Movin' with Nancy

Summary

The TV special was unlike most musical programs of its time, with the numbers performed outdoors on locations instead of the usual stage-bound production filmed before a live audience. Sinatra sang while driving down the highway, strolling in the California countryside, and aloft in a hot-air balloon. She performed duets with the guest stars she encountered along the way, with no introductions or interstitial dialog. The general effect was of a dream-like fantasy that flows from one location to the next, with segments resembling the later format of music videos.

The program included an on-screen interracial kiss, predating the most well-known scripted interracial kiss on U.S. television by several months (in an episode of Star Trek; other scripted kisses have been on U.S. shows previously such as: Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer in the 1959 episode, "Siamese Twinge;" Mission: Impossible in the 1966 episode "Elena;" The Man from U.N.C.L.E. in the 1966 episode, "The Her Majesty's Voice Affair," and on I Spy in the 1966 episode, "The Tiger"). It took place at the end of a song-and-dance number by Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., with him kissing her affectionately on the cheek. Sinatra states in the commentary track on the DVD release that the seemingly spontaneous kiss was carefully planned, and deliberately done at the end of filming, when Davis had to leave for another job and could not shoot a retake.

The production

Movin' was produced and directed by Jack Haley, Jr., with Nancy billed as executive producer as well as star, and featured guest appearances by her father, Frank Sinatra, her "fairy God-Uncle" (Dean Martin), who does a solo song and a duet with Nancy, Lee Hazlewood (who wrote most of her hit songs), dancer David Winters (who was also nominated for a special Emmy for his choreography), and Sammy Davis Jr. RC Cola sponsored the show and created five lavish commercials — in two of them, Sinatra danced and sang the RC jingle ("It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Cola!"). Art Linkletter served as the narrator for two of the commercials that opened and closed the program. Jack Haley Jr. won his first of two Emmy Awards for directing.

Sequels

Two other "Movin' with Nancy" specials followed after the original was such a success. "Movin' with Nancy on Stage" aired in 1971 and was presented by "The Ed Sullivan Show." It featured the Osmond Brothers, among others, as guests. "Movin' with Nancy Nice 'n' Easy" was produced in 1973 and featured The Muppets. Although Nancy hoped to release the two other specials on DVD, as of 2009, no plans have been made.

DVD release

The special was released on DVD by Image Entertainment on May 2, 2000. It features a commentary track by Director Jack Haley Jr. and Nancy Sinatra. Sinatra reminisces about the outfits she was wearing in the show, and regrets not including her signature song, "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'", as part of the production. At the time, she states she wanted to showcase her other songs instead. Sinatra also mentions that the RC Cola commercials were designed to be an integral part of the show.