MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992) User Reviews (17)

An absolute joy.

[mountainkath · 9/10 · 29 January 2009]

Part One.

I have heard the story of how MGM began, but never in such rich detail. This film dove into the daily inter-workings of the studio in the early days and I found it fascinating. I especially enjoyed the insight of Margaret Booth, a film editor at MGM, and specifically her recollection at Douglas Shearer's attention to detail (he could tell when a film was one projection pin out of sync with the sound).

This part of the film uses a lot of footage from silent movies and gives background detail on these films. My knowledge of silent films is poor, so I learned a lot in just a few minutes of watching this documentary. I also enjoyed how they talked about the struggle for silent stars to transition to talkies.

I had (of course) heard the story of John Gilbert's star falling like a lead balloon, but I never heard the juicy reasons why: he punched LB Mayer when Greta Garbo left him (Gilbert) at the altar and Mayer returned the favor a few years later during a disagreement over a movie.

When Part One ended I was struck most by a feeling of "what if?". What if Irving Thalberg hadn't died at just 37? Where would he have taken MGM and what kind of movies would he have given us? I also wonder what Norma Shearer performances we missed out on due to his death (she left Hollywood six years after he died).

Part Two.

I felt that Part Two wasn't quite up to the standard set by part one. Most notably, part two includes a Hollywood myth that has been debunked: that Jean Harlow died because her mother refused to allow her treatment for uremic poisoning. The fact is that Harlow would have died regardless of when she saw a doctor due to the limitations of medicine in the 1930's.

Part Two also details the rising stars of Clark Gable (and his subsequent tragedy when his wife Carole Lombard was killed in a plane crash), Lana Turner, Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Judy Garland and Hedy Lamarr. As with Part One, I loved the interviews with people from that era and how they enhanced the story. Mickey Rooney's recollections of Garland were particularly touching.

Another highlight of Part Two was the small segment on Luise Rainer. I had never heard of her, but she is the first person to win back to back Oscars. And then she walked away from it all due to the constraints of the studio system. Just hearing this story would have been wonderful, but having it told by Rainer herself brings this film to a whole new level.

Part Two ends with a sense of foreboding (brought on by the narrator, Patrick Stewart): Storm clouds are swirling off in the distance. Could the happy days at MGM be coming to an end?

Part Three.

Part Three begins in the heyday of MGM's legendary musicals and they cover the best of the best in detail: Singin' In The Rain, An American In Paris and Gigi. There are numerous interviews with Vincente Minnelli and he talks about his movies and about Judy Garland. As with all of the interviews in this film, I love hearing his insights and opinion.

Part Three seemed to contain more interviews than the other two parts of this movie. (I have no idea if this is true, it was just my impression.) Besides recalling specific movies, many of the interviewees talked about Louis B. Mayer. These opinions confirmed what I already suspected: people either loved or hated the man; he was either a wonderful father figure or an evil manipulator.

After the musical era, MGM began its slow decline. I knew the rough facts of how and why this happened, but I had never heard the gory details. As a lover of classic movies, I found the last hour or so of this film to be very melancholy. The golden age of Hollywood had to end, but it was still sad to watch it unfold on the screen.

Summary.

The absolute highlight of this movie was all of the interviews. Besides actors, we hear from directors, producers, writers, film editors, studio executives and contract dancers. These are the people who were there during the golden era of MGM and having their remembrances on film is truly priceless.

I almost didn't watch MGM: When The Lion Roars because it's six hours long and I doubted that anything could hold my attention for that long. I am so glad I took the time to watch all three parts of this movie. It was well worth it. Not only did I learn a lot, but it was very entertaining. I saw clips from many of my favorite movies and the clips from movies I haven't seen left me with a list of movies that I want to see.

Bottom line: if you love classic movies, this is a must see.

Detailed documentary about the great studio

[blanche-2 · 8/10 · 7 February 2009]

"MGM: When the Lion Roars" is a 1992 documentary hosted by Patrick Stewart. Shown in three parts on Turner Classic Movies, it tells the story of the monolithic studio from its beginnings, taking us through the influence of the great Irving Thalberg, after his death, during World War II, after the war, the growth of television, and MGM's eventual demise.

