That's Entertainment Part II (1976) - Star of the month... Frank Sinatra

Due to popular demand, and the success of 'That's Entertainment' (1974), we are presented with 'That's Entertainment, Part II' (1976), with even more music and even more entertainment.

In a slightly different format to the first film, 'That's Entertainment, Part II' is hosted solely by Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, and includes newly filmed musical numbers of the duo. This film also extends beyond the MGM musical, and presents clips from MGM comedies and dramas.

Designed by Saul Bass, the opening title sequence pays homage to the range and style of title sequences from films from the 1930s and early 1950s.

Highlights from 'That's Entertainment, Part II'

• Overture - As with the first film, an overture plays
• That's Entertainment - Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly perform a newly filmes version of 'That's Entertaiment' with new lyrics
• The Stateroom Scene from 'a Night in the Ioera'
• Tributes to Cyd Charisse, Lena Horne, Leslie Caron and Marge/Gower Champion
• From This Moment On - from 'Kiss Me Kate' (1953)
• Black and White Montage -  clips from black and white musicals such as Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy and Jimmu Durante
• Slapstick comedy montage of Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello and Jack BEnny
• Good Morning from 'Singin in the Rain'
• Triplets from 'The Bandwagon'
• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas from 'Meet Me in St. Louis' (1944)
• 10 Cents a Dance - Doris Day's first appearance in a 'That's Entertainment' film
• Special tribute to Frank Sinatra
• Immortal stars and lines, featuring Greta Garbo "I vant to be alone", WC Fields in 'David Copperfield', Jean Harlow and Marie Dressler in 'Dinner at Eight' and Clark Gable in 'Gone With the Wind'
• Travel Talks montage
• France montage - Maurice Chevalier, Dinah Shore singing 'The Last Time I Saw Paris;' in 'Till The Clouds Roll By' (1943), 'I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise' and Gwen Verdon's can can
• There's No Business Like Show Business from 'Annie, Get Your Gun' (1952)
• Tribute to Katharine Hepburn & Spencer Tracy - both on their own and together
• Cypress Gardens Waterski Spectacular - what better way to close the film than with Esther Williams
• That's Entertainment (finale) - from 'The Bandwagon' (1953)
• Exit Music 

Featured performers (in alphabetical order):

Bud Abbott, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, Louis Armstrong, Mary Astor, Lew Ayres, John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, Freddie Batholomew, Wallace Beery, Robert Benchley, Constance Bennett, Jack Benny, Nacio Herb Brown, Jack Buchanan, Billie Burke, James Cagney, Sammy Cahn, Louis Calhern, Leslie Caron, Gower Champion, Marge Champion, Cyd Charisse, Maurice Chevalier, Ronald Colman, Gino Corrado, Lou Costello, Jeanne Coyne, Joan Crawford, Bing Crosby, Dan Dailey, Doris Day, Robert Donat, Fifi D'Orsay, Tommy Dorsey, Melvyn Douglas, Tom Drake, Marie Dressler, Margaret Dumont, Jimmy Durante, Nelson Eddy, Cliff Edwards, Nanette Fabray, W.C. Fields, James A. Fitzpatrick, Bob Fosse, Arthur Freed, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, Judy Garland, Betty Garrett, Greer Garson, Hermione Gingold, Cary Grant, Charley Grapewin, Fernand Gravey, Kathryn Grayson, Carol Haney, Oliver Hardy, Jean Harlow, Katharine Hepburn, Judy Holliday, Sterling Holloway, Lena Horne, Betty Hutton, Harry James, Allan Jones, Buster Keaton, Howard Keel, Grace Kelly, June Knight, Miliza Korjus, Hedy Lamarr, Lassie, Stan Laurel, Vivien Leigh, Oscar Levant, Myrna Loy, Jeanette MacDonald, The Marx Brothers, Chico Marx, Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Roddy McDowall, Ann Miller, Robert Montgomery, Esther Muir, Dave O'Brien, Donald O'Connor, Maureen O'Sullivan, Walter Pidgeon, Eleanor Powell, William Powell, Tommy Rall, Debbie Reynolds, Ginger Rogers, Mickey Rooney, Christian Rub, Al Shean, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra, Red Skelton, Ann Sothern, James Stewart, Lewis Stone, Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Taylor, Marshall Thompson, Franchot Tone, Spencer Tracy, Lana Turner, USC Trojan Marching Band, Bobby Van, Gwen Verdon, Ethel Waters, David Wayne, Johnny Weissmuller, Esther Williams, Ed Wynn, Keenan Wynn, Robert Young

Fred Astaire & Gene Kelly in their second
and last appearance together

Did you know...

