When it came to movie musicals, MGM was the creme de la creme of film musicals. No other studio could touch them. Producers like Arthur Freed, directors like Vincente Minnelli and stars like Fred Astaire, Judy Garland and Gene Kelly were just a few of the studio's assets. This documentary (or compilation film if you prefer) on MGM's "golden age" of musicals (the 1930s thru the 1950s) was and is a treat for film buffs. I was already a movie musicals geek when I saw the film in its original 1974 release but the film (an unexpected hit) caused many younger movie fans to seek out the films based on the clips featured here. I know after seeing it, I made a point of seeking out every Esther Williams movie I could find. Very few musical numbers are shown in their entirety and it's not fair to many of them (notably the AMERICAN IN PARIS ballet). The film is hosted and narrated by several MGM alumni including Elizabeth Taylor, James Stewart, Fred Astaire, Debbie Reynolds, Mickey Rooney, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Liza Minnelli, Peter Lawford and Donald O'Connor.
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