Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical Treasure (TV 2008)

HOLLYWOOD SINGING & DANCING: A MUSICAL TREASURE is a celebration of song and dance, beginning with the Busby Berkeley films that lifted the spirits of audiences during the Great Depression,... See full summary »

Director:

Mark McLaughlin

Writers:

Phillip Dye, Denise Hamilton,

Stars:

Julie Andrews, Fred Astaire, Obba Babatundé

Cast

Credited cast:
Julie Andrews	...	Herself (archive footage)
Fred Astaire	...	Himself (archive footage)
Obba Babatundé	...	Himself
John Badham	...	Himself
Ray Bolger	...	Himself (archive footage)
Pat Boone	...	Himself
Barry Bostwick	...	Himself
James Cagney	...	Himself (archive footage)
Kitty Carlisle	...	Herself (as Kitty Carlisle Hart)
Leslie Caron	...	Herself
George Chakiris	...	Himself
Marge Champion	...	Herself
Carol Channing	...	Herself
Bill Condon	...	Himself
Allan Corduner	...	Himself

Storyline

HOLLYWOOD SINGING & DANCING: A MUSICAL TREASURE is a celebration of song and dance, beginning with the Busby Berkeley films that lifted the spirits of audiences during the Great Depression, through the patriotic musicals of the 1940s and ending with the collapse of the studio system in the 1950s. Hosted by Academy Award winning stage, screen and television icon, Shirley Jones, this "docutainment" film is a grand historical look at the magic of musical Hollywood. Highlighted are amazing songs and dance numbers, little-known facts, and luminaries who made the magic possible such as Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Shirley Temple, Betty Grable, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, James Cagney, Vincente Minnelli, Stanley Donen, Frank Sinatra, Leslie Caron, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger. Mesmerizing sequences are interspersed with fresh new commentary by Liza Minnelli, Leslie Caron, Debbie Reynolds, Mickey Rooney, ...

---

Taglines:

'Hollywood Singing and Dancing' is the most entertaining and comprehensive documentary about the Hollywood Musical ever produced. A celebration of song and dance beginning with the era of Busby Berkley through the highly acclaimed 2007 box office smash hit 'Dreamgirls.'

---

Genres:

Documentary | Musical

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 March 2008 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Great Musical Treasures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

References The Trouble with Girls (1969)

---

Soundtracks

"Ol' Man River"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Performed by Frank Sinatra
From Till the Clouds Roll By

User Reviews

Does not compare favorably to "That's Entertainment" (Parts I thru III)

Because this was shown during a PBS fund drive, and all the other "specials" that were being shown were more than five years old, I thought this show was another that had been dragged out of the archives.

What a surprise, it's new! But how fresh can a show be when it uses the same, limited material that has been used so many times before, and it should be added, has been presented so much better than this effort. I had never heard of any of the "experts" who are seen on camera, and again because this material has previously been under so many microscopes, all of more acutely focused than that employed here, sorry effort.

That such continuity as there was, was frequently interrupted by pleas for funds finally proved so distracting to me, I simply turned the show off and put on a DVD of "Top Hat"

PBS in thinking this rehash would send viewers into a frenzy of checkwriting. exhibted not only unbridled arrogance, but total disrespect for its audience...two traits PBS displays more of during fund drives than either challenging or entertaining programs.