• This was Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire's first appearance together in over 30 years - they last appeared together in 'Ziegfeld Follies' (1945)
• In this film, Gene Kelly is 63 and Fred Astaire is 76 - the level of stamina they still have is impressive
• This was Gene Kelly's last directing credit
• This was the last time Fred Astaire danced on film
• 18 years later, this was followed by 'That's Entertainment III' (1994), which also featured Gene Kelly
• During the clip of 'From This Moment On' from 'Kiss Me Kate' (1948), Gene Kelly identifies Ann Miller, Tommy Rall, Bob Fosse, Carol Haney and Bobby Van, but does not identify Jeanne Coyne - Coyne was Kelly's second wife and had died from leukaemia three years earlier
• The song "Good Morning" from 'Singin' in the Rain' (1952), was originally to appear in the first 'That's Entertainment' (1974), but cut before release 

Closing remarks

'That's Entertainment, Part II' is an entertaining compilation of film clips. I personally find this to be the least enjoyable of the three films. Sadly Part 2 does not feature any clips of MGM greats June Allyson and Mario Lanza. A notable musical number which would have been ideal for inclusion is Ann Miller's show stopping 'Too Darn Hot' from 'Kiss Me Kate' (1953).

Star of the month December 2012... Frank Sinatra

fliXposed's Star of the month for December 2012 will be Frank Sinatra. Throughout December I will attempt to watch as many of the following films I can...

The Early Years

• The Shining Future (1944-short)
• The House I Live In (1945-short)
• Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
• It Happened in Brooklyn (1947)
• The Kissing Bandit (1948)

Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly

• Anchors Aweigh (1945)
• Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1948)
• On the Town (1949)

The Golden Years

• Guys & Dolls (1955)
• The Tender Trap (1955)
• The Man with the Golden Arm (1955)
• High Society (1956)
• Pal Joey (1957)

Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin

• Some Came Running (1958)
• 4 For Texas (1963)
• Robin and the Seven Hoods (1964)
• Marriage on the Rocks (1965)
• Once in a Lifetime: Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin

Cameo appearances

• Meet Me In Las Vegas (1956)
• Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
• Advise and Consent (1962)
• Paris When it Sizzles (1964)
• Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)

Non-musical roles

• From Here to Eternity (1953)
• Suddenly (1954)
• Not as a Stranger (1955)
• Never So Few (1959)
• The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
• Dirty Dingus Magee (1970)

Documentaries

• That's Entertainment (1974)
• Just One More Time (1974-short)
• That's Entertainment Part II (1976)
• That's Dancing (1985)
• Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker (1991)
• That's Entertainment Part III (1994)

MGMs 25th Anniversary - Star of the month... Angela Lansbury

Judy Garland seated next to Fred Astaire is not paying

attention to the camera

'MGMs 25th Anniversary' is a short film documenting, you guessed it, MGM's 25th anniversary banquet lunch.

It is primarily made up of the various MGM stars eating, with a short speech by Louis B. Mayer.

Some of the highlights for me include:

• Ava Gardner & Clark Gable smoking in every shot in which they are shown
• Ann Miller swapping seats with Agnes Moorehead, to sit next to her dear friend Jules Munshin
• Claude Jarmin Jr. with a big smile on face as he drinks something - I have a suspicion there may be something alcoholic in that glass, hence the cheeky smile
• Lena Horne looking awkward sitting next to Katharine Hepburn
• Mario Lanza chatting up Vivian Leigh, while Angela Lansbury sits next to him stuffing her face with food
• Errol Flynn & Greer Garson, fresh off the set of 'That Forsyte Woman' are looking rather cosy and inseparable



Jimmy Durante seated with Ava Gardner & Clark 

Gable - Notice Agnes Moorehead, Ann Miller  & 

Jules Mushin behind them

• The closing shot of Lassie

Some of the other classic stars featured include Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Betty Garrett, Leon Ames, Fred Astaire, Wallace Beery, Katharine Grayson, Jimmy Durante, Howard Keel, James Whitmore, and many more.

Harold Arlen's Home Movies (2005) - Star of the month... Angela Lansbury

'Harold Arlen's Home Movies' is a 2005 montage film of behind the scenes home movie footage shot by composer Harold Arlen on the set of 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939).

The short film runs 4m30s and is introduced by Angela Lansbury.

