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The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
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In MGM's three-hour-plus The Great Ziegfeld, William Powell stars as the titular theatrical impresario, whose show business empire begins when he stage-manages a tour for legendary strongman Sandow (Nat Pendleton). With nary a penny in the bank, he charms European stage star Anna Held (Luise Rainer) to headline his "Follies", and later marries the luscious Ms. Held. From 1907 onward, Ziegfeld stages annual editions of Broadway's most fabulous revue, dedicated to "Glorifying the American Girl" but also giving ample time to develop the comic talents of Fanny Brice (played by herself), Will Rogers, Eddie Cantor and many others. Eventually, Ziegfeld abandons Ms. Held in favor of other beauties, setting the stage for the "telephone scene" which won Luise Rainer the first of her Oscars. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
William Powell, Myrna Loy, (more)
Director(s):
Robert Z. Leonard
Format(s):
DVD
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Synopsis of The Great Ziegfeld

In MGM's three-hour-plus The Great Ziegfeld, William Powell stars as the titular theatrical impresario, whose show business empire begins when he stage-manages a tour for legendary strongman Sandow (Nat Pendleton). With nary a penny in the bank, he charms European stage star Anna Held (Luise Rainer) to headline his "Follies", and later marries the luscious Ms. Held. From 1907 onward, Ziegfeld stages annual editions of Broadway's most fabulous revue, dedicated to "Glorifying the American Girl" but also giving ample time to develop the comic talents of Fanny Brice (played by herself), Will Rogers, Eddie Cantor and many others. Eventually, Ziegfeld abandons Ms. Held in favor of other beauties, setting the stage for the "telephone scene" which won Luise Rainer the first of her Oscars. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
185 mins

Complete Cast of The Great Ziegfeld


Director(s):
Robert Z. Leonard
Writer(s):
William Anthony McGuire, Anthony William McGuire
Producer(s):
Hunt Stromberg, Robert Z. Leonard
The Great Ziegfeld Awards:
  • 1936 - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Best Picture
  • 1936 - Film Daily - 10 Best Films
  • 1936 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Actress
  • 1936 - New York Times - 10 Best Films
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    Arlene F.

    If you enjoy "Old" Musical Biographies, this one is great, even in Black and White. The Costumes and musical numbers should bring back wonderful memories if you like the "Nostalgic Years".

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    Karl H.

    Clocking in at nearly three hours, there's a lot here. More of a biography with musical numbers than a musical per se, the film stays true to the spirit if not the letter of Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr.'s life. William Powell is at his charming best, and Luise Rainer is radiant as Anna Held, Ziegfeld's star and wife. Myrna Loy doesn't appear until the last third of the film and her appearance is sweet if not very substantial. The "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody" number has to be seen to be believed: it's all done in one take. A mammoth undertaking for its time, the film showcases the best and the worst of what made MGM the "tiffany" of Hollywood film studios of the 30s & 40s. The all-too-brief appearance of Fanny Brice playing herself (as any fan of "Funny Girl" knows, Ziegfeld made her famous)is priceless. Miss Brice made a handful of film appearances, and of those I've seen, her appearance here is her best. If you're a fan of MGM in the 30s, this is a must see.

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    Diane J.

    I am a fan of musicals, especially Fred and Ginger, but I was very curious about Ziegfeld whom I've heard so much about. This gave me a good idea of what type of person he was and what drove him to see and discover talent in people. Enjoyed the film very much. I recommend all who are interested in Zieggie to watch this.

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