The ups and downs of Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., famed producer of extravagant stage revues, are portrayed.
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Title: The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
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Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| William Powell | ... | ||
| Myrna Loy | ... | ||
| Luise Rainer | ... | ||
| Frank Morgan | ... |
Jack Billings
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| Fanny Brice | ... |
Fannie Brice
(as Fannie Brice)
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| Virginia Bruce | ... |
Audrey Dane
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| Reginald Owen | ... |
Sampston
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| Ray Bolger | ... |
Ray Bolger
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| Ernest Cossart | ... |
Sidney
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| Joseph Cawthorn | ... |
Dr