We Haven't Really Met Properly (2005) - Star of the month... Angela Lansbury

'We Haven't Really Met Properly' is a 2005 video essay discussing the stars of The Wizard of Oz' (1939)

Narrated by Angela Lansbury, we are introduced to:
- the great Frank Morgan
- Ray Bolger
- Bert Lahr
- Jack Haley
- the beautiful Billie Bourke
- Margaret Hamilton
- Charley Grapewin
- Clara Blandick
- Terry the Dog (who played Toto)

An interesting documentary which has lots of interesting trivia, including:
- W.C. Fields was almost cast as The Wizard Of Oz
- Ray Bolger almost turned down appearing in 'The Wizard of Oz' as he was originally offered the role of Tin Man

The Wizard Of Oz Outtakes & Deleted Scenes - Star of the month... Angela Lansbury

'The Wizard Of Oz Outtakes & Deleted Scenes' is a 2005 collection of deleted scenes from the film 'The Wizard Of Oz' (1939).

Each clip is individually introduced by Angela Lansbury.

The following clips are featured:

• "If I Only Had a Brain" - entire song, including Ray Bolger's deleted dance break
• "If I Only Had a Heart" - audio recording by Buddy Ebsen, who was originally cast as the Tin Man; the recording is accompanied by production stills
• "Triumphal Return to Emerald City" - audio recording of this deleted musical number, accompanied by production stills
• "Over the Rainbow (Reprise)" - audio recording of a song intended to be sung while Dorothy is locked in the witches castle, accompanied by production still
• "The Jitterbug" - audio recording of a musical number cut after the first preview, accompanied by production stills and rehearsal footage filmed by composer Harold Arlen

Wonderful Wizard of Oz Storybook (2005) - Star of the month... Angela Lansbury

'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Storybook' is a 2005 short film consisting of an abridged retelling of the L. Frank Baum book, 'The Wizard Of Oz'.

Narrated by Angela Lansbury, with illustrations by W.W. Denslow.

I like how this short film remains faithful to the original book, rather than the 1939 film adaptation:

• The silver shoes, rather than ruby slippers
• Tin Man is known as The Tin Woodsman
• The army of mice rescue Dorothy from the poppy field - in the movie they are rescued by Glinda the Good Witch of the North
• The Wicked Witch of the West has one eye - in the movie she has two
• The attack of 40 wolves, 40 crows & 40 bees - this was not shown in the movie
• Battling through the china pottery people and hammerheads - this was not shown in the movie
• Glinda is the Good Witch of the South - in the movie she is of the North
• To return to Kansas, Dorothy chants "Take me home to Aunt Em" instead of "There's no place like home"

The Harvey Girls (1946) - Star of the month... Angela Lansbury

'The Harvey Girls' is a 1946 MGM musical-western directed by George Sidney and starring Judy Garland, John Hodiak, Angela Lansbury, Virginia O'Brien, Ray Bolger, Marjorie Main, Preston Foster, Chill Wills and Cyd Charisse.

Judy Garland, Virginia O'Brien and Cyd Charisse in 'The Harvey Girls'

Based on the 1942 novel 'The Harvey Girls' by Samuel Hopkins Adams, the film was produced by Arthur Freed.

The film tells the story of Fred Harvey's famous traveling waitresses, The Harvey Girls. A group of Harvey Girls are travelling to the western town of Sandrock on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railway to open a new franchise of Harvey House restaurants.  On the train they met Susan Bradley (played by Garland), who is on her way to Sandrock to marry a blind date she has corresponded with via letters. Once the Harvey Girls arrive, they find themselves competing against the dance hall girls at the local saloon, led by Em (played by Lansbury). The rest of the film becomes a case of the saloon girls vs. the Harvey Girls, which eventually leads to an amusing and hilarious cat fight.


Watch the trailer:

Judy Garland & John Hodiak in "The Harvey Girls" (1946)

The Harvey House restaurant chain

The Harvey House restaurant chain was established by Fred Harvey in 1870 to provide good, inexpensive food and lodging in clean, elegant surroundings for travellers to the west. At one point there were 84 Harvey Houses throughout seven states in the US. The waitresses working at the restaurants were famously known as The Harvey Girls.

Musical program

Angela Lansbury showing some leg in "Oh, You Kid"

• "In the Valley (Where the Evening Sun Goes Down)" - Judy Garland
• "Wait and See" - Angela Lansbury (dubbed by Virginia Rees)
• "On the Atchison, Topeka & the Santa Fe" - Ben Carter, Marjorie Main, Ray Bolger, Judy Garland, Virginia O'Brien, Cyd Charisse and Chorus
• "The Train Must be Fed" - Selena Royle & Marjorie Main
• "Oh, You Kid" - Angela Lansbury (dubbed by Virginia Rees)
• "It's a Great Big World" - Judy Garland, Virginia O'Brien and Cyd Charisse (dubbed by Marion Doenges)
• "The Wild, Wild West" - Virginia O'Brien
• "Swing Your Partner Round and Round" - Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Cyd Charisse (dubbed by Marion Doenges) and Chorus

