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Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Donald O'Connor ... see more see more... , Elizabeth Taylor , Liza Minnelli , James Stewart , Mickey Rooney , Debbie Reynolds , Peter Lawford , Joan Crawford , Judy Garland , Cary Grant , Esther Williams , Clark Gable , Cyd Charisse , Jimmy Durante

It's ironic that MGM, in such dire financial straits in 1974 that it was selling its fabled back lot and auctioning off artifacts from past movie triumphs, enjoyed one of its biggest box-office hits w... read more read more...ith That's Entertainment, a compilation of musical highlights from the studio's golden days. Onscreen hosts Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Gene Kelly, Peter Lawford, Liza Minnelli, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Mickey Rooney, James Stewart, and Elizabeth Taylor introduce the various film clips while standing on what was left of the MGM lot (Rooney delivers his comments from the Andy Hardy street). The vignettes, in both color and black-and-white, include generous slices of such classic MGM songfests as The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me in St. Louis, An American in Paris, Singin' in the Rain, and Gigi. The film includes the montage of Mickey Rooney's "Let's put on a show!" speeches, Clark Gable hoofing to "Puttin' on the Ritz" in Idiot's Delight, and James Stewart (!) serenading Eleanor Powell from Easy to Love. Assembled by Jack Haley Jr., That's Entertainment proved such a hit that the 1976 sequel, That's Entertainment II, was a foregone conclusion. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

80% liked it

5,079 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

13 critics

G, 2 hr. 12 min.

Directed by: Jack Haley Jr., Bing Crosby, Clark Gable, Cyd Charisse, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Elizabeth Taylor, Esther Williams, Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Jack Haley, James Stewart, Jimmy Durante, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli

Release Date: January 1, 1974

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DVD Release Date: October 12, 2004

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Stats: 156 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (156)

  • ajv2688
    January 1, 2011
    ajv2688
    This is a fantastic compilation of musical and comedy numbers from movies of the 40s and 50s, with all the big stars from the era as well. I bet if I watched it now I'd know which numbers came from which movies.
  • jennifxu
    December 1, 2008
    jennifxu
    Sometimes all you need is a bunch of old film clips and a handful of aging stars to create a masterpiece. This was truly the Golden Age of Hollywood. I NEED to own this collection, immediately.
  • thirdway821
    March 25, 2012
    thirdway821
    You talk about a great musical compilation film? This one is definetly it. It is one of the best's films I have ever seen. Audiences will never look at musicals the same way again. There is so much history and so much that went behind the old studio days at MGM and ultimatley MGM... read more's downfall. My fav scenes without a doubt goes to Esther Williams in "Million Dollar Mermaid" and Fred Astaire in "Royal Wedding". Terrific stuff.
  • threefolddado
    March 4, 2008
    threefolddado
    Fun.
  • MovieGuruDude72
    June 5, 2010
    MovieGuruDude72
    Not really a movie but a collage of some of the greatest moments in MGM movie history. Like one of those TV episodes where they were too lazy to film an episode and fill the time slot with a bunch of clips of past shows and slap a "Best of" tag on it. That's what this is but in H... read moreollywood terms.
  • jam233
    January 29, 2010
    jam233
    That's entertainment indeed! I do not particularly care for musicals, but when some of the best musical numbers ever made are all pieced together, it is phenomenal. Incredibly interesting and fascinating. Historically important film. Great narration.
  • 01MovieMan
    December 6, 2008
    01MovieMan
    This is a great movie

    Loads of great entertainers
    This nostalgic history lesson in the treasures of MGM musicals touches upon the obvious highlights--An American in Paris, Singin' in the Rain, many others--and includes clips of wonderfu...( read more read more... )l though more ... read moreobscure performances by Esther Williams, Jimmy Durante, Eleanor Powell, and even Clark Gable singing and dancing. It's a film lover's box of candy and perfect for musical mavens, and getting a chance to see so many legends host the whole affair (many of whom have died since the film's 1974 release) is as pleasing as the old footage. --Tom Keogh
  • theSwitchbladeSister
    July 30, 2008
    theSwitchbladeSister
    A truly comprehensive look at the musical history of MGM put together by Jack Haley Jr. that never really ceased to put a smile on my face. It feels like going back to meet with old friends whenever Fred Astaire or Donald O'Connor pop up to introduce a new series of clips -- whic... read moreh, of course, are wonderful in themselves. That's Entertainment really does makes you appreciate, even moreso, the brilliant talents that graced the screen before Hollywood evolved into the paparazzi-fueled machine it is now. Really a beautiful compilation -- so much so that I really don't think I'll both seeing the second, as I can't imagine what in the world could be tacked on to make it any more enjoyable.
  • placeinthesun455
    July 19, 2008
    placeinthesun455
    for any lover of musicals, or for anyone who'd like to be a lover of musicals, this is your film. whether you're reliving your favorite clips or experiencing them for the very first time, beginner or seasoned cinephile, this documentary is a solid panoply of MGM's wing of the Go... read morelden Age Hollywood Musical library. the hosts' scripts are a little too well-rehearsed and MGM's perhaps a little too self-gratifying, but on the whole it's a great perspective spectrum of some classic musical gems.
  • rindn5
    July 7, 2008
    rindn5
    I fell in love with MGM musicals and was so glad when this one came out...I bought the record (yes, I'm that old) and now own the DVD...

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Critic Reviews

Steve Crum
January 1, 2008
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

'Boy, do we need it now' was catchphrase when this MGM musical salute was first released--and it stands even more today.

John J. Puccio
December 28, 2007
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

...great singing and dancing, among the greatest ever put on film. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
May 24, 2006
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Pleasingly sentimental. Full Review

Christopher Null
October 25, 2004
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

Like no other industry, Hollywood has the unique ability to celebrate itself Full Review

Matt Brunson
October 20, 2004
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing

The cinematic equivalent of a sustained two-hour orgasm, That's Entertainment! is pure pleasure from first frame to last. Full Review

Matt Bailey
October 15, 2004
Matt Bailey, Not Coming to a Theater Near You

That's Entertainment! cannot and is not a substitute for seeing the musicals themselves, in their entirety. Full Review

Ken Hanke
October 1, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

It's good, but contrary to the onscreen evidence, MGM did not make all the best musicals.

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Nora Sayre
May 9, 2005
Nora Sayre, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

November 22, 2004
Hollywood Reporter

No review available.

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  • ***What Movie Used The Tag Line "Boy! Do We Need It Now***  Answer »
  • Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra were in two movies together excluding That's Entertainment. What were they?  Answer »
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