That's Entertainment! The Complete Collection

In 1974, aiming to capitalize on the nostalgia wave sweeping the country, producer Jack Haley Jr. persuaded MGM (then celebrating its 50th anniversary) to let him make a film comprised of clips culled from the studio's classic musicals. Haley assembled most of the survivors of MGM's Golden Age--among them Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Jimmy Stewart, Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Mickey Rooney, Elizabeth Taylor, and Donald O'Connor--to introduce memorable musical numbers from Singin' in the Rain, An American in Paris, The Band Wagon, Show Boat, and a slew of others going back as far as 1929's Broadway Melody. Even at 132 minutes, the film virtually raced by, leaving critics and audiences breathless for more, and That's Entertainment! became a smash hit, far outgrossing most of the studio's other offerings that year. The inevitable sequel, That's Entertainment!, Part 2 followed in 1976, this time with Astaire and Kelly hosting, and even though the first film had skimmed most of the cream, much delicious material remained to be compiled. The success of the first two That's Entertainment! films on video encouraged MGM to take a third bite of the nostalgia apple in 1994. That's Entertainment! III, hosted by June Allyson, Cyd Charisse, Lena Horne, Howard Keel, Ann Miller, Esther Williams, and others--relied heavily on outtakes (Judy Garland is represented by “Mr. Monotony,” an Irving Berlin song inexplicably cut from Easter Parade) and comparisons (Charisse and Joan Crawford are shown dancing to the same prerecorded number in films made nearly 20 years apart; an Astaire dance sequence is shown in split-screen, side by side with an unused version). While the first two films feature stronger lineups, excerpt-wise, the third is perhaps most interesting to film buffs interested in rare material and behind-the-scenes history. Each of the three beautiful-looking, newly-remastered films are available separately priced at $19.98, but this boxed set is the better bargain, as it features a fourth disc containing hours of bonus material, including three documentaries, premiere night coverage, and salutes to the great behind-the-scenes talents. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (E. Hulse)