The following songs were filmed but cut from the film - all 3 numbers are included as bonus features on the DVD:

• "The March of the Doagies" - Judy Garland
• "The March of the Doagies (Reprise)" - Judy Garland
• "My Intuition" - Judy Garland & John Hodiak

The following song was recorded but not filmed - an audio recording is included as a bonus feature on the DVD:

• "Hayride" - Judy Garland and Ray Bolger

Song: "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" - Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Marjorie Main, Virginia O'Brien, Cyd Charisse, Ben Carter & Chorus

Song: "It's a Great Big World" - Judy Garland, Virginia O'Brien and Cyd Charisse

Ray Bolger's dance solo

Song: "In the Valley (Where the Evening Sun Goes Down)"

Deleted song: "My Intuition" - Judy Garland & John Hodiak

Did you know...

• The fim was originally intended to be a dramatic film for Lana Turner and Clark Gable, but after seeing the musical 'Oklahoma', Roger Edens felt the film could work as a musical for Judy Garland
• Judy Garland was not interested in appearing in this film, as she wanted to appear in 'Yolanda and the Thief' (1945) with Fred Astaire, which was being directed by her husband Vincente Minnelli
• Judy Garland missed 11 days of filming, and arrived late on 40 days
• Gene Kelly was considered to play the role of Ned Trent
• Angela Lansbury's singing in this film was dubbed by Virginia Rees - although Lansbury could sing, her singing voice was considered unsuitable for her character
• Cyd Charisse's singing was dubbed by Marion Doenges
• Ann Sothern, Eve Arden and Lucille Ball were considered for role of Em
• Edward Arnold was originally considered to play Judge Pervis
• This film features Cyd Charisse's first speaking role
• As Virginia O'Brien was pregnant during filming, some of her scenes with Ray Bolger cut or not filmed, where it was difficult to hide her pregnancy - this is why both O'Brien and Bolger's character disappear towards the end of the film
• This was Virginia Davis' final film
• Ray Bolger was burned by steam from the train during the filming of the song "On the Atchison, Topeka & the Santa Fe"
• After the film was released Angela Lansbury was hissed at in public, due to her character being Judy Garland's rival - Garland was loved by the public
• Byron Harvey Jr., (grandson of the Harvey Girls founder, Fred Harvey) has an uncredited appearance as a train conductor - Byron Harvey Jr. was also president of the Fred Harvey Company at the time the film was made
• Location filming took place at the Iverson Ranch in Victorville, at Chatsworth near Los Angeles and in Monument Valley - studio filming took place at MGM's Culver City studios

Awards and nominations

• Academy Award winner for Best Song ("On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" - written by Johnny Mercer and Harry Warren)
• Academy Award nomination for Best Musical Score (Lennie Hayton)

Closing remarks

Angela Lansbury at her most glamourous in
'The Harvey Girls'

'The Harvey Girls' is an enjoyable MGM musical, although it does start off a little slow. That said, there are better and more entertaining western musicals, such as 'Calamity Jane' (1953) and 'Annie Get Your Gun' (1950). Judy Garland delivers her usual performance, but sadly Ray Bolger's great talent is wasted in a rather small role. Fortunately, we are treated with one of Ray Bolger 's greatest dance solos.

Highlight stars in this film are Angela Lansbury and Virginia O'Brien. This is by far Angela Lansbury's most glamourous role, we see her act sexy for the first and only times as dance hostess Em. Very sadly Lansbury's singing was dubbed as usual. What makes this even more unfortunate is Lansbury could sing quite well and did not deserve the dubbing treatment. As for Virginia O'Brien, she's fantastic as always as one of the lead Harvey Girls.

My 3 reasons to watch this film:

• Judy Garland singing "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" - not to be missed!!
• Angela Lansbury showing some leg and kicking up her heels 
• 2 underrated stars, Virginia O'Brien & Ray Bolger at their best

Glorious Technicolor (1998) - Star of the month... Angela Lansbury

"You haven't seen color until you've seen Technicolor. It was like a painting" - Evelyn Keys

'In Glorious Technicolor' is a 1998 documentary narrated by the great Angela Lansbury. It tells the story of colour in film, focusing on the invention of Technicolor. The documentary also features interviews with actors Arlene Dahl, Evelyn Keyes, Esther Williams and Kim Hunter, and cinematographers John Alton, Jack Cardiff, Vittorio Storaro.

