Sammy Davis Jr: The Kid in the Middle
Documentary telling the remarkable life story of dancer, actor, singer and civil rights campaigner Sammy Davis Jr, who overcame racial prejudice to entertain millions worldwide.
Sammy Davis Jr was born to entertain. He was a human dynamo who made his debut at the age of five and by the time he was a teenager was wowing audiences across America. A gifted dancer, actor and singer, and a key member of the Rat Pack, Davis is best remembered for his unforgettable rendition of Mr Bojangles and his number one single The Candyman.
However, as a black man, making his way in the entertainment business saw him struggle to overcome racial prejudice, letter bombs and death threats. Davis fought back with his talent and in the 1960s marched alongside Dr Martin Luther King. Despite his reputation as a civil rights campaigner and one of the world's greatest entertainers, Davis remains an enigma. Those closest to him tell of a man never quite comfortable in his own skin, a workaholic and spendaholic who put his career before his family and who died leaving them millions of dollars in debt.
This documentary is Sammy Davis Jr's remarkable life story - his rise and his fall - told by those who knew him best. For the first time his family and friends including Paul Anka, Engelbert Humperdinck, Reverend Jesse Jackson and Ben Vereen share their memories - shedding new light on the legacy of one of the most gifted and loved performers in show business.
Last on
Clip
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Sammy Davis Jr survives a horrific car crash
Duration: 02:30
Music Played
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Jefferson Airplane
White Rabbit
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Producer | Jacci Parry |
Director | Jacci Parry |
Executive Producer | Paul Bullock |
Narrator | Lynne Seymour |
Broadcasts
- Sun 21 Dec 2014 21:00
- Mon 22 Dec 2014 00:15
- Christmas Day 2014 02:45
- Sat 3 Jan 2015 22:55
- Sun 4 Jan 2015 02:55
- Thu 5 Feb 2015 00:55
- Thu 14 May 2015 01:00
- Mon 28 Dec 2015 22:00
- Sat 2 Jan 2016 01:00
- Sun 8 Jan 2017 00:50
- Sun 1 Oct 2017 00:30
麻豆社 Music: Sammy Davis Jr.
Find clips, tracks and a biog on Sammy Davis Jr. on the 麻豆社 Music site