Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949, MGM) | |
|
Gene Kelly (Eddie O'Brien) Frank Sinatra (Dennis Ryan) Jules Munshin (Nat Goldberg) Esther Williams (K.C. Higgins) Betty Garrett (Shirley Delwyn) Directed by Busby Berkeley Likable story, co-written by Kelly and Donen, of two baseball players who find the man's world of professional baseball shaken when a woman takes over as club owner. The film is highlighted by Gene's energetic dance to "The Hat My Father Wore On St. Patrick's Day." With Munshin, Sinatra, and Garrett, a virutal dry-run for On the Town! |
 | Gene Scene rating: 3 stars (out of 4) |
 |
available in VHS from Amazon.com |
 | available in DVD from Amazon.com |
 | The film soundtrack is not available. |
 | Web sites featuring Take Me Out to the Ball Game Class Act Movie Musicals Internet Movie Database entry |
That's Dancing! (1985, MGM) | |
|
Directed by Jack Haley, Jr. Gene serves as executive producer and narrator for this film, which focuses solely on dance on film. Included are sections on ballet on film, the filmed Broadway musicals, and film choreography. Other hosts include Sammy Davis, Jr., Mikhail Baryshnikov, Ray Bolger, and Liza Minnelli. |
| Gene Scene rating: 3 stars (out of 4) |
|
available in VHS from Amazon.com PAL VHS available - Europe only |
| soon available on DVD from Amazon.com |
| The film soundtrack is not available. |
| Web sites featuring That's Dancing! Class Act Movie Musicals Internet Movie Database entry |
That's Entertainment (1974, MGM) | |
|
Directed by Jack Haley, Jr. Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford, Elizabeth Taylor, James Stewart, Mickey Rooney, Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Fred Astaire, Liza Minnelli, and Bing Crosby reminisce about their movie-making days at MGM. Some of Kelly's clips include "Be a Clown," "La Cumparsita," "The Pirate Ballet," "New York, New York," and "Broadway Ballet." |
| Gene Scene rating: 4 stars (out of 4) |
|
available in VHS from Amazon.com< |
| soon available on DVD from Amazon.com |
| Web sites featuring That's Entertainment Class Act Movie Musicals Internet Movie Database entry |
That's Entertainment, Part Two (1976, MGM) | |
|
Directed by Gene Kelly Gene and Fred Astaire serve as hosts for the second installment of this compendium of MGM's best performances. Rather than focus on musicals alone, Part Two also showcases comedic and dramatic memories. Some of Kelly's clips in this film are "Good Morning," "Sinbad the Sailor," and "I Like Myself." Kelly and Astaire also sing and dance as they introduce each segment of the film, marking the only time they dance together on film since Ziegfeld Follies. |
| Gene Scene rating: 4 stars (out of 4) |
|
available in VHS from Amazon.com |
| available on DVD from Amazon.com |
| Web sites featuring That's Entertainment Part 2 Class Act Movie Musicals Internet Movie Database entry |
That's Entertainment Part III (1994, MGM) | |
|
MGM's greatest stars are back for the third time in this retrospective of their greatest musical numbers. Gene Kelly, Ann Miller, Debbie Reynolds, Lena Horne, and more reminisce about their movie-making days. |
| Gene Scene rating: 3 stars (out of 4) |
|
available in VHS from Amazon.com |
| available on DVD from Amazon.com |
| Web sites featuring That's Entertainment 3 Class Act Movie Musicals Internet Movie Database entry |
Thousands Cheer (1943, MGM) | |
|
Gene Kelly (Eddy Marsh) Kathryn Grayson (Kathryn Jones) Every Major MGM Star in a guest role! Directed by George Sidney An amusing story about reluctant GI Marsh falling for the daughter of his camp commander. MGM decided to beef up the plot with a show at the base, and while Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Eleanor Powell, and the others are good, it takes away from the already thin plot. The highlight: Gene's first major choreographical achievement --The Mop Dance to “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” |
| Gene Scene rating: 2 stars (out of 4) |
|
available in VHS from Amazon.com |
| The film soundtrack or DVD is not available. |
| Web sites featuring Thousands Cheer Class Act Movie Musicals Internet Movie Database entry |
The Three Musketeers (1948, MGM) | |
|
Gene Kelly (D'Artagnan) Lana Turner (Lady de Winter) June Allyson (Constance) Van Heflin (Athos) Angela Lansbury (Queen Anne) Directed by George Sidney Rousing version of the Dumas classic in luscious Technicolor. Gene, as D'Artagnan, shows that he can swash and buckle with the best, and he has a great time doing it. Be prepared to hear the theme to "Romeo and Juliet" about a hundred times... |
| Gene Scene rating: 3 stars (out of 4) |
|
available in VHS from Amazon.com also available in PAL format - Europe only |
| available on DVD from Amazon.com |
| The film soundtrack is not available. |
| Web sites featuring Three Musketeers Internet Movie Database entry |
