That's Entertainment! (1974)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Absolutely the worst movie.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

I have a feeling that I speak for much of my generation, maybe MOST of my generation, when I say that it's hard to take these old musicals seriously. Always happy-go-lucky, they set themselves up to get heckled. I did just that while watching "That's Entertainment!". If you've read my reviews of musicals, then you'll know that I watch them only so that I can throw out the sorts of comments that Mike, Servo and Crow hurl at the crummy movies sent them by Dr. Forrester and TV's Frank on "Mystery Science Theater 3000". Most of the time here, I just blurted out quotes from other movies ("Army of Darkness", "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", etc).Here's a few other things. I noticed that one movie contained a scene of people performing in blackface. "Show Boat" was little more than a whitewash of the Jim Crow south. I recognize the New York song from "On the Town" from the time that "The Simpsons" spoofed it: Bart and Milhouse OD on sugar from an entirely syrup-based Squishee, and sing about Springfield. And then there's "Over the Rainbow". Everyone remembers Judy Garland singing it, but lesser known is that the song's co-writer Yip Harburg later got blacklisted for holding socialist views.Anyway, my favorite movies from Hollywood's golden age are comedies, gangster flicks, and sci-fi/horror flicks*. Most of the movies here would be a lot more interesting if remade my the creators of "South Park". Or if presented by Elvira.*Speaking of horror flicks, "The Wizard of Oz" DID scare me when I was little: that scene where the woman turns into a witch in the tornado freaked me out. That movie and "Ghostbusters" are the only movies that authentically scared me.

This Compilation of Clips from MGM Musicals can serve two distinct and delightful Audiences. Those Older Folks who have been there and done that, and those who have not. It can be a Nostalgic Trip down Memory Lane or an Introduction to these Popular Movies for those that are Curious. The Movie is heavy on Self-Congratulatory MGM Hubris, but if taken in that context it can be forgiven. Because the Movie is non-stop in its inclusion of Colorful and Timeless Musicals and some of the Famous Songs and Dances, some in their Entirety, and others Shorten for Time Restraints.It is an Eye-Popping Extravaganza of Talent, be They Hoofers, Crooners, of Choreographers like the inimitable Busby Berkeley. The Film zips along and hardly wavers in its Title Conceit. There is much to take in here and it is a rewarding Experience.Recommended for an Introduction to the Musicals of the past as a Primer to determine further Exploration of the Genre. Also for those with a Yearn for Yesteryear and this Time-Stamped Art Form.

Okay, I just rewatched this tribute to M-G-M musicals which was released on the 50th anniversary of the merged studio, 1974. It attempted to show us-in a little more than two hours-just how great the movie company was during the prime of its first three decades when they had, as the slogan went, "More stars than there are in heavens". If you wanted to see the great numbers from the likes of The Wizard of Oz, The Band Wagon, Meet Me in St. Louis, On the Town, An American in Paris, and, especially, Singin' in the Rain in one picture, well, they're all here! And many of the studio's past stars in Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Lawford, James Stewart, Mickey Rooney, Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Fred Astaire provide pretty good commentary, although obviously written for them, along with occasional loan-outs from other studios like Donald O'Connor and Bing Crosby and the famous offspring of two of the studio's most valuable players-Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli: Liza Minnelli whose then-husband Jack Haley, Jr. was responsible for those stars' words. If there's some quibble with Haley's script, it's how he glosses over some more troubling things behind-the-scenes like when a Lena Horne number is shown, nothing is mentioned of her usually having to just "do a number" that could be easily be edited by Southern cinemas without hurting the plot, simply because most of their white audiences didn't care to watch anyone of color in other than domestic roles at the time. And it's a little overwhelming to watch one big musical number after another straight through for the amount of time I mentioned at the beginning of this review with barely a break in between. Still, having watched this on HD DVD in stereo, That's Entertainment! can still be quite an exhilarating experience to go through! So on that note, this is highly recommended.

This is one movie that everyone who loves movies should see. It documents beautifully the history of MGM from 1929 to 1955, and the great musicals that were created there. Every moment of this movie is a 'highlight' - the makers took all the best bits of the best MGM musicals and rolled them together into a wonderful package that makes you smile for 2 hours.Its very rare indeed to watch such a thoroughly entertaining movie. And it even laughs at itself, particularly when showing the insanity of Esther Williams' mega-productions. These have to be seen to be believed!