On April 24, 1924 the movies changed forever: the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio opened and soon assembled ?more stars than there are in the heavens.? Patrick Stewart hosts this enthralling Emmy winner as Best Informational Se... more »ries, a 3-part story of MGMs reign as Hollywoods class act and legendary entertainment empire. Bursting with memorable film clips, rare interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and insider info, this is a mother lode for film fans, profiling perfectionist moguls, glamorous and charismatic actors, innovative filmmakers and landmark movies. Experience the dramatic and romantic fire, singing and dancing magic, and sweeping epic adventure of Hollywoods greatest studio in this must-have 2-Disc Deluxe Edition DVD.« less
Pretty strong start but then started to fizzle some. A good overall historic MGM history if you like that kind of thing. It was interesting to me and then become very boring requiring 120X with a quick eject.
Movie Reviews
Unfortunately, the revised version
Hisato Masuyama | LA, CA | 01/25/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Back when TNT aired this series in the early 90's, it was one of the best documentary series that was produced. However, almost immediately after its broadcast, Robin Astaire (Fred's wife) forbade the usage of any of his clips on ANY documentary, suggesting that his image in such capacity will ruin his integrity- or a facsimile there of. So, when issued on Laserdisc in the 90's, all the Astaire sequences were either cut or replaced- i.e., the clip from Ziegfeld Follies, the Babbit and the Bromide number with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly was replaced with Judy Garland's The Great Lady Has An interview. The version released on the DVD, unfortunately, is still that one. While TCM aired the series right before the DVD release, it was indeed the original version with Fred Astaire intact- you can either keep both, or just keep the TCM recording, since it would be more complete... such a pity for a great documentary."
The MGM Story
William Slaughter | Anaheim,California USA | 10/17/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Fantastic Documentary about the MGM studio. Its great films. Its great stars and the people who made them. Out for the first time on DVD. Patrick Stewart is superb as host and narrator. Extremly enjoyable to watch over and over. Anyone who loves the great films and its great stars will love it! MGM the greatest move studio of all time. After viewing it, you to will know why.
Bill Slaughter
Anaheim , CA USA"
A MUST-SEE FOR FILM LOVERS
M. Cooper | Los Angeles, CA | 01/09/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am thrilled to learn MGM: When the Lion Roars is finally available on DVD! I've been patiently waiting to add it to my collection for years. This documentary originally aired on TNT in the early 90's when I was a teenager, and it is undoubtedly the reason I am an avid fan of classic cinema today. It is one of the single best documentaries I have seen about the studio system and the origins of the entertainment industry as a whole. Not only does it provide a glimpse into the by-gone era of Hollywood's Golden Age, but it reveals the stories behind some of the greatest films ever made. Bottom line: it is a must-see for fans of classic films."
One of the best documentaries on the entertainment business
calvinnme | 10/18/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This documentary was made back in 1992, and does a very good job of detailing the history of MGM. Part one starts in 1924 with the opening of the studio in 1924 and and ends with the death of wonder boy Irving G. Thalberg in 1936. Part two concentrates on what are considered "the golden years" from 1936 to 1946. Part three is about the decline of the studio after 1946. Patrick Stewart narrates, and there are some particularly interesting although not surprising revelations, such as Helen Hayes describing studio head Louis B. as a gentle yet evil person.
I guess I enjoyed part one the most because I really disagree about 1936-1946 being MGM's peak years. I think they were at their best from 1924 up to shortly after the death of Irving Thalberg. His foresight and creativity are what fueled the silent film and early sound projects that really put the studio on the map. At any rate, if you enjoyed the much shorter "Universal Horror" documentary on the Carl Laemmle years of Universal Studios, you'll enjoy this one too. Highly recommended."
The Greatest Documentary Ever!!
Gary P. Deblasio | Connecticut | 01/27/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There has never been a more fascinating TV program for movie lovers than MGM: When The Lion Roars (despite that title). One thing that has always puzzled me though: In the second part Jackie Cooper is talking about his short subject "The Christmas Party" (1930). I saw Clark Gable and a lot of other MGM stars in there but suddenly out of the blue a very young Bette davis shows up. I always thought that Davis NEVER worked in the early days at Metro, only Warners and Universal.
This program is well worth watching for the often hilarious comments made by Cooper and by the glorious Freddie Bartholomew. I had NEVER seen the latter ever give an interview and once you get over the shock of seeing him as an old man, you'll really appreciate his wit. I also loved Luise Rainer, William Tuttle, and Maureen O'Sullivan. Thank God that Ted Turner did this before most of these folks (like Freddie and Sam Marx died). And Rainer is still going strong at 99. Her comments about L.B Mayer are priceless as are Cooper's about Wally Beery.