All of the studios had a particular look to their films and a strong point of view. MGM was known for its huge array of stars, its opulence, its classy musicals, and its family entertainment, especially under the aegis of Louis B. Mayer. Even its "B" movies, such as Dr. Kildare, had "A" movie quality.

The studio's main problem was its lack of foresight and lack of awareness that the audience changed over time. The belief was that television was a fad, for instance - major error. And all the studios suffered when the courts broke up studio ownership of the movie theaters.

The documentary is highly entertaining, filled with interviews, scenes, and musical numbers. Stewart voices the incorrect information that Jean Harlow died because her mother's religion didn't allow her to have treatment. Jean Harlow died of kidney disease, for which there was no cure, no transplant, no dialysis. She had plenty of medical attention, but there was nothing anyone could do once she developed the disease.

Very enjoyable and well worth seeing.

Very effective tribute to MGM's glory years and gradual "decline"

[jlewis77-1 · 9/10 · 18 March 2009]

When I first saw this on TNT back in 1992, I was disappointed. I thought there would be more background on Marcus Loew, Metro, Goldwyn and Louis Mayer's pre-1924 history. I was also (unjustly) critical of Patrick Stewart's hosting, the exclusion of certain favorite films, and the very limited coverage of Cedric Gibbons (not to mention many other MGM luminaries) and the short subject departments.

However, time has been kind to this series. Watching it on DVD has been quite refreshing (even with the Astaire edits harped on by fans). Since '92, I've seen parts of the RKO series (and dying to see more!), enjoyed the 20th Century Fox's "First 50 Years" and its "Blockbuster" sequel (although these utilize too many film clips and not enough back-lot story) and was, once again, a bit disappointed with YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS (Warner Bros.). WHEN THE LION ROARS is as good of a film studio overview as you can get in three two-hour installments.

For one thing, we get a lot more coverage of the Culver City lot than we ever get of the Burbank lot in YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS, despite (and perhaps because of) the fact that so much has been bulldozed to the ground. I visited Warner's twice on their tours and was surprised at how much of it is still intact. I can only imagine how great MGM (the surviving parts owned by Sony) would be today, had anyone listened to Debbie Reynold's suggestion of it being a "ready-made Disneyland".

Although the glory lies in the classic film clips, much of its heart come from the interviews. Margaret Booth's comment that "we never made bad pictures" emphasizes how the art of film editing kept MGM the top dog of the business. Samuel Marx's observation of Louis Mayer crying during LASSIE COME HOME (produced by future adversary Dore Shary) speaks volumes... even if Mayer was the best "actor" of the studio. Earlier footage of Lillian Gish, King Vidor and Eleanor Boardman are cleverly utilized from the BBC's 12-year old Hollywood series in Part 1's coverage of the silent years.

I once thought Patrick Stewart's narration and dramatic introductions a little too... shall we say?... "hammy". Today, they serve as a pleasing initiation into the "make believe" factory. His walk in front of a screen showing 1925's BEN HUR chariot race is as equally effective as any of the interviews; it demonstrates how thin the line between industry "product" and fantasy was during Hollywood's Golden Age.

Superb!

[Patrick-96 · 10/10 · 11 September 2000]

A great documentary, beautifully detailed and put together with great style. Many of the people interviewed are gone, so this is indeed a treasure of the ages. I purchased the three cassette tape of the series and recommend to any avid movie fan to do the same. It's something that can be viewed again and again.

This series is fascinating, but also very sad. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the greatest studio of them all, is no more. It's heartbreaking that Columbia Pictures, once considered the ‘poverty row' of studios, now occupies the site of MGM.

