The Great Ziegfeld
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Movie Reviews of The Great Ziegfeld
Movie Review: The Good & The Bad Of 'The Great Ziegfeld'
Summary: 4 Stars
I almost gave up on this three-hour film around the 45-minute mark because of Luise Ranier's shrill and annoying character, plus there hadn't been much in the way of music which is what I wanted in this film in the first lace.
However, after the first hour the story picks up considerably with the music numbers and some nice-looking and interesting women. I liked Myrna Loy playing Billie Burke. In fact, I like Loy a lot more than Burke in everything! This was my first look at Fanny Price, who reminded me of Barbra Streisand with her looks and Brooklyn accent.
William Powell, playing Flo Ziegfeld, was, of course, the undisputed star of the film. He was terrific, too, start-to-finish. Powell had great screen presence and was a good choice for this role. Frank Morgan played his normal role with that stupid laugh of his, but he was good as Ziegfeld's generous friend. Another famous name of the day, Myrna Loy, gets good billing in here but not much of a role.
Some of the sets on the Ziegfeld Follies are amazing Busby Berkely-type extravaganzas that certainly mark the 1920s and '30s. The line, "They don't make 'em like that anymore" certainly rings true. It's also true they look corny today, but they're still fascinating to watch.
If I was older and had lived through some of this time period, I would really feel nostalgic watching this film, sad for an era now long gone.
Movie Review: 1st hour Dull--2nd Hour a Masterpiece--3rd a mixture
Summary: 4 Stars
The title just about sums up my review. The dramatic sequences of this film really don't stand the test of time; they're alternately melodramatic and boring. To modern day audiences, the 1st hour, in particular, is almost unbelievably dull.
But when the production numbers begin at about the second hour, the senses are overwhelmed. I don't think I've ever seen a more spectacular production--ever--in 30 years of viewing movies. No superlative adequately expresses this production. More beautiful girls than you ever saw, more beautiful gowns, more beautiful music, just doesn't exist anywhere else on celluloid. I wonder who the handsome crooner was? His voice was haunting in its beauty.
The third hour is part melodrama, part musical production. The circus number is first-rate, but doesn't match the sheer genius of the 2nd hour.
You must watch this movie at least to enjoy the numbers!
Movie Review: epitome of 30s musicals
Summary: 4 Stars
a big extravaganza musical. the musicals are very grand and ostentious but very much in the tradition of musicals in the 30s when entertainment was escape from the dreary reality of the Depression. william powell, luise rainer and myrna loy are all wonderful, thought myrna loy's billie burke came very late in the movie. my favorite scene was when Flo (powell) was courting Billie (loy) at grant's tomb. simplicity and wonderful sweet. you ll have to see it just for that scene. luise rainer's telephone won her the oscar. the movie has a few touching scenes, but i did wish the movie was brisker and tighter.Movie Review: "Ziegfeld" Merely Good
Summary: 4 Stars
I'd be a little kinder to this film if it hadn't won the Best Picture Oscar. Adding insult to injury is that "Dodsworth" didn't win. The debits here are overlength, superficial storytelling, skindeep biographical study, and generally weak production numbers. To it's credit the film contains strong performances by William Powell, Luise Rainer, Myrna Loy, and Frank Morgan. Good cameos by Fanny Brice and Ray Bolger. The production does have stunning direction and costume design. "The Great Ziegfeld" is not a bad picture but it barely transcends curio status.Movie Review: MGM at its most extravagant and dull
Summary: 3 Stars
"The Great Ziegfield" was a mammoth box office hit for MGM in 1936 and it is a stupefying and interminable bore today, with the exception of a few tremendous musical numbers. It may be the very best example why so many of the films of MGM, the Tiffany of its day, have not stood the test of time. MGM spent truck loads of money and mounted the biggest show in the cinema but in doing so, they removed almost all vestiges of vitality and wit. At least the over-the-top no expense spared approach mirrored Ziegfield himself and it should be noted that the screenplay is a reasonably accurate depiction of his life and times. The art direction, costuming and sense of period, also, are lush and accurate. William Powell is good casting as Ziegfield but Myrna Loy has little to do as Billie Burke. Luise Rainer won a famous Oscar for her smiling through tears phone scene but this was the year Greta Garbo was up for "Camille". Are you kidding? Fanny Brice ("Funny Girl") appears too and every moment is solid gold but it is a tragedy that her version of "My Man" is truncated.
The DVD print of the film is only OK which is disappointing. There is a short film about the making of the film and this is invaluable because appearances are made by Ziegfield's daughter and Luise Rainer herself. In fact the whole DVD is worth viewing just to hear Rainer tell how she walked out on Louis B. Mayer "...to save herself and here I am an old lady and I saved myself" delivered with a radiant smile and a look of triumph which strips away the years. The theatrical trailer is included too.