The documentary begins with an exploration into the art and science of colour, and how it corresponds in painting. We are then treated to some very early images of colour, including George Melis' 'La fée Carabosse ou le poignard fatal' (1906).

We are then provided some background on the forgotten pioneer and inventor of Technicolor Herbert T. Kalmus, where we see footage from early Technicolor films: 'The Toll of the Sea' (1922), 'The Black Pirate' (1926) and 'The Hollywood Revue of 1929' (1929). 

Something which I found interesting was that while most studios were opposed to colour, Walt Disney was supportive of it, and allowed 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' (1937) and 'Fantasia' (1940) to be filmed in colour.

The documentary concludes with a segment on the brilliant Technicolor British films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.

Other dazzling Technicolor films excerpted into the documentary include 'The Adventures of Robin Hood' (1938), 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939), 'Gone With the Wind' (1939) and 'Singin in the Rain' (1952).

That's Entertainment Part II (1976) - Star of the month... Elizabeth Taylor

Due to popular demand, and the success of 'That's Entertainment' (1974), we are presented with 'That's Entertainment, Part II' (1976), with even more music and even more entertainment.

In a slightly different format to the first film, 'That's Entertainment, Part II' is hosted solely by Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, and includes newly filmed musical numbers of the duo. This film also extends beyond the MGM musical, and presents clips from MGM comedies and dramas.

Designed by Saul Bass, the opening title sequence pays homage to the range and style of title sequences from films from the 1930s and early 1950s.

Highlights from 'That's Entertainment, Part II'

• Overture - As with the first film, an overture plays
• That's Entertainment - Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly perform a newly filmes version of 'That's Entertaiment' with new lyrics
• The Stateroom Scene from 'a Night in the Ioera'
• Tributes to Cyd Charisse, Lena Horne, Leslie Caron and Marge/Gower Champion
• From This Moment On - from 'Kiss Me Kate' (1953)
• Black and White Montage -  clips from black and white musicals such as Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy and Jimmu Durante
• Slapstick comedy montage of Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello and Jack BEnny
• Good Morning from 'Singin in the Rain'
• Triplets from 'The Bandwagon'
• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas from 'Meet Me in St. Louis' (1944)
• 10 Cents a Dance - Doris Day's first appearance in a 'That's Entertainment' film
• Special tribute to Frank Sinatra
• Immortal stars and lines, featuring Greta Garbo "I vant to be alone", WC Fields in 'David Copperfield', Jean Harlow and Marie Dressler in 'Dinner at Eight' and Clark Gable in 'Gone With the Wind'
• Travel Talks montage
• France montage - Maurice Chevalier, Dinah Shore singing 'The Last Time I Saw Paris;' in 'Till The Clouds Roll By' (1943), 'I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise' and Gwen Verdon's can can
• There's No Business Like Show Business from 'Annie, Get Your Gun' (1952)
• Tribute to Katharine Hepburn & Spencer Tracy - both on their own and together
• Cypress Gardens Waterski Spectacular - what better way to close the film than with Esther Williams
• That's Entertainment (finale) - from 'The Bandwagon' (1953)
• Exit Music 

Featured performers (in alphabetical order):

Bud Abbott, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, Louis Armstrong, Mary Astor, Lew Ayres, John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, Freddie Batholomew, Wallace Beery, Robert Benchley, Constance Bennett, Jack Benny, Nacio Herb Brown, Jack Buchanan, Billie Burke, James Cagney, Sammy Cahn, Louis Calhern, Leslie Caron, Gower Champion, Marge Champion, Cyd Charisse, Maurice Chevalier, Ronald Colman, Gino Corrado, Lou Costello, Jeanne Coyne, Joan Crawford, Bing Crosby, Dan Dailey, Doris Day, Robert Donat, Fifi D'Orsay, Tommy Dorsey, Melvyn Douglas, Tom Drake, Marie Dressler, Margaret Dumont, Jimmy Durante, Nelson Eddy, Cliff Edwards, Nanette Fabray, W.C. Fields, James A. Fitzpatrick, Bob Fosse, Arthur Freed, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, Judy Garland, Betty Garrett, Greer Garson, Hermione Gingold, Cary Grant, Charley Grapewin, Fernand Gravey, Kathryn Grayson, Carol Haney, Oliver Hardy, Jean Harlow, Katharine Hepburn, Judy Holliday, Sterling Holloway, Lena Horne, Betty Hutton, Harry James, Allan Jones, Buster Keaton, Howard Keel, Grace Kelly, June Knight, Miliza Korjus, Hedy Lamarr, Lassie, Stan Laurel, Vivien Leigh, Oscar Levant, Myrna Loy, Jeanette MacDonald, The Marx Brothers, Chico Marx, Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Roddy McDowall, Ann Miller, Robert Montgomery, Esther Muir, Dave O'Brien, Donald O'Connor, Maureen O'Sullivan, Walter Pidgeon, Eleanor Powell, William Powell, Tommy Rall, Debbie Reynolds, Ginger Rogers, Mickey Rooney, Christian Rub, Al Shean, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra, Red Skelton, Ann Sothern, James Stewart, Lewis Stone, Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Taylor, Marshall Thompson, Franchot Tone, Spencer Tracy, Lana Turner, USC Trojan Marching Band, Bobby Van, Gwen Verdon, Ethel Waters, David Wayne, Johnny Weissmuller, Esther Williams, Ed Wynn, Keenan Wynn, Robert Young

