The best Mickey Rooney’s documentary movies

Mickey Rooney

Mickey Rooney

23/09/1920- 06/04/2014
We present our ranking of the best Mickey Rooney’s movies. Do you love cinema? Or are you looking for a movie of your favorite actor to watch tonight? Surely you have some to see or that you did not know yet about Mickey Rooney.
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Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon

Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon
7.2/10
See Michael Jackson, one of the most recognizable and popular entertainers of all time, like never before in the feature-length tribute Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon. Known to millions of fans worldwide for his record-breaking albums, groundbreaking music videos, mesmerizing dance moves and humanitarian efforts, his true story has never really been told...until now. This unprecedented look into the King of Pop's fascinating life includes all-new interviews with his mother Katherine Jackson as well as siblings Tito and Rebbie Jackson, family, friends and music legends such as Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick and many more.

Night of 100 Stars

Night of 100 Stars
7.1/10
The most glittering, expensive, and exhausting videotaping session in television history took place Friday February 19, 1982 at New York's Radio City Music Hall. The event, for which ticket-buyers payed up to $1,000 a seat (tax-deductible as a contribution to the Actors' Fund) was billed as "The Night of 100 Stars" but, actually, around 230 stars took part. And most of the audience of 5,800 had no idea in advance that they were paying to see a TV taping, complete with long waits for set and costume changes, tape rewinding, and the like. Executive producer Alexander Cohen estimated that the 5,800 Radio City Music Hall seats sold out at prices ranging from $25 to $1,000. The show itself cost about $4 million to produce and was expected to yield around $2 million for the new addition to the Actors Fund retirement home in Englewood, N. J. ABC is reputed to have paid more than $5 million for the television rights.

That's Entertainment!

That's Entertainment!
7.8/10
Various MGM stars from yesterday present their favorite musical moments from the studio's 50 year history.

That's Entertainment, Part II

That's Entertainment, Part II
7.3/10
Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire present more golden moments from the MGM film library, this time including comedy and drama as well as classic musical numbers.

Sid & Judy

Sid & Judy
7.4/10
  • Genre: Documentary
  • Release: 26/06/2019
  • Character: Himself (archive footage)
Explore the dramatic career and personal struggles of the talented and tragically short-lived entertainer Judy Garland through rare concert footage, never-heard-before voice recordings and personal photos.

That's Entertainment! III

That's Entertainment! III
7.5/10
Some of MGM'S musical stars review the studios history of musicals. From The Hollywood Revue of 1929 to Brigadoon, from the first musical talkies to Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain.

The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn

The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn
7.8/10
In this tribute to her frequent co-star and longtime love, Katharine Hepburn hosts a behind-the-scenes look at Spencer Tracy's personal and professional life that features intimate personal accounts, interviews and clips from his most acclaimed work on the silver screen.

A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound
5.4/10
  • Genre: Documentary
  • Release: 01/01/1940
  • Character: Self
This short documentary, presented and directed by MGM sound engineer Douglas Shearer, goes behind the scenes to look at how the sound portion of a talking picture is created.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic
7.6/10
  • Genre: Documentary
  • Release: 20/02/1990
  • Character: Self (archive footage)
Documentary about the making of the 1939 MGM classic film The Wizard of Oz. Includes interviews of cast and crew members, their families and fans of the film.

Show-Business at War

Show-Business at War
7/10
  • Genre: Documentary
  • Release: 21/05/1943
  • Character: Self
A multi-studio effort to show the newsreel audience the progress of the Hollywood war effort.

Hollywood’s Children

Hollywood’s Children
7.1/10
  • Genre: Documentary
  • Release: 24/02/1982
  • Character: Self (archive footage)
A documentary about child actors in Hollywood, exploring their history from the early days of film.

Liberation

Liberation
6.9/10
Liberation tells the dramatic story of the battle waged on two fronts during World War II - the Allied campaign to liberate Europe and Hitler's genocidal campaign against the Jews. The World War II documentary uses film footage, radio broadcasts, and period music gathered from archives around the world. Interwoven throughout the film are the compelling stories of the Jews of Europe - unforgettable stories of tragedy, courage, resistance, and survival. Liberation begins in 1942, when Adolf Hitler was still at the height of his power and the Allies began envisioning a cross-channel invasion of Europe.

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
7.1/10
  • Genre: Documentary
  • Release: 06/08/1975
  • Character: (archive footage)
Period music, film clips and newsreel footage combined into a visual exploration of the American entertainment industry during the Great Depression.

Cavalcade of the Academy Awards

Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
8.5/10
  • Genre: Documentary
  • Release: 31/07/1940
  • Character: Himself
This 1940 presentation features highlights of earlier (1928 onward) Oscar ceremonies including Shirley Temple and Walt Disney, plus acceptance speeches for films released in 1939 with recipients and presenters including Vivien Leigh, Judy Garland, Hattie McDaniel, Fay Bainter, Mickey Rooney, Thomas Mitchell, Sinclair Lewis, and more, with host Bob Hope.

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History
7.7/10
  • Genre: Documentary
  • Release: 14/10/2008
  • Character: Himself
The history of Hollywood musical movies, from the very beginning until the 21st century, hosted by Shirley Jones.

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
7.8/10
Out-takes (mostly from Warner Bros.), promotional shorts, movie premieres, public service pleas, wardrobe tests, documentary material, and archival footage make up this star-studded voyeuristic look at the Golden age of Hollywood during the 30s, 40, and 50.

A Dream Comes True

A Dream Comes True
6/10
  • Genre: Documentary
  • Release: 31/12/1935
  • Character: Puck (archive footage) (uncredited)
A promotional short to hype the production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935).

Something a Little Less Serious: A Tribute to 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World'

Something a Little Less Serious: A Tribute to 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World'
7.6/10
A star-studded documentary and tribute to the classic comedy, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World.

Judy Garland: By Myself

Judy Garland: By Myself
8.5/10
  • Genre: Documentary
  • Release: 25/02/2004
  • Character: Himself
As Hollywood biographies go, Judy Garland's story is one of the saddest success stories you'll ever hear. The sanitized studio version of her life presented a smiling kid with the big voice, who, alongside Mickey Rooney, just wanted to put on a show. But drugs, overwork, even psychological abuse at the hands of the studio is now part of the Garland legend. But despite the number of Garland books and documentaries, one account has always been missing -- Garland herself never managed to write a memoir. She did make several attempts at an autobiography, often recording stories on a tape recorder. Judy Garland: By Myself (2004), finally fills in the blanks - using Judy's personal recordings to tell the story in her own words.

The Lion Roars Again

The Lion Roars Again
5.4/10
  • Genre: Documentary
  • Release: 01/01/1975
  • Character: Himself (uncredited)
A chronicle of the 1975 International Press Conclave hosted by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer over two days in May 1975.

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