FredCDobbs Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 These are fun to watch. We get to see many actors, singers, and dancers when they were both younger and older, and also in their prime. The rare scenes of the early films are very interesting. So are the out-take musical numbers, and different actors playing the same roles (one replaces the other). Also, very interesting with all three of these shown back to back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blondie7 Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Still recording the series. Look forward to watching. Super! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryLyn2 Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 When I saw all three of the That's Entertainment movies were going to be on today - I wished I could take off work to watch them back to back. I caught the end of That's Entertainment Part III. And was not disappointed. Too bad That's Entertainment movies are not being repeated in the near future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casablancalover Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Even when uneven, MGM musicals are delightfully distracting. Especially Fanny Brice when she's doing Barbra Streisand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryLyn2 Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 :^0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blondie7 Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Thanks for the phenomenal info. Soon as I get a chance....will watch. Happy New Year to you and your precious love ones! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blondie7 Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 "That's Entertainment" 1-3 is available on Netflix...you'll be able to rent and watch as long as you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kriegerg69 Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I enjoy all three of them....I think the first is the best simply because it was the first and something unique at the time...but I don't consider them great pieces of cinema themselves, rather they're more like excellent sample platters of the MGM history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredCDobbs Posted December 30, 2011 Author Share Posted December 30, 2011 Dang! I've been watching TCM movies since 11 AM. It's 9 PM now. That's 10 straight hours of movies! Help! Stop me! Before I watch another movie! Oh, oh, but let me see "Love Crazy" first!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredCDobbs Posted December 30, 2011 Author Share Posted December 30, 2011 I'm old, retired, and watching "Love Crazy". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprocket_Man Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 To heck with TCM, the trilogy just came out on Blu-ray, and at a bargain price (I picked up the 3-disc box for $20.00). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbeckuaf Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Fred, I agree! I'm not a huge fan of MGM musicals, but it was still fun to check this out all afternoon! Love this stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kriegerg69 Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 > {quote:title=TopBilled wrote:}{quote}The world of MGM classics is much more than musicals. Duh...I never said that it was. I simply said "my first real introduction to the world of the MGM classics"...and TE 1 just happens to focus on the musicals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 There should be volumes devoted to MGM's other genres. Otherwise, it is really 'That's Musical Entertainment.' MGM's entertainment programming covered a vast array of styles and formats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lzcutter Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 > There should be volumes devoted to MGM's other genres *MGM: When the Lion Roared* is a multi-hour documentary that looks at the history of MGM and the movies produced under that banner from the silents through the auction of the early 1970s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Yes thanks for mentioning that. But instead of something as comprehensive, I would like to see products that focus specifically on MGM's war films or on MGM's westerns. And since Time Warner seems to control the RKO titles, wouldn't it be great to see a few volumes with clips and interviews about the post-war noir. The way they are presenting the 'That's Entertainment' series, they seem to imply that MGM's trademark was musicals. It was not. The studio's trademark was high-brow entertainment and glamour. This is definitely evidenced in the musical output but can also be seen in dramatic fare like MARIE ANTOINETTE and MRS. MINIVER. Though if we are focusing in on the MGM musicals, then I really think there should be more research and discussion about the high-art of signees like Jeanette MacDonald, Lauritz Melchoir, Mario Lanza and Ezio Pinza. The musicals were not exactly catering to working class families. Producers like Joe Pasternak tried to elevate the genre, though I agree they included performers like Jimmy Durante in comic relief to sell some of this high-art to the common masses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveFilmNoir Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Good information in this thread. I too enjoy watching these for the same reasons others already mentioned and I am glad TCM aired it again. Last I saw them was around this time a few years ago. One of the things I love most about TCM is the original programming and documentaries they air. Has something like That's Entertainment been done for studios like Paramount, Columbia and Fox?? and not just with musicals? I remember seeing the Paramount Anniversary promo pics on Getty Images that featured many classic stars so I wonder if they did any specials around that time. Would TCM ever air any specials that were documentary style but originally broadcast on TV?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kriegerg69 Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 LFN, there was a tv series narrated by Tom Bosley back in the 80's called That's Hollywood, which was Fox's own way of doing That's Entertainment and focusing only on Fox films. Each episode had a theme, like (my fave) the one on disaster movies, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesJazGuitar Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I would be very surprised if films like That's Entertainment is causing you to neglect the other gems that were produced in the same period. It clearly didn't cause me to neglect the other movies MGM created during the golden era or musicals by other studios and based on your knowledge of classic movies I'm sure it didn't either. Frankly I fault those that let marketing drive their behavior than the ones doing the marketing, especially in the Internet era where anyone with the will to seek information can find it. As for the movies themselves the main thing I found interesting is when they showed takes from actors that were not in the final film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveFilmNoir Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 kriegerg69, thank you for this info. I am going to seek this series out!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprocket_Man Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 >LFN, there was a tv series narrated by Tom Bosley back in the 80's called That's Hollywood, which was Fox's own way of doing That's Entertainment and focusing only on Fox films. Each episode had a theme, like (my fave) the one on disaster movies, etc. Mainly 1970's (1976-82). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaslovesTCM Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 I taped it all but screwed up the last one for some reason I thought it ended at 6 damn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Singleton Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 >I'm old, retired, and watching "Love Crazy". Oh, I thought it was because you're a journalist and you know how to waste time better than anyone, yet sincerely consider it "research". Also, I don't believe journalists ever retire, for they are chronically and incurably curious. Only someone who's loves a journalist would risk that assessment... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 >Frankly I fault those that let marketing drive their behavior than the ones doing the marketing, especially in the Internet era where anyone with the will to seek information can find it. Hmmmmm... LOL Edited by: TopBilled on Jan 1, 2012 2:21 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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