Fred Astaire & Gene Kelly in their second
and last appearance together

Did you know...

• This was Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire's first appearance together in over 30 years - they last appeared together in 'Ziegfeld Follies' (1945)
• In this film, Gene Kelly is 63 and Fred Astaire is 76 - the level of stamina they still have is impressive
• This was Gene Kelly's last directing credit
• This was the last time Fred Astaire danced on film
• 18 years later, this was followed by 'That's Entertainment III' (1994), which also featured Gene Kelly
• During the clip of 'From This Moment On' from 'Kiss Me Kate' (1948), Gene Kelly identifies Ann Miller, Tommy Rall, Bob Fosse, Carol Haney and Bobby Van, but does not identify Jeanne Coyne - Coyne was Kelly's second wife and had died from leukaemia three years earlier
• The song "Good Morning" from 'Singin' in the Rain' (1952), was originally to appear in the first 'That's Entertainment' (1974), but cut before release 

Closing remarks

'That's Entertainment, Part II' is an entertaining compilation of film clips. I personally find this to be the least enjoyable of the three films. Sadly Part 2 does not feature any clips of MGM greats June Allyson and Mario Lanza. A notable musical number which would have been ideal for inclusion is Ann Miller's show stopping 'Too Darn Hot' from 'Kiss Me Kate' (1953).

That's Entertainment Part II (1976) - Star of the month... Greta Garbo

Due to popular demand, and the success of 'That's Entertainment' (1974), we are presented with 'That's Entertainment, Part II' (1976), with even more music and even more entertainment.

In a slightly different format to the first film, 'That's Entertainment, Part II' is hosted solely by Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, and includes newly filmed musical numbers of the duo. This film also extends beyond the MGM musical, and presents clips from MGM comedies and dramas.

Designed by Saul Bass, the opening title sequence pays homage to the range and style of title sequences from films from the 1930s and early 1950s.

Highlights from 'That's Entertainment, Part II'

• Overture - As with the first film, an overture plays
• That's Entertainment - Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly perform a newly filmes version of 'That's Entertaiment' with new lyrics
• The Stateroom Scene from 'a Night in the Ioera'
• Tributes to Cyd Charisse, Lena Horne, Leslie Caron and Marge/Gower Champion
• From This Moment On - from 'Kiss Me Kate' (1953)
• Black and White Montage -  clips from black and white musicals such as Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy and Jimmu Durante
• Slapstick comedy montage of Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello and Jack BEnny
• Good Morning from 'Singin in the Rain'
• Triplets from 'The Bandwagon'
• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas from 'Meet Me in St. Louis' (1944)
• 10 Cents a Dance - Doris Day's first appearance in a 'That's Entertainment' film
• Special tribute to Frank Sinatra
• Immortal stars and lines, featuring Greta Garbo "I vant to be alone", WC Fields in 'David Copperfield', Jean Harlow and Marie Dressler in 'Dinner at Eight' and Clark Gable in 'Gone With the Wind'
• Travel Talks montage
• France montage - Maurice Chevalier, Dinah Shore singing 'The Last Time I Saw Paris;' in 'Till The Clouds Roll By' (1943), 'I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise' and Gwen Verdon's can can
• There's No Business Like Show Business from 'Annie, Get Your Gun' (1952)
• Tribute to Katharine Hepburn & Spencer Tracy - both on their own and together
• Cypress Gardens Waterski Spectacular - what better way to close the film than with Esther Williams
• That's Entertainment (finale) - from 'The Bandwagon' (1953)
• Exit Music 

Featured performers (in alphabetical order):

