That's Entertainment, Part II


That's Entertainment, Part II is a 1976 American compilation film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and a sequel to That's Entertainment!. Like the previous film, That's Entertainment, Part II was a retrospective of famous films released by MGM from the 1930s to the 1950s. Some posters for the film use Part 2 rather than Part II in the title.
For this second documentary, archivists featured more obscure musical numbers from MGM's vaults, and also featured tributes to some of the studio's best known comedy teams such as the Marx Brothers and Laurel and Hardy, romantic teams such as Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, and a montage of iconic stars such as Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, Mickey Rooney, John Barrymore, Wallace Beery, Joan Crawford, Jean Harlow, James Stewart and Lana Turner.
Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire hosted the film and Kelly directed the introductory segments featuring him and Astaire, which included location footage of Kelly returning to Paris, the city featured in two of MGM's most famous productions, An American in Paris and Gigi. This was the last film Kelly directed.
Several new musical numbers featured Astaire and Kelly, including a couple of routines in which they danced together for the first time since the 1945 film Ziegfeld Follies, and for only the second time in their careers. It was the last time the 76-year-old Astaire danced in a film, though the veteran actor continued to make film and TV appearances until 1981; Kelly would last appear in the 1980 musical film Xanadu. According to film historian Robert Osborne, in specially-filmed introductions produced for Turner Classic Movies, it was Astaire who suggested to Kelly that the two take advantage of this potentially last-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform together, something Kelly actually wishes for out loud during his narration of the first That's Entertainment! film.
The opening title sequence was designed by Saul Bass, and pays homage to the range and style of title sequences produced between the 1930s and early 1950s.
The sequel received more critical acclaim, but was not as successful at the box-office as the first film. Some 18 years later, it was followed by That's Entertainment! III, with Kelly once again appearing.

Appearances

Films shown

The Broadway Melody The Songwriters' Revue Blondie of the Follies Grand Hotel Red Dust Tarzan the Ape Man Bombshell Dancing Lady Going Hollywood Hollywood Party The [Merry Widow (1934 film)|The Merry Widow] David Copperfield Broadway Melody of 1936 A Night at the Opera A Tale of Two Cities Mutiny on the Bounty Born to Dance San Francisco A Day at the Races The Good Earth Boys Town Listen, Darling The Great Waltz Broadway Serenade Goodbye, Mr. Chips Ninotchka Gone with the Wind New Moon Boom Town The Philadelphia Story Lady Be Good Two-Faced Woman Ziegfeld Girl White Cargo For Me and My Gal Woman of the Year Keeper of the Flame Cabin in the Sky Girl Crazy Two Girls and a Sailor Meet Me in St. Louis Without Love Abbott and Costello in Hollywood Anchors Aweigh Ziegfeld Follies Till the Clouds Roll By It Happened in Brooklyn The Sea of Grass The Pirate Easter Parade Words and Music Take Me Out to the Ball Game The Barkleys of Broadway Adam's Rib Annie Get Your Gun Three Little Words An American in Paris The Belle of New York Ivanhoe Singin' in the Rain Lovely to Look At Pat and Mike The Merry Widow Million Dollar Mermaid Lili Small Town Girl The Band Wagon Easy to Love Kiss Me, Kate Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Love Me or Leave Me It's Always Fair Weather The Tender Trap Invitation to the Dance High Society Silk Stockings Gigi Some Came Running Never So Few

Musical numbers