Plot: What’s it about?
One of this viewer’s fondest memories was as a young man growing up in the late seventies early eighties universe of New York local channels. The holidays were the best time for these channels because they would have different marathons of shows and movies and one in particular was a happy memory. It was New Years and way before the dropping of the ball and Channel 11 had a penchant for throwing a lot of MGM musicals and films on. It was on that day that I was introduced to not only a big film in itself but a past filled with color, magic and delight. It was the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of MGM, the year was 1974 and the film was That’s Entertainment. Little did I realize that day that Channel 11 had a double feature with the second one following after. This was nearing the time That’s Dancing was going to be released. And then some years later, a third installment (ignoring Dancing) came to the big screen and dazzled the audience again. It took ten years and the DVD advanced technology to bring them together again in That’s Entertainment: The Complete Collection.
In the first installment, many stars such as Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra and many others say a few words about their experiences and memories at this grand studio leading off different segments of clips of MGM’s musical past. In the second installment, Kelly and Astaire are back for more clips and rememberances as well as kicking up their heels in this two man show including more MGM memories of films past that were not musical but wonderful nonetheless. In the third installment, the multi-host structure was back and looked better than ever including never before seen alternate takes on certain numbers as well as numbers never seen before fresh out of MGM’s vaults.
Watching all of these films I was taken back to the same spot I was that New Year’s and Channel 11 remembering how wonderful the musical numbers were even though the age of the MGM musicals were before my time, my nostalgic curiosity always took me back to that time and was just amazed how all of the ones involved did it. The only thing missing was asking my father about all of those movies and little by little catching up with them on a new present we had gotten in the house called a Video Cassette Recorder and renting those fine MGM musicals.
If there is one job in film I give a huge amount of credit to, it is the clip compilers and editors at these award shows putting together great clips keeping the momentum flowing for some nice clip reels and the That’s Entertainment movies have that spirit and is more than just your average clip reels letting the audience get a glimpse of what made this studio great and what it can be best remembered for in it’s various bits of magic and appreciation for imagination and color. All three films represent it well and all are never wasted time for this or any appreciative filmgoer that likes to hear the roar of the lion and the bright lights lit up for a big screen presentation.
All three That’s Entertainment films have distinct stamps of their own without being redundant and all three are equally precious collections of gems that continue to shine on today.
Video: How does it look?
All three That’s Entertainment films are presented in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with room for varying aspect ratios formatted to fit the appropriate clips and these clips look the best they ever have in any format (Only That’s Entertainment is windowboxed in the present day segments). The colors balance nicely without any oversaturation or bleeding. All vary in age but their look does not take away from the overall visual experience in this set that is both memorable and dazzling. The third installment seems to have the least of any flaws being that it was the most recent with the first two in seventies stock but there is one thing all three share. There is not a scratch or hiss or debris evident on all three films. For those who prefer the full frame treatment, it is on the opposite side of the disc. An outstanding job.
Audio: How does it sound?
All three That’s Entertainment films are given the Dolby Digital 5.1 treatment and the results are great. All dialogue and musical scenes come out with great clarity and balance nicely around the channels although the seperation is decent. Most of the activity surrounds nicely around all channels with the score playing and the dialogue majorly coming through the middle. The music never sounded better and all three sound wonderful. A very good track. This disc also has English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Where do I begin? Where do I finish?
We start the extras of the That’s Entertainment collection on all three films with individual introductions by Robert Osborne that gives us a nice brief history of each film and some nice recollections from his view. All three films also have their own theatrical trailer in 1.85:1. All three films are available individually on their own.
The majority of extras happen to be on a fourth disc “Treasures From The Vault” which is only available as part of the Collection set and there are on both sides of the disc.
On Side A, we start off with MGM’s 25th Anniversary, a 10 minute arrangement of a luncheon held in 1949 by Louis B. Mayer honoring the stars of the studio of that time. They are announced accordingly with some others unannounced but seated. See how many you can guess in this. It is a treat and there is audio at the beginning and the end with the middle filled with the people and music only.
Then the That’s Entertainment section of the Vault has two noted pieces. The first is That’s Entertainment: 50 Years of Magic hosted by George and Alana Hamilton which shows That’s Entertainment in excerpts from the film, from the premiere with all noted guests along with the players brought aside with the Hamiltons to say a few words about their time at MGM. It is a good piece of the time made for seventies television and is a great gathering and a nice addition. One note is that Turner Classic Movies always showed the final grouping of the MGM players in film but with no audio and the That’s Entertainment theme playing on in the background. This special retains the grouping with intros by Sammy Davis Jr. and Liza Minnelli and is a treat. Check out the special intro of Russ Tamblyn during this grouping. It’s also a good representation of what the featured films looked at that time and how great they look now in comparison. The other piece being Just One More Time, which is a featurette made at the time to promote the film and it’s short and sweet.
In the That’s Entertainment II Vaults, this section starts off with The Lion Roars Again focusing on the year 1976 when That’s Entertainment II and other MGM titles such as Logan’s Run, All American Girl, Hearts of the West and The Sunshine Boys are featured as part of this promotional conference headed up with the filmmakers and the head of production, Daniel Melnick who you’ll recognize from Disc 2 of the Criterion version of Straw Dogs.
This section also has an excerpt from the old Mike Douglas Show focusing on the second That’s Entertainment film with both Kelly and Astaire plus a few other MGM regulars along the way to celebrate the release of the film. Incidentally, this episode was on a month and change before I was hatched into the world.
Finally on Side A is the That’s Entertainment III Vault with That’s Entertainment III: Behind The Screen that gives sort of a Backstory episode look at the making of the film and more recollections of the participants in the third installment. All give great insight and is a great addition to this first side of the vault disc.
On Side B we’re given more starting with The Masters Behind The Musicals, a thirty seven minute present day look at the acknoledgements by the stars of the directors, choreographers and producers behind the films that are featured in this film. This is a nice retrospective piece and everyone takes part very nicely without getting greatly cheerfully redundant.
To end this great collection, there is The Musical Outtakes Jukebox, sixteen outtakes from various musicals that didn’t make it into the final cut of either the movie of any of the installments of That’s Entertainment. These have been well protected and well preserved and all are great curiosity pieces and are great on their own with each given an mini summation of the film leading up to the outtake.
My only regret is that That’s Dancing was not included in this. Here’s hoping in the future it can be as it also fits well into this great retrospective series.
What more can I say that hasn’t been said about the That’s Entertainment collection. It’s fun, it’s a thrill, the music is great, the look is the best and the extras are top notch. This is a must own collection, there is a great assortment. That’s Entertainment. It’s outstanding
