That's Entertainment! III (1994)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Directors:

Bud Friedgen
Michael J. Sheridan

Writers (WGA):

Bud Friedgen (written by) &
Michael J. Sheridan (written by)

Release Date:

July 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Family | Music

Plot:

Some of MGM'S musical stars review the studios history of musicals. From _Hollywood Revue of 1929, The (1929)_ to Brigadoon (1954) ...

Plot Keywords:

Musical Filmmaking | Compilation | Singer | Dancer | Sequel

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Gene Kelly	...	Himself - Co-host / Narrator (also archive footage)
June Allyson	...	Herself - Co-host / Narrator (also archive footage)
Cyd Charisse	...	Herself - Co-host / Narrator (also archive footage)
Lena Horne	...	Herself - Co-host / Narrator (also archive footage)
Howard Keel	...	Himself - Co-host / Narrator (also archive footage)
Ann Miller	...	Herself - Co-host / Narrator (also archive footage)
Debbie Reynolds	...	Herself - Co-host / Narrator (also archive footage)
Mickey Rooney	...	Himself - Co-host / Narrator (also archive footage)
Esther Williams	...	Herself - Co-host / Narrator (also archive footage)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeanette MacDonald	...	Herself (clips from "Naughty Marietta" / "Maytime") (archive footage)

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Australia:G (original rating) | Australia:PG (alternate rating) | UK:U | USA:G

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

This film marked Gene Kelly's final film appearance.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Gene Kelly: MGM's dream factory created a rich, romantic, compelling world of illusion. And although we may not see anything like it again, we're blessed with memories and miles and miles of film. In the words of Irving Berlin, "The song has ended, but the melody lingers on."

Movie Connections:

Features Du Barry Was a Lady (1943)

Soundtrack:

You're Off to See the Wizard

Pleasantly surprised

The third installment of musical clips from the MGM vaults. I'm a sucker for musicals and "That's Entertainment! III" was a huge surprise. I thoroughly liked the first part ("That's Entertainment!"); the second installment ("That's Entertainment, Part II") was decent but not that memorable, but this third compilation towers over its predecessors. One of the riches of the "That's Entertainment!III" is that the filmmakers are very critical and passionate about the subject. As much as they are paying homage to the glory of the MGM dream factory, they are also depicting the skill and the hard work that go along with it. This is perhaps the reason serious film critics seem to rhapsodize about it. Lots of pleasant & glorious moments, featuring many musical numbers, most of them cut from the original releases. Particularly revealing are: Eleanor Powell's tap dancing in "Lady Be Good" (in split-screen while the camera moving along with her); Lena Horne speaks about the prejudiced policies at MGM, introducing a nice censored bath scene from "A Cabin the Sky"; and Debbie Reynolds' rare number "You're My Lucky Star", cut from "Singin' in the Rain".