“This delightful and entertaining documentary looks at the life and career of a musical star you thought you knew. It portrays a complex, unique and very talented man who courted controversy his whole life.” (Jerusalem Post)
With a star-studded roster of interviewees—including Jerry Lewis, Whoopi Goldberg, and Billy Crystal—acclaimed filmmaker Sam Pollard (Slavery by Another Name) creates a magnificent portrait of the dancer, singer, impressionist, and actor of unparalleled charisma, Sammy Davis Jr. Dazzling audiences from the age of three until his death at 64, Davis was a star of stage and screen and member of the legendary Rat Pack. He defied societal norms concerning interracial romance, religion, and political affiliation, courting controversy but with consistent grace and honesty. He inspired African-Americans with his showbiz successes and his alignment with Martin Luther King, but he also baffled progressive admirers by campaigning for Nixon and going to Vietnam. Ultimately, Davis was a performer and a patriot, as devoted to Judaism as he was to entertainment.