The Tender Trap (1955) {Warner Archive Blu-ray Review}

Reviewed By Jason Lockard

He was known as Ol' Blue Eyes, The chairman of the Board, The Voice and many other names as well. He is also known for his songs, I've got you under my skin, New York, New York, The Best is yet to come and My Way. Yes I'm taking about Frank Sinatra!

In the 50s there was no one as hot as Sinatra. Concerts, hit records, movies. Frank was doing it all. In 1955 he joined forces with another singer and actress, Debbie Reynolds to make an amazing little musical entitled The Tender Trap.

The good folks at Warner Archive know that people love those classic musicals. They have been giving us quite a few as of late Annie Get Your Gun, Damn Yankees and The Pajama Game. Now are giving this Sinatra / Reynolds team-up an amazing release a film of this caliber deserves.

The film follows theater agent Charlie Reader (Sinatra) who lives life to the fullest in New York City.  Wine Women and song and everything in-between! One day Joe McCall, a childhood friend, shows up fed-up with marriage and wants to leave his wife.

Joe thinks Charlie's life is the best, while Charlies insists that the family life of Joe's is the more fulfilling one. Enter actress Julie Gillis (Debbie Reynolds), who has her life planned to a tight schedule, determined to marry and retire from performing to a life of child-rearing by 22. So who's it gonna be? Will she get her man? You'll have to see the film to find out.

The film is based on a play of the same name by Max Shulman and Robert Paul Smith. Joining Sinatra and Reynolds in this musical romp is a great cast; Celeste Holm (Gentlemen's Agreement), David Wayne (The Andromeda Strain), Lola Albright (Peter Gun), Carolyn Jones (The Addams Family), Jarma Lewis (Peter Gun), Howard St. (Strangers on a Train), Tom Helmore (The Time Machine).

The acting is great. The music is perfectly performed. The story moves at a good pace. At two hours it does feel a bit long, but not overly. It is a very well done musical comedy. Fans of Sinatra and Reynolds are going to want this one. But I will go a step further. I think film fans in general will love this one.

This Warner Archive Blu-ray presents The Tender Trap with a magnificent looking new 1080p master transfer in 2.55:1asopect ratio. It has been sourced from a 4K scan of the original camera negative. The audio is a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track. This film looks and sounds out of this world good.

But Warner Archive didn't stop there, not with this release. They really went above and beyond here. Take a look at the awesome bonuses on this Blu-ray release.

• Frank In The Fifties: This is a short featurette where people recall the life and career of Sinatra in the fifties. It features some great pictures of Frank as well! This is one great bonus feature.
  

• The MGM Parade – Excerpt From Episode 7: This is a snippet of the episode in which Debbie Reynolds drops by the promote The Tender Trap.
  

• The MGM Parade – Excerpt From Episode 8: This is another snippet where the host of the show talks a bit about Frank Sinatra and The Tender Trap while throwing to a clip of the title song being performed. 

• Theatrical Trailer: This is a two-and-a-half minute trailer.
  
  

I really enjoyed The Tender Trap. The chemistry of the stars is undeniable and the story is timeless and universal! I am glad to see this film can live on for generations to see the remarkable talents of Frank Sinatra and Debbie Reynolds.

So if you are a fan of Sinatra, Debbie Reynolds or good 50s musicals. I highly recommend seeing The Tender Trap in the best quality possible on this Warner Archive Blu-ray. Head over to Amazon.com and get your copy today.


Out of 4 Film reels (4 being the best) Warner Archive's Blu-ray of The Tender Trap receives...