America was so high on nostalgia in the early 1970s that Roaring Twenties dances were being taught at Arthur Murray and even a remake of "The Great Gatsby" was pulling in viewers. MGM, on the verge of financial ruin (and about to liquidate its assets), finally found a way to turn a profit very cheaply: edit together sequences from their library of hit musicals into one splashy package. Lesser-known clips are dropped in to keep things curious, but most of the footage here includes musical centerpieces from classic films that many viewers in 1974 had only seen on the late show. Despite an editing job that is so smoothly-efficient it's practically lethargic, "That's Entertainment!" quickly became a movie-encyclopedia for film buffs interested in plumbing the past, although it isn't very useful today (what with cable channels like Turner Classic Movies showing these pictures in their entirety). Star-narrators turn up to put their own histories into perspective, but most of them look dazed or tired--especially Elizabeth Taylor (filmed through layers of gauze), Frank Sinatra (squinting in the sunlight), and Fred Astaire (who was actually on the verge of a career comeback at this time). Some enjoyment and razzle-dazzle, especially in the Esther Williams montage, but pointless to anyone who craves the satisfaction of creative output. Followed by two wan sequels in 1976 and 1994, and a second-cousin, "That's Dancing!", in 1985. ** from ****
Review of That's Entertainment!
