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Some of the most impressive numbers from the golden era of MGM musicals are contained in this video, the third of the That's Entertainment films. Have no fear that the studio was scraping the bottom of the barrel when assembling these clips after having produced two earlier films using the same formula. In fact, it can be argued that this particular compilation would be attractive to a general audience of today, as it contains a wealth of material that hasn't been widely seen. And almost none of it would be produced today, as these complicated dance scenes would simply be too expensive to film in the modern era. An example is a lavish production number featuring the great dancer Eleanor Powell seen in split screen, so the viewer watching the video can see not only what the movie audience saw, but what the soundstage looked like as a small army of stagehands performed artful illusions by removing gigantic portions of the stage as Powell danced across it. Interesting outtakes featuring Judy Garland and Lena Horne are also featured, and former MGM musical stars who introduce the production numbers (and provide background on the filming) include Gene Kelly and Esther Williams. The title doesn't lie: it's all entertaining. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Enjoyable Mix of Classic Moments & Rare Footage
Opening with a Gene Kelly-introduced segment concerning early efforts to develop musical stars and material, this third installment of the THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT quickly seques into celebrity-introduced film clips from MGM musicals--film clips that range from familiar favorites to out-takes, rareities, and numbers that were cut from films before their release. The narrators are well scripted, well filmed, and often interject insightful personal notes by introducing clips from their own movies.

Such is the case with the legendary Lena Horne, who presents a casually-spoken but quite powerful narrative about the Hollywood racism that limited her career and ultimately prevented her from playing Julie in SHOWBOAT. But the real power of THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT III is in it's "never-before-seen" footage--footage that includes memorable performances by Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, and Lena Horne among others. The film also offers the chance to see some truly rare bits of film, including Vaudeville acts hoping for film stardom, scenes from the early Technicolor and never-completed film MARCH OF TIME, and pre-code bathing-beauties. THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT III doesn't have quite the same dash and splash or variety as the original THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT, but it moves at a smart pace, and fans of movie musicals will find a great deal to enjoy. Recommended.

A little something for everyone
Hey -- don't look at me that way! They were showing it on TV, and how could I resist? Like the previous installments in this series, this scrapbook documentary patches together some of the most dazzling and outlandish dance numbers from the golden age of MGM musicals, using hackneyed narrations by old-time studio stars such as Gene Kelly, Lena Horne and Esther Williams. The numbers whiz by like lightning, deftly navigating the shoals of countless half-forgotten tossoffs and classic A-list films. Naturally, some bits will appeal more to some viewers than others... my attention began to wander when the Esther Williams and Gene Kelly sequences went on too long: her movies were too bland to merit the extra attention; his were too good to merely nibble at in a forum like this. But the clips from lesser-known films are pure gems, and since many of these films are still out of print (or better left unrented), having the best material lifted out of them is a real treat. I did feel gypped, though by the meagre sampling of Carmen Miranda's work... she had some really distinctive routines, and it would be nice to see more of her! A fluffily produced featurette, yet evocative of a golden era.

The world is a stage, the stage is the world of entertainmen
THis is when Hollywood was at it's best and we were blessed with the MGM Musicals and no one did them better.I have all 3 "That's Entertainment" on Lazer Disc and it is pretty wonderful, but TE 3 is not only more of the same wonderful singing and dancing but also takes you behind the scenes to show you how some of the MGM magic was done. I also ran this film at my theatre in Florida and it was longer than this version. It seems for some reason they have edited out the Cinerama segments and i don't know why.I so much wish that MGM would release these onto DVD in 5.1. One of the neat things about this TE 3 is how the sound keeps switching from center speaker to all five. The sound is rich and thrilling. If you buy this video it will be like a wonderful history lesson of the movie musicals.They simply don't make them like this anymore for several reasons. The first and most important is that there isn't anymore great talent left in Hollywood anymore. Second, we don't have really good directors. Third, there is no creative power anymore and forth is the cost. So just sit back, relax and take a walk down memory lane and enjoy the best of what MGM had to offer. Now "That's Enterainment."

Really not especially good...
...none of the TE compilations are, in my opinion. The numbers are always chopped up to the point where most musical enthusiasts won't want to watch them (TE3 uses several clips that appeared in the first two films), and the in-between segments by the stars, pleasant though it is to see them again, are kind of a downer.

The redeeming features in this one are the rare outtakes/alternate versions, and Lena Horne, who has kept her looks marvelously and speaks of her MGM days without that Vaseline-lens glow of unchecked nostalgia that makes the other stars' reminiscences so curiously depressing.

AS GOOD AS THE FIRST "THAT'S ENT!", MAYBE BETTER!
Nobody made better musicals than MGM, and they certainly had reason to celebrate their legacy when THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT! was released in 1974. That all-star compilation of great musical numbers from the studio's past was, and is, a non-stop whirlwind of joy and phenomenal clips. The sequel in 1976 (PART 2) had some great footage, but some curious inclusions, and there was no rhyme or reason as to what was being presented. It took almost 20 years, but the studio went back to the golden vaults again for THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT! III and came up with a winner.

Although it didn't get the kind of theatrical release that it should have, T.E. III got virtually unanimous rave reviews, and deserves to be seen. (Why on earth haven't they released a DVD of this great film?). As the AMAZON reviewer indicates, anyone who feels a third entry in the series would be created from "leftovers" would be happily mistaken. There are more than 50 terrific numbers in this entry, but more importantly, THIS is the "Entertainment!" that really takes us behind-the-scenes into the process that went into making these films. The truth behind the MGM dream factory. The MGM stars that returned to the studio to host the segments are all terrific, particularly Lena Horne who deals frankly with the racial issues that subdued her career opportunities. The highlight of this picture are at least a dozen never-before-seen outtakes featuring Garland, Astaire, Debbie Reynolds, Horne, etc. that are as good as anything that they DIDN'T leave on the cutting room floor.

