Customer Reviews

Thousands Cheer [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

MGM redefines the big-screen musical extravaganza in this 1943 roll-out of MGM stars... Gene Kelly and Katheryn Grayson, Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, Red Skelton and Margaret O'Brien, plus Lucille Ball, Donna Reed, Ann Southern, Lena Horne, Frank (Oz) Morgan, Mary Astor, June Allyson, and John Boles and Ish Kabibble with Kay Kyser's big band. (At the time bigger than Benny Goodman, Glen Miller, Or Tommy Dorsey.)

Filled with great period jive and swing numbers, Thousands Cheer capsules everything dear to a 40's teenager. On the brink of World War II this movie was a morale-lifter for our boys. The finale used the largest sound-stage in MGM history. Call it a 'don't miss,' call it a 'must-have,' and give it thumbs up and five stars.

There are so many stars in this movie and is one of the greatest collaberation of stars ever assembled in one movie and at the end of the movie there is a special treat and is a must have! The stars that do what they do best include: Gene Kelly, Kathryn Grayson, Mary Astor, Judy Garland, Red Skelton, Eleanor Powell, Ann Sothern, Lena Horne, Margaret O' Brian, Marilyn Maxwell, Marsha Hunt, June Allyson, Gloria De Haven, Frank Morgan, Virginia O'Brien, Lucille Ball, Donna Reed, and Mickey Rooney. Can I say more? Simply the greatest stars assembled in one movie!

MGM turns out a middling production with Thousands Cheer. This film has the weakest plot I've seen in years. In fact, the plot is so thin that it becomes difficult for me to write anything cogent about it. Gene Kelly plays Eddie Marsh, an army private during WW2 who falls in love with a Colonel's daughter named Kathryn, played very ably by Kathryn Grayson. Mary Astor plays Kathryn's mother; and John Boles plays Colonel Bill Jones, Kathryn's father; but Kathryn's parents have long since separated. Gene Kelly and Kathryn Grayson get a chance to show off their acting skills but all this still remains mostly wasted on this flimsy plot. Just as Eddie and Kathryn have barriers to their relationship caused by the war, Kathryn's parents also have boundaries and problems in their own relationship because of Bill's devotion to the armed forces. Questions pop out at you: What becomes of Kathryn's parents--will they reunite after years of living separate lives? Will Gene Kelly and Kathryn Grayson's characters stay in love despite bumpy times on the base? You'll have to watch to find out; I hate putting spoilers in my reviews. SMILE

You may ask: If Matt doesn't say much good about this movie, then why does he give it four stars? The answer is easy: you get a good show out of Thousands Cheer with song and dance numbers that save the film from ruination. For example, the dance scene with Gene Kelly using a rag mop for his partner proves that even when his career was just starting he was a very polished, naturally talented dancer with extraordinary abilities. The circus scene in the first half of the picture offers great acrobatics and the choreography of the circus scenes astounds me. Finally, the last half of the movie offers several remarkably wonderful performances by some of the greatest of the MGM greats. Eleanor Powell still tap dances with the very best of them; Judy Garland sings "The Joint Is Really Jumpin' Down At Carnegie Hall" as beautifully as ever with José Iturbi at the piano; and Lena Horne's elegant performance of "Honeysuckle Rose" will charm even the hardest of hearts.

In addition, look for some fairly enjoyable comedy sketches with Frank Morgan, the actor who played The Wizard Of Oz five years earlier, Ann Southern, Lucille Ball, Margaret O'Brien, Red Skelton and Virginia O'Brien. Kay Kyser also turns in a great performance with his band.

The color is fairly good for VHS but it isn't the same quality you might get on a DVD; however the cinematography reflects forethought that works especially well in the last half of the movie when most of the musical numbers take place.

If you want a movie with a deep and meaningful plot, you will need to keep looking. However, fans of the MGM musical will enjoy this movie; and these fans will enjoy the movie even more if they skip the first hour and simply fast forward to get to the part where "the show" begins. Thousands Cheer also deserves "honorable mention" as a look at how young people felt when they found themselves in unexpected situations that came about as a result of WW2.

I love this movie. Most people only watch it because of all the MGM stars in it. i personally think this is the most boring part of the picture. I enjoy the romance between Gene Kelly and Kathryn Grayson much more than the songs, dances, and comedy scetches of the stars. The only thing I think is wrong with this movie is that Kathyrn Gryason only sings three songs which is hardly displaying her talent (although the songs are pretty good), and Gene Kelly only dances once. I'd like to say to anybody thinking of seeing this movie: go for it. It's wonderful!

