The Worst Film Ever

A Masterpiece!

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

I enjoyed the first That's Entertainment! a lot. The second was OK but a huge step down from the first. The third doesn't match the first but it does surpass part 2. The most interesting aspect of this compilation was the inclusion of outtakes and deleted scenes. So classic film fans get to see a lot of hidden treasures. A few of my favorites were the Lena Horne bubble bath number from Cabin in the Sky, Ava Gardner's unused vocals from Showboat, and the opening dance of Fred & Ginger in The Barkleys of Broadway without the annoying title credits. Also some interesting behind-the-scenes footage of Eleanor Powell's "Fascinating Rhythm" number from Lady Be Good and a side-by-side comparison of Joan Crawford and Cyd Charisse performances of the same song. But the true highlight of the film would be the Judy Garland numbers she filmed from Annie Get Your Gun before being fired and the "Mr. Monotony" number cut from Easter Parade. It's a great compilation that will please most fans of classic musicals.

The Salute to the Movie Musical, OK MGM Musicals, completes its Trilogy with something Delightfully Different. There is a goodly amount of previously unseen Footage, Outtakes, and other Information Visually Displayed that has a Behind the Scenes Peek at some rather Rare and Remarkable Stuff.Film Buffs can do nothing but Relish this Eye Candy and Gawk at the Privilege of Viewing these Things with Awe and Amazement. Casual Film Fans may find this Third Segment a bit too Insider, but there are enough "Regular" Clips, in fact just as many, to make up for this Venture into the "Weeds" of the Singing and Dancing Film.Aging Stars come on Screen to give Their Modern Perspective and Wax Nostalgic and while most Fans like Seeing this sort of Thing, it does have a somewhat Cringing Effect, such as Gene Kelly barely able to muster enough breath to Speak, a ballooning, hardly recognizable Mickey Rooney, and Ann Miller, well You get the Picture and some more Sensitive Viewers may wish They didn't. Remembering these Energetic and Lively Performers in Their Prime is one way to go, but in most of these types of Things, not usually.But that is a Nitpick, and doesn't really distract from the Awesomeness of this Three Part Retrospective. This is an Immensely Enjoyable and Fitting Conclusion.

As others have commented, the strength of TE3 is the special, never-before-seen footage, which is very, very interesting. However, the standard MGM excerpts are often less than remarkable, and occasionally downright boring. It makes sense: The original TE used much of the very best numbers available. TE2 used what didn't fit into the original. By the time they got to TE3, they had to settle for some "also-rans." BARELY A SPOILER ***Fred Astaire had a nice way with a song, but when you see an entire number with him singing and *not* dancing, that's a sign that the pickings were slim.*** END OF "SPOILER" Still, there's enough good stuff in here for a very enjoyable viewing. And since you're not watching it in the theater, you can fast-forward to the next number if you're feeling a bit bored.By the way, if you're a "That's Entertainment" fan, you *must* check out "That's Dancin'," which rises to the standard of the original TE.

The final instalment in MGM's nostalgia fest of old musical clips is presented in much the same way as the first one twenty years earlier, as several luminaries from the studio's past are wheeled out in front of the cameras to reminisce on their time under contract. The film also marks the final appearance of an obviously ailing Gene Kelly, who introduces and closes the proceedings with some poignancy.Others involved are Donald O'Connor, Mickey Rooney, June Allyson, Lena Horne, Ann Miller, and Esther Williams, and the clips include outtakes and unused material for the first time (a lavish production number intended for The Harvey Girls; Judy Garland's ‘Mr Monotony' from Easter Parade, where she wears her trademark tuxedo and tights for the first time; and early clips from 1930s musicals which were junked).We also see how an Eleanor Powell number was filmed, with stagehands rearranging the set to allow the camera to get close; and see a comparison of a Fred Astaire number in two different set-ups. A good attempt to tidy up all the clips we hadn't already seen in TE 1 and 2, and worth a couple of hours of your time.