Bud Abbott, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, Louis Armstrong, Mary Astor, Lew Ayres, John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, Freddie Batholomew, Wallace Beery, Robert Benchley, Constance Bennett, Jack Benny, Nacio Herb Brown, Jack Buchanan, Billie Burke, James Cagney, Sammy Cahn, Louis Calhern, Leslie Caron, Gower Champion, Marge Champion, Cyd Charisse, Maurice Chevalier, Ronald Colman, Gino Corrado, Lou Costello, Jeanne Coyne, Joan Crawford, Bing Crosby, Dan Dailey, Doris Day, Robert Donat, Fifi D'Orsay, Tommy Dorsey, Melvyn Douglas, Tom Drake, Marie Dressler, Margaret Dumont, Jimmy Durante, Nelson Eddy, Cliff Edwards, Nanette Fabray, W.C. Fields, James A. Fitzpatrick, Bob Fosse, Arthur Freed, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, Judy Garland, Betty Garrett, Greer Garson, Hermione Gingold, Cary Grant, Charley Grapewin, Fernand Gravey, Kathryn Grayson, Carol Haney, Oliver Hardy, Jean Harlow, Katharine Hepburn, Judy Holliday, Sterling Holloway, Lena Horne, Betty Hutton, Harry James, Allan Jones, Buster Keaton, Howard Keel, Grace Kelly, June Knight, Miliza Korjus, Hedy Lamarr, Lassie, Stan Laurel, Vivien Leigh, Oscar Levant, Myrna Loy, Jeanette MacDonald, The Marx Brothers, Chico Marx, Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Roddy McDowall, Ann Miller, Robert Montgomery, Esther Muir, Dave O'Brien, Donald O'Connor, Maureen O'Sullivan, Walter Pidgeon, Eleanor Powell, William Powell, Tommy Rall, Debbie Reynolds, Ginger Rogers, Mickey Rooney, Christian Rub, Al Shean, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra, Red Skelton, Ann Sothern, James Stewart, Lewis Stone, Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Taylor, Marshall Thompson, Franchot Tone, Spencer Tracy, Lana Turner, USC Trojan Marching Band, Bobby Van, Gwen Verdon, Ethel Waters, David Wayne, Johnny Weissmuller, Esther Williams, Ed Wynn, Keenan Wynn, Robert Young

Fred Astaire & Gene Kelly in their second
and last appearance together

Did you know...

• This was Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire's first appearance together in over 30 years - they last appeared together in 'Ziegfeld Follies' (1945)
• In this film, Gene Kelly is 63 and Fred Astaire is 76 - the level of stamina they still have is impressive
• This was Gene Kelly's last directing credit
• This was the last time Fred Astaire danced on film
• 18 years later, this was followed by 'That's Entertainment III' (1994), which also featured Gene Kelly
• During the clip of 'From This Moment On' from 'Kiss Me Kate' (1948), Gene Kelly identifies Ann Miller, Tommy Rall, Bob Fosse, Carol Haney and Bobby Van, but does not identify Jeanne Coyne - Coyne was Kelly's second wife and had died from leukaemia three years earlier
• The song "Good Morning" from 'Singin' in the Rain' (1952), was originally to appear in the first 'That's Entertainment' (1974), but cut before release 

Closing remarks

'That's Entertainment, Part II' is an entertaining compilation of film clips. I personally find this to be the least enjoyable of the three films. Sadly Part 2 does not feature any clips of MGM greats June Allyson and Mario Lanza. A notable musical number which would have been ideal for inclusion is Ann Miller's show stopping 'Too Darn Hot' from 'Kiss Me Kate' (1953).

That's Entertainment Part II (1976) - Star of the month... Gene Kelly

Due to popular demand, and the success of 'That's Entertainment' (1974), we are presented with 'That's Entertainment, Part II' (1976), with even more music and even more entertainment.

In a slightly different format to the first film, 'That's Entertainment, Part II' is hosted solely by Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, and includes newly filmed musical numbers of the duo. This film also extends beyond the MGM musical, and presents clips from MGM comedies and dramas.

Designed by Saul Bass, the opening title sequence pays homage to the range and style of title sequences from films from the 1930s and early 1950s.

