On August 3, 2006, Tony Bennett turned 80 years-old. It was a milestone moment both for the artist, and for popular music as well. I know it's a cliche, but they just don't make 'em like Bennett anymore. A consummate showman, the guy did it all -- sing as well as entertain, combining elements of pop, jazz, dance, musical theater and classic vaudeville. His list of accomplishments is so long and his collaborators so varied that his resume alone could easily fill the halls of the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame. Frank Sinatra didn't call this guy "the greatest singer ever" for nuthin'.

To celebrate Bennett's birthday and further cement his legacy, NBC produced a one-of-a-kind television special in late 2006, called 'An American Classic.' It was a true rarity for network TV these days, reminiscent of the variety shows and musical revues more common to the medium in the '60s and '70s. There are biographical sequences on Bennett's rise to stardom and "surprise" tributes from various celebrities (including Bruce Willis, Robert De Niro and John Travolta), which bridge ten different stand-alone duets with top musical artists. Interspersed throughout are several dance numbers and a few comedy bits (which work surprisingly well).

  
 Sony Music
 00:42:31

Technical Specs
Blu-ray
BD-25 Single-Layer Disc

Video Resolution/Codec
1080i/MPEG-2

Aspect Ratio(s)
1.78:1

Audio Formats
English LPCM 5.1 (48 kHz / 6912 kbps / 24-bit)
English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
English LPCM 2.0 (48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit)

Subtitles/Captions
None

Supplements
The Making Of
Shooting of Black & White Film
Walking the Stars Through Their Paces
Production Design From Page to Stage
The Trailer
The Tony Bennett Dancer's Rehearsals

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