Outstanding Documentary

[Brundledan · 30 November 1999]

The meteoric rise (and lamentable fall) of, perhaps, the most legendary Hollywood movie studio is documented here, in a dazzling three-part mini-series as lavishly designed as the best of the MGM films themselves. Pure gold for movie buffs (and as easily accessible to the average viewer); "When the Lion Roars" combines a grippingly-told account of MGM's history, rich with tons of vintage film clips, interviews with studio stars, and a fascinating look at such legendary figures as L.B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg - all ably hosted by Patrick Stewart, who is clearly enjoying himself throughout.

And well he should be. There are scores of documentaries out there about Hollywood's Golden Age, but none even REMOTELY approaching the quality and craftsmanship of "When the Lion Roars". This is quite possibly one of the finest documentaries ever made. It has been released on video and, though not the easiest thing to find after seven years, is well worth the search.

Brilliant, honest, surprisingly caustic.

[movibuf1962 · 8/10 · 12 February 2009]

I first discovered "MGM: When the Lion Roars" on PBS about 5 years ago. Even then I only saw part of the documentary- and out of order, the last section first. I didn't know how much detail of the MGM history it actually covered until I saw the complete, 3-part documentary on Turner Classic Movies 18 months ago. When I finally digested even part one, I was flabbergasted. The documentary, lovingly narrated by Patrick Stewart, starts at the beginning (to coin a phrase from one of MGM's great fantasy films). We see the formation of Metro, Goldwyn, and Louis B. Mayer's "Mayer," starting from 1924 and the silent film "He Who Gets Slapped." We see the union of the brilliant young Irving Thalberg and Mayer as they concoct a bona-fide production factory- replete with school, hospital, police force, fire department, and commissary. The New York stockholders (headed by Marcus Lowe, later by Nicholas Schenck) are the magnates who actually oversee MGM, as well as the theaters who distribute the films made by MGM. And part 1 introduces MGM's first stars: Garbo, Gilbert, Joan Crawford, Wallace Beery, Marie Dressler, Helen Hayes, the Barrymores, Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Norma Shearer Thalberg, and the studio logo- the MGM lion. Remembrances by many of MGM's staff- including Samuel Marx, King Vidor, William Tuttle, and Margaret Booth- give a no-holes-barred outline of just how the studio made (and in some instances broke) their stars.

A lot of the veterans interviewed seem almost hypnotic in their praise of the factory and the tyrannical Mayer- which is curious because there are a few pointed recollections by actors (including double-Oscar winner Luise Rainier and swimming star Esther Williams) who did not particularly care for the bullying, manipulative showman- a man not above fainting on cue to get what he wanted, or reminding his contractors that they were his property to do with as he liked. Part 1 ends with the untimely death of 37-year-old wunderkind Thalberg, and part 2 takes the factory into the 1940's and the war years when Mayer decrees wholesome, pious, family-oriented film only. The child stars are introduced: Jackie Cooper, Mickey Rooney, June Preisser, Freddie Bartholomew, and most of all, Judy Garland (given a particularly long testimony by Rooney, who then curiously denies that MGM was responsible- even in part- for her drug addiction). A sobering begins to creep into the dream factory as stars- particularly the females- are unceremoniously dropped (or at least not picked up) as they begin to age. The new contractors- Lamarr, Allyson, Van Johnson, Greer Garson, James Stewart, Elizabeth Taylor, Tracy & Hepburn- are introduced. A lot of MGM's male stars enlist and go to fight in the war, which annoys Mayer (of course) to no end. Producer Dore Schary (Mayer's political and spiritual opposite) is brought into the fold as "a new Thalberg," thought to improve movie quality while paring the ascending film costs and tolerate the emergence of the new medium of television.