Highlights from 'That's Entertainment, Part II'

• Overture - As with the first film, an overture plays
• That's Entertainment - Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly perform a newly filmes version of 'That's Entertaiment' with new lyrics
• The Stateroom Scene from 'a Night in the Ioera'
• Tributes to Cyd Charisse, Lena Horne, Leslie Caron and Marge/Gower Champion
• From This Moment On - from 'Kiss Me Kate' (1953)
• Black and White Montage -  clips from black and white musicals such as Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy and Jimmu Durante
• Slapstick comedy montage of Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello and Jack BEnny
• Good Morning from 'Singin in the Rain'
• Triplets from 'The Bandwagon'
• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas from 'Meet Me in St. Louis' (1944)
• 10 Cents a Dance - Doris Day's first appearance in a 'That's Entertainment' film
• Special tribute to Frank Sinatra
• Immortal stars and lines, featuring Greta Garbo "I vant to be alone", WC Fields in 'David Copperfield', Jean Harlow and Marie Dressler in 'Dinner at Eight' and Clark Gable in 'Gone With the Wind'
• Travel Talks montage
• France montage - Maurice Chevalier, Dinah Shore singing 'The Last Time I Saw Paris;' in 'Till The Clouds Roll By' (1943), 'I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise' and Gwen Verdon's can can
• There's No Business Like Show Business from 'Annie, Get Your Gun' (1952)
• Tribute to Katharine Hepburn & Spencer Tracy - both on their own and together
• Cypress Gardens Waterski Spectacular - what better way to close the film than with Esther Williams
• That's Entertainment (finale) - from 'The Bandwagon' (1953)
• Exit Music 

Featured performers (in alphabetical order):

Bud Abbott, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, Louis Armstrong, Mary Astor, Lew Ayres, John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, Freddie Batholomew, Wallace Beery, Robert Benchley, Constance Bennett, Jack Benny, Nacio Herb Brown, Jack Buchanan, Billie Burke, James Cagney, Sammy Cahn, Louis Calhern, Leslie Caron, Gower Champion, Marge Champion, Cyd Charisse, Maurice Chevalier, Ronald Colman, Gino Corrado, Lou Costello, Jeanne Coyne, Joan Crawford, Bing Crosby, Dan Dailey, Doris Day, Robert Donat, Fifi D'Orsay, Tommy Dorsey, Melvyn Douglas, Tom Drake, Marie Dressler, Margaret Dumont, Jimmy Durante, Nelson Eddy, Cliff Edwards, Nanette Fabray, W.C. Fields, James A. Fitzpatrick, Bob Fosse, Arthur Freed, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, Judy Garland, Betty Garrett, Greer Garson, Hermione Gingold, Cary Grant, Charley Grapewin, Fernand Gravey, Kathryn Grayson, Carol Haney, Oliver Hardy, Jean Harlow, Katharine Hepburn, Judy Holliday, Sterling Holloway, Lena Horne, Betty Hutton, Harry James, Allan Jones, Buster Keaton, Howard Keel, Grace Kelly, June Knight, Miliza Korjus, Hedy Lamarr, Lassie, Stan Laurel, Vivien Leigh, Oscar Levant, Myrna Loy, Jeanette MacDonald, The Marx Brothers, Chico Marx, Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Roddy McDowall, Ann Miller, Robert Montgomery, Esther Muir, Dave O'Brien, Donald O'Connor, Maureen O'Sullivan, Walter Pidgeon, Eleanor Powell, William Powell, Tommy Rall, Debbie Reynolds, Ginger Rogers, Mickey Rooney, Christian Rub, Al Shean, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra, Red Skelton, Ann Sothern, James Stewart, Lewis Stone, Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Taylor, Marshall Thompson, Franchot Tone, Spencer Tracy, Lana Turner, USC Trojan Marching Band, Bobby Van, Gwen Verdon, Ethel Waters, David Wayne, Johnny Weissmuller, Esther Williams, Ed Wynn, Keenan Wynn, Robert Young

Fred Astaire & Gene Kelly in their second
and last appearance together

Did you know...

• This was Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire's first appearance together in over 30 years - they last appeared together in 'Ziegfeld Follies' (1945)
• In this film, Gene Kelly is 63 and Fred Astaire is 76 - the level of stamina they still have is impressive
• This was Gene Kelly's last directing credit
• This was the last time Fred Astaire danced on film
• 18 years later, this was followed by 'That's Entertainment III' (1994), which also featured Gene Kelly
• During the clip of 'From This Moment On' from 'Kiss Me Kate' (1948), Gene Kelly identifies Ann Miller, Tommy Rall, Bob Fosse, Carol Haney and Bobby Van, but does not identify Jeanne Coyne - Coyne was Kelly's second wife and had died from leukaemia three years earlier
• The song "Good Morning" from 'Singin' in the Rain' (1952), was originally to appear in the first 'That's Entertainment' (1974), but cut before release 

Closing remarks

'That's Entertainment, Part II' is an entertaining compilation of film clips. I personally find this to be the least enjoyable of the three films. Sadly Part 2 does not feature any clips of MGM greats June Allyson and Mario Lanza. A notable musical number which would have been ideal for inclusion is Ann Miller's show stopping 'Too Darn Hot' from 'Kiss Me Kate' (1953).