Stars: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Frank Morgan, Fanny Brice

Director: Robert Z. Leonard

Summary: The ups and downs of Flo Ziegfeld who produced ever more bigger and spectacular shows and revues throughout his life...

This movie still sets the standard for what musicals should be. The larger-than-life career of stage genius Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. is aptly celebrated in this marvelous musical biography. As if the big story and all-star cast weren't enough, they threw in such unforgettable tunes as "If You Knew Susie", "Shine on Harvest Moon", and "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody". Winner of 3 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Dance Direction.

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Winner of three Academy Awards including Best Picture, 1936's The Great Ziegfeldstars William Powell in a biopic "suggested by romances and incidents in the life of America's greatest showman, Florenz Ziegfeld Jr". With admirable accuracy, the film follows Ziegfeld's career from small-time sideshow barker to creator of the famous Ziegfeld Follies, the collection of singing, dancing, and comedy vaudeville acts that launched the careers of such luminaries as Fanny Brice, Ray Bolger and Harriet Hoctor--all of whom play themselves in the film.

In the title role Powell offers a believable combination of ambition and hucksterism, and his Thin Mancostar Myrna Loy makes a late appearance as his second wife, but it's large-eyed Luise Rainer who has the showier role (and won an Oscar) as Ziegfeld's first big star and first wife. The musical numbers, however, don't hold up quite as well as the plot, and at some three hours the film is overlong. It's fascinating, though, to see the vintage stars performing and the eight-minute spectacle "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody" is an eye-popper with an elaborate revolving set supporting a large cast singing and dancing to the Irving Berlin tune while throwing in some Puccini, Strauss, Leoncavallo and Gershwin for good measure. --David Horiuchi

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Year:	1936
Release Date:	February 16, 2004
Runtime:	177 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	D 065124
Keywords:	Great, Music, Films, Shows, Performing, Musicals, Arts, Ziegfeld
Genre:	Music/Performing Arts