Finally, MGM's legendary musicals make up a significant part of Act 3. One of the most pointed revelations is the contrast in musical film styles between sophisticated Arthur Freed and schmaltzy, sentimental Joe Pasternak (and they're absolutely right). The 1950's arrive and Mayer's 20-year feud with boss Schenck reaches an unimaginable climax when an "office coup" of sorts terminates Mayer from his own studio- and replaced by Schary, who puts an end to all the sweetness and virtuosity and concentrates on gritty message dramas. Many wonderful, stupendous film clips are shown- but amazingly, none of dancer Fred Astaire in the DVD release. (Despite having made some of the greatest musical films from 1948 to 1957- it appears that his widow holds the release rights to all his images, decreeing license fees for the use of his image. Consequently she had all his footage removed from this documentary, which is unforgivable.) The studio shifts management several times in the next dozen or so years, until the factory is more or less liquidated in 1974 and turned over to the MGM Grand Hotel project of Kirk Kerkorian. A particularly sad image is seeing the MGM sign removed from the executive office building in 1986. But what a time it once was.

One of the best documentaries on the entertainment industry ever made

[AlsExGal · 9/10 · 25 November 2021]

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.

They don't call him Leo the Lion for nothing...

[malikroberts16 · 8/10 · 9 September 2009]

If you took a good look at this documentary, you'd see why Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is easily my most favorite movie studio ever. I was not born during their empire years, but I sure wish I was sometimes.

I remember imitating Leo the Lion very well. I did what he did and I roared just like he did, but I could never get my roars to be as fierce as Leo's were. Probably 'cause I was a little tyke.

It's amazing that MGM's over 80 years old. It's also amazing that a studio that none of the other ones could hold a candle to could be brought to its knees so slowly and so badly. It's also sad that Sony Pictures is now on MGM's old Culver City property (this was their headquarters from the start until 1986).

My favorite MGM lion is Tanner. He's the one that was used on most of MGM's cartoons and all of their full-color features from the '30s to the mid '50s. To me, he was a symbol of their status in the movie industry. Whenever you saw him on the screen, you knew you were in for a real treat. MGM has used their current lion for 52 years now, but he can't compare to Tanner. I drop by YouTube everyday, sometimes just to see Tanner roar, and he has lots of fans.

I also remember racing to the TV set to watch Tom & Jerry. I tried really hard never to miss the lion at the very start of each episode.

Now, Ted Turner/Warner Bros. juggle three-fourths of MGM's entire catalog (1924-1986). WB owns WAY too much as it is and they'd do well to give at least some of it up. Various companies and businessmen bought and gave away MGM for 2 decades. They couldn't deal with losing their old theater chain (Loews). And as the studio system collapsed, so did MGM (which was the hardest hit). I'm surprised they're not totally a thing of the past already because they are still buried in so much debt, 40 years after they started going broke.

I'd really like to get a taste of MGM's true Lionpower. But in time, I think I will.

Finally...a documentary that adequately covers the history of this great studio.

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 23 September 2010]

Back in 1972, Dick Cavett narrated a documentary about the history of MGM. Unfortunately, it was crammed into only 50 minutes and seemed way too short for so much material. Well, fortunately, twenty years later, Turner Entertainment made what is the definitive documentary--"MGM: When The Lion Roars". Narrated by Patrick Stewart, it's chock full of wonderful clips and interviews with a bazillion stars. It really is extraordinary and very complete--and a must-see for insane cinemaniacs like myself.

By the way, does anyone know why most of Fred Astaire's clips were excised from the DVD release?! IMDb says this is so but never really explains this. Were there legal reasons or did someone hate Mr. Astaire?! What gives?!

when the crowd roars for a DVD release!

[crispy_comments · 8/10 · 20 March 2007]

After all these years I still remember this documentary vividly. I haven't seen it since it originally aired on TV in 1992 - and boy was I disappointed when I found out I couldn't borrow it from my local library, because some jerk had stolen the videotapes! I think that just proves this mini-series should be made available on DVD, eh? There's obviously great demand for it.

"When The Lion Roars" was fascinating and made me want to see all of MGM's classic films (so the documentary achieved it's goal!). Warner Bros owns MGM's films now (and this mini-series) and I suspect they're not doing all they can to keep MGM's history alive - they're much more inclined to release their own Warner films on DVD, it seems to me!

Anyway, I'm just dying to watch "When The Lion Roars" again - it would be even more interesting now that I'm older and would recognize more of the film clips and people being interviewed! But the fact that a clueless youngster like I was, still found it so entertaining and memorable, certainly says a lot about the quality of this documentary... and the quality of MGM's classic movie legacy.