Despite the stars in the cast, this is ultimately disappointing. Granted, one doesn't usually watch this kind of all-star musical for the plot, but even so, this is especially weak on characterization and narrative drive. The stars are all concentrated in the last half-hour, and some of them are fun to see; actually, the best bit is Mickey Rooney doing impressions of Clark Gable and Lionel Barrymore (and his Barrymore is dead on!). Getting to the end, however, is tedious. The wartime romance angle is routine, spiced up only by some probably unintended Oedipal tension between the girl (Kathryn Grayson) and her father. Gene Kelly is energetic, charming, and sexy in one of his earliest roles, and he's about the only reason to watch this movie.

Why MGM have you not allowed this MOVIE to go onto DVD, don't listen to those that say the first hour is boring, this has to be one of the best musicals of the era if not of all time, I have just about worn out my second video tape of this movie, so please MGM put it on DVD as soon as possible.

I am an ardent follower of Kathryn Grayson and coupled with Jose Iturbi is pure magic, I would give this 6 stars if possible, sadly they just don't make movies like this these days.

We have been patiently waiting since 1992 for this movie to be put out on DVD. Its Time NOW MGM!!!

The revue As Thousands Cheer was a huge 1933 Broadway success (more than a year playing, by Irving Berlin, sketches by Moss Hart, starring Clifton Webb, Ethel Waters and Marilyn Miller. MGM had acquired the rights. So it could use the title but that movie has nothing to do with Berlin. It has only one musical number with Gene Kelly, miscast here as a brooding private, quite unpleasant.
The love story with a charming Kathryn Grayson begins as a joke by KG but is never convincing.
Written by Paul Gallico the novelist (with Richard Collins), the screenplay has all the bad habits of by the numbers MGM
big pictures. Except for KG, no character is interesting, except for the sergeant Frank Jenks. Ben Blue is irritating as the
picturesque private. If it were only for that, the movie would be boring but it's all about glorious Technicolor by George Folsey
and the director George Sidney a passionate shutterbug who had shown his visual flair in his third movie PILOT N° 5.
We don't know if in 1942-43 Sidney could influence the MGM style, but one shot, Folsey or Sidney ,is striking: tha platoon getting back to camp, marching around a column.
Later on, Sidney would prove his mastery of cinematography with SCARAMOUCHE (remember the force of the first close up!), YOUNG BESS,
PAL JOEY, BYE BYE BIRDIE. Making VIVA LAS VEGAS the best Presley movie. He was one of the greatest Hollywood directors.
We still have to endure a trapeze act, to show why Kelly is brooding: as an aerialist ace he wanted to join the Air Corps!
Early on we had prestige music directed nicely by Jose Iturbi and La Traviata in a soulless rendition (prestige policy)
On the 1H15' mark we have at last he big revue in camp and it's worth the price of admission, or DVD:
a great sketch with Frank Morgan, Sothern,Hunt and a GORGEOUS LUCILLE BALL.. A very nice dance by Eleanor Powell, the wonderful Virginia O' Brien and THE sketch with Red Skelton and the genius: Margaret O' Brien.
At last a rousing song by Judy Garland (Iturbi at the piano): "The Joint is Really Jumpin' at Carnegie Hall" (Edens, Blane, Martin)
Garland is still an icon but her discography is very poor. If we are talking about pressure groups, I am waiting for an
IRENE fan club. Her costumes are always exciting. A matching dress and coat made my wife jump in her chair.
At the end, we have an awful song with a GIANT all male chorus (war and post war affairs are a male preserve):"United Nations on the March"(under marshal Stalin). Music by comrade Shostakovich (but the Soviet flag put at the very bottom of Allied flags, with a kind of unofficial Free French flag).
Kelly kisses Grayson under the eyes of her father and colonel: sleepy John Boles.
Like in the future Rio Grande, the wife Mary Astor, loking rather old in color, makes up with her colonel husband.
Not really a morale building movie.Less trapeze would have helped.
Again, great Technicolor.

"Thousands Cheer" is one of those many morale building movie musicals released during World War II. A little plot, a lot of color and everybody on the lot showing up to entertain us. This movie should be on DVD in a "Hollywood Goes To War" set, along with "Hollywood Canteen", "Stage Door Canteen", "Thank Your Lucky Stars","Reveille With Beverly", "Jam Session" and wouldn`t it be nice to have a non-bootleg "This Is The Army" ?

I was more than happy to order this movie (along with 3 others) as they have been long time favorites. Unfortunately they negelected to let the buyer know that these movies are recorded so they will not play on a DVD/VCR Combo player. They can be played on my PC or visit a friend and play them on a regular DVD player.