.  Long may Tony Bennett continue to grace our ears with his melodic voice and with this DVD he can – just keep hitting play – the music never has to end.  

Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends is now available at Amazon. As of yet, there is not a release date for this version of the DVD in the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.