Produced with class and intelligence, and compiled and edited with skill and wit, this is a best-best for any fan of MGM musicals or classic Hollywood for that matter! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Enjoyable Mix of Classic Moments & Rare Footage
Opening with a Gene Kelly-introduced segment concerning early efforts to develop musical stars and material, this third installment of the THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT quickly seques into celebrity-introduced film clips from MGM musicals--film clips that range from familiar favorites to out-takes, rareities, and numbers that were cut from films before their release. The narrators are well scripted, well filmed, and often interject insightful personal notes by introducing clips from their own movies.

Such is the case with the legendary Lena Horne, who presents a casually-spoken but quite powerful narrative about the Hollywood racism that limited her career and ultimately prevented her from playing Julie in SHOWBOAT. But the real power of THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT III is in it's "never-before-seen" footage--footage that includes memorable performances by Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, and Lena Horne among others. The film also offers the chance to see some truly rare bits of film, including Vaudeville acts hoping for film stardom, scenes from the early Technicolor and never-completed film MARCH OF TIME, and pre-code bathing-beauties. THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT III doesn't have quite the same dash and splash or variety as the original THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT, but it moves at a smart pace, and fans of movie musicals will find a great deal to enjoy. Recommended.

A little something for everyone
Hey -- don't look at me that way! They were showing it on TV, and how could I resist? Like the previous installments in this series, this scrapbook documentary patches together some of the most dazzling and outlandish dance numbers from the golden age of MGM musicals, using hackneyed narrations by old-time studio stars such as Gene Kelly, Lena Horne and Esther Williams. The numbers whiz by like lightning, deftly navigating the shoals of countless half-forgotten tossoffs and classic A-list films. Naturally, some bits will appeal more to some viewers than others... my attention began to wander when the Esther Williams and Gene Kelly sequences went on too long: her movies were too bland to merit the extra attention; his were too good to merely nibble at in a forum like this. But the clips from lesser-known films are pure gems, and since many of these films are still out of print (or better left unrented), having the best material lifted out of them is a real treat. I did feel gypped, though by the meagre sampling of Carmen Miranda's work... she had some really distinctive routines, and it would be nice to see more of her! A fluffily produced featurette, yet evocative of a golden era.

The world is a stage, the stage is the world of entertainmen
THis is when Hollywood was at it's best and we were blessed with the MGM Musicals and no one did them better.I have all 3 "That's Entertainment" on Lazer Disc and it is pretty wonderful, but TE 3 is not only more of the same wonderful singing and dancing but also takes you behind the scenes to show you how some of the MGM magic was done. I also ran this film at my theatre in Florida and it was longer than this version. It seems for some reason they have edited out the Cinerama segments and i don't know why.I so much wish that MGM would release these onto DVD in 5.1. One of the neat things about this TE 3 is how the sound keeps switching from center speaker to all five. The sound is rich and thrilling. If you buy this video it will be like a wonderful history lesson of the movie musicals.They simply don't make them like this anymore for several reasons. The first and most important is that there isn't anymore great talent left in Hollywood anymore. Second, we don't have really good directors. Third, there is no creative power anymore and forth is the cost. So just sit back, relax and take a walk down memory lane and enjoy the best of what MGM had to offer. Now "That's Enterainment."

Really not especially good...
...none of the TE compilations are, in my opinion. The numbers are always chopped up to the point where most musical enthusiasts won't want to watch them (TE3 uses several clips that appeared in the first two films), and the in-between segments by the stars, pleasant though it is to see them again, are kind of a downer.

The redeeming features in this one are the rare outtakes/alternate versions, and Lena Horne, who has kept her looks marvelously and speaks of her MGM days without that Vaseline-lens glow of unchecked nostalgia that makes the other stars' reminiscences so curiously depressing.

AS GOOD AS THE FIRST "THAT'S ENT!", MAYBE BETTER!
Nobody made better musicals than MGM, and they certainly had reason to celebrate their legacy when THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT! was released in 1974. That all-star compilation of great musical numbers from the studio's past was, and is, a non-stop whirlwind of joy and phenomenal clips. The sequel in 1976 (PART 2) had some great footage, but some curious inclusions, and there was no rhyme or reason as to what was being presented. It took almost 20 years, but the studio went back to the golden vaults again for THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT! III and came up with a winner.

Although it didn't get the kind of theatrical release that it should have, T.E. III got virtually unanimous rave reviews, and deserves to be seen. (Why on earth haven't they released a DVD of this great film?). As the AMAZON reviewer indicates, anyone who feels a third entry in the series would be created from "leftovers" would be happily mistaken. There are more than 50 terrific numbers in this entry, but more importantly, THIS is the "Entertainment!" that really takes us behind-the-scenes into the process that went into making these films. The truth behind the MGM dream factory. The MGM stars that returned to the studio to host the segments are all terrific, particularly Lena Horne who deals frankly with the racial issues that subdued her career opportunities. The highlight of this picture are at least a dozen never-before-seen outtakes featuring Garland, Astaire, Debbie Reynolds, Horne, etc. that are as good as anything that they DIDN'T leave on the cutting room floor.

Produced with class and intelligence, and compiled and edited with skill and wit, this is a best-best for any fan of MGM musicals or classic Hollywood for that matter! ... Read more