A for any movie buff

[russ3503 · 20 November 2004]

I am an avid movie fan and pretty much like all the studios, per se. But the treasure of them all is the MGM studio. It is very near and dear to my heart and I am deeply saddened that MGM is no longer around. The original MGM lion lies in an unmarked grave in NJ when it really should be enshrined as the one that adorns MGM Las Vegas.

Most of the stars in front of the camera as well as behind the camera are also gone. That makes this trilogy so bitter sweet to watch. "More Stars Than There Are In The Heavens" was its motto and these films bring back the golden era of movies to us once more. An absolute must for any film buff to own.

superb look-back

[didi-5 · 9/10 · 28 July 2003]

Patrick Stewart's irritating introduction aside, this lengthy multi-parter traces the history of MGM from their earliest silents (He Who Gets Slapped, The Student Prince of Heidelberg, Ben-Hur, The Big Parade), through the golden era (Gable, Harlow, Hepburn and Tracy, Astaire and Kelly, Garland, Garson, etc etc), to the fifties television boom and MGM's attempts to adapt, and on to the demise of the studio as a production force in the 1970s and growth as a hotel chain.

The clips are numerous, and of the highest class, although some of the silents look slightly speeded up (my copy of The Big Parade doesn't move as quick as that!) - they are well-chosen, and representative of each era. Better still are the interviewees, Helen Hayes and Maureen O'Sullivan remember Irving Thalberg, Margaret Booth talks of her experience of editing movies from the early days onwards, Van Johnson remembers war film experiences, Mickey Rooney remembers Judy Garland, Luise Rainer and June Allyson recall Louis B Mayer, Freddie Bartholomew and Jackie Cooper talk of being child stars, and on and on.

This series is a treasure and if it doesn't make you want to explore 'the oldies', I don't know what will. Brilliant.

A legacy of riches: Some good, some bad, but all unforgettable.

[mark.waltz · 10/10 · 30 October 2017]

The world of the Hollywood studios is like a country towards itself: like the Vatican within Rome within the country of Italy. Yes, studio head Louis B. Mayer had to answer to the money men in New York and had to follow legal corporation laws set by United States law, but for nearly 30 years, he ran his empire with an often iron fist, like a loving but strict father who had to keep his children in line. Often, he'd have to deal with spoiled stars, falling legends and over budget producers and directors, but when he stepped out of his suite of offices to go onto a set, the studio trembled in anticipation as he made his way to where he normally would not set foot. There were visits to ancient Rome (the silent "Ben Hur"), a shaking San Francisco, a mythical country over the rainbow, war torn Europe and a Broadway where a musical show larger than any stage could be performed and the audience able to see everything.

As narrated by "Star Trek: The Next Generation's" Patrick Stewart, this mini-series documentary profiles the movie studio that proclaimed more stars than there are in the heavens. Surely that was true. Silent era legends like Lon Chaney, Norma Shearer, Ramon Novarro, Lillian Gish, Garbo (only a last name for her was needed for the audience to know who she was) and John Glbert, some of whom did not transition well into the talkies, some of whom died early on. Rising stars like Joan Crawford, child stars like Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, short term triumphs like Helen Hayes and Luise Rainer, and later pin-up girls like Lana Turner and Ava Gardner. The British invasion of famous actresses like Greer Garson and Deborah Kerr, hunks like Robert Taylor, Clark Gable and Howard Keel. The very independent Katharine Hepburn and her very talented long time co-star Spencer Tracy. The sophisticated comedy of William Powell and Myrna Loy. Too many to mention, yet thanks to TCM, the Warner Archives (an ironic twist in how MGM films come out on video today) and scores of memorabilia, these films and their stars and often directors will never be forgotten.

There's the product: lavish musicals like "The Merry Widow", "Meet Me in St. Louis" and "Gigi", film version of the classic literature "A Tale of Two Cities", "David Copperfield", "A Christmas Carol", "Gone With the Wind" (only released by MGM, yet a part of their legacy as well) and "The Good Earth", and plays like "Dinner at Eight", "The Barretts of Wimple Street", "The Philadelphia Story" and "Romeo & Juliet". Historical epics like "Marie Antoinette" and "Queen Christina", operettas with Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy (still surprisingly popular today!), and a heavyset old woman who could stir up laughs by just eyeing Jean Harlow up and down. "Reading a book?", Marie Dressler asked, leading to a punch line that made it past the censors even in pre-code Hollywood.

And then there were the series films, a precursor to TV. The Andy Hardy series honored what Mayer believed the All American family should be; A young doctor named Kildare dealt with his patients the way we would hope that all doctors would. A feisty young woman named Maisie revealed her heart of gold with everybody she encountered. While sipping martini's, Nick and Nora Charles solved murders. A beautiful Englishwoman discovered the sexy Tarzan the Ape Man and created years of adventures. Mickey and Judy put on shows in a barn and ended up babes on Broadway.

There's the scandal. The fights between Mayer and the top unit producer Irving Thalberg, pretty much working himself to death and getting a caustic Mayer to claim that God was on his side in their feud. The affairs of certain actors kept out of the press, the secrets that certain actors were homosexual (thrust into loveless marriages in several cases) and ultimately the firing of Mayer by the money men in New York after his demanding that it was either him to go or new top producer Dory Schary. Actors interviewed recall seeing Mayer at the racetrack after his firing and describing him as a broken man. There are parallels to modern Hollywood, and scandals revealed that aren't discussed here reveals that there was much more going on than Hollywood gossip columnists were allowed to reveal at the time.

Made for cable just as TCM was being launched, this documents so much and features many interviews with those who were there, either for old newsreels or newly filmed interviews. Helen Hayes described Mayer as evil, while Maureen O'Sullivan ("Tarzan") indicated that she only knew nice people. June Allyson discusses her friendship with Judy Garland and tears up. This covers much of the post golden years as well, the closing of the backlot, the auctions of costumes and props (many of them purchased by Debbie Reynolds for her museum) and the focus on the Las Vegas hotel MGM Grand which took away much of the movie studio's assets. Business men without the passion of making movies helped turn MGM into a lesser Hollywood studio, but eventually Ted Turner stepped in, at least getting the archives out there. He only ran the studio for a very short time, but starting TCM would add a new name into the list of those who did care. Thanks to him, these features are regularly shown, and shorts and other specials not seen in years have come to light. The lion may have roared the end, but for a time, it was the growl heard 'round the world.

An excellent documentary for anyone interested in Golden Age Hollywood

[eddax · 10/10 · 16 February 2010]

This is an excellent documentary for anyone interested in Golden Age Hollywood. It chronicles the rise and fall of MGM, once the biggest studio thanks to its famous and infamous executives, Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg.

The mini-series is 6 hours long and full of rare photos, scenes from better and lesser known movies, as well as interviews with stars - many now deceased - about their experiences as part of the studio's stable of cast and crew. Most of the more famous actors get at least a short segment, though if they have an interesting story, they get more screen time - e.g. with Greta Garbo, Judy Garland, Jean Harlow.

For a movie buff like me, the docu contained a lot of information I already knew (and just as much I didn't), but even then, I had mostly read my knowledge till then and it was great getting the information again with accompanying sights and sounds. It also led me to greater appreciation of various actors, foremost of which is Judy Garland. I haven't seen many of her movies and so I hadn't heard her sing many of her signature songs beyond Over the Rainbow. Wow, can that girl sing and dance. No wonder she's such a gay icon.

It struck me a bit too late that I should start taking down with pen and paper all the movies that I now want to watch - there are puhlenty - so I guess I'll have to watch all 6 hours again at some point, lol.

Great Film Documentary!

[nickandrew · 9 May 2003]

This is a must for Hollywood film buffs (especially those who love films from the 1920s to the 1950s). It tells the story by narrator/host Patrick Stewart of the history of the famous MGM studios from its beginning in 1924 to its fall in the early 1980s. Includes interviews with many MGM stars such as Helen Hayes, Jackie Cooper, Joan Crawford, as well as directors Clarence Brown and King Vidor. Clips from nearly every MGM film are shown, some you will see are: THE WIZARD OF OZ, GRAND HOTEL, GREED, BEN-HUR, THE WOMEN, GIGI, GONE WITH THE WIND, A WOMAN'S FACE, NINOTCHKA, GRAND PRIX, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, etc. The documentary is very long, but worth seeing. Usually shown on PBS, but is available for purchasing. 4 stars here!

Great Documentary

[Michael_Elliott · 22 January 2009]

MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992)

**** (out of 4)

Mammoth, six-hour documentary covering every aspect of the legendary studio MGM from its first picture, He Who Gets Slapped in 1924 until its crumble starting in the late 60s. The documentary is broken up into three parts with the first going from 1924 until Irving Thalberg's death in 1936. The second covers the biggest part of the studios career with projects like The Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind but also the studio losing their female stars like Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford. The third and final segment covers the legendary musicals like Meet Me in St. Louis but also founder Mayer getting pushed to the side and the eventual fall from grace of the studio. The film pretty much covers ever aspect to the studio in its six-hour running time and for the most part there's not a single flaw in the film. Some could argue that certain actors or directors should have received more screen time but opinions on this are going to vary from person to person. The only thing I think the documentary overlooked was the fact that the studio did some pretty bad things including killing the career of Buster Keaton and the notorious edits to the film Greed. Both of these subjects are briefly mentioned but they play it off as nothing major. The biggest plus are some great clips from various films but be warned that the ending to a lot of the movies are ruined so you might do yourself a favor and watch some of them before viewing this documentary. Another fun aspect are the various clips from the Academy Awards where we get to see many of the MGM winner getting their prizes including Spencer Tracy. Patrick Stewart hosts and we get interviews with Mickey Rooney, Charlton Heston, Jackie Cooper, Helen Hayes, June Allyson, Richard Chamberlain, Stanley Donen, Roddy McDowall, Debbie Reynolds, Ernest Borgnine, Ricardo Montalban, Freddie Bartholomew, Lew Ayres, Van Johnson and Ester Williams among many others. Countless archival footage is also shown.

Real Living, Breathing History of a Lost Hollywood

[GeorgeFairbrother · 1 February 2020]

One of the great things about older Hollywood documentaries like this (1992) , is that many of the real, key people were still alive, and keen to share their personal recollections with breathtaking honesty.

Some highlights for me are JJ Cohn, former MGM production manager, who describes events surrounding the ORIGINAL chariot race in the silent Ben Hur; Samuel Marx, producer and story editor, offers fascinating insights into the suspicious death of producer Paul Bern, husband of Jean Harlow, and how the power wielded by the studio impacted the police investigation. King Vidor, pioneering director, talks about the creative process in silent film, and artists like Helen Hayes, Maureen O'Sullivan, Esther Williams, Van Johnson, Ricardo Montalban and others talk about the movies, and the people, in the golden age of the Hollywood studio system.

The filmmakers manage to deftly navigate the tricky problem that is LB Mayer himself, are honest about his faults, yet give his admirers sufficient time to create an overall balanced picture. It explores the breakdown in the relationship between LB and his protege, production genius Irving Thalberg, and how as a result, the studio separated into two factions depending on personal loyalties. My only reservation, and it's minor, is that the impression left is that Thalberg, in chronically poor health, was a defenseless victim of Mayer's greed and disloyalty, having been removed from the post of head of all production while away from the studio recuperating from illness. This may be true to a degree, but other sources suggest that Thalberg himself wasn't averse to some corporate maneuvering and excessive demands. Both were tough men, and as Samuel Marx recalled, "It was a tough time."

The story of MGM is the story of the movies, of Hollywood and the cliched rise and fall. Patrick Stewart's rather eccentric narration enhances the drama and helps to make this series something quite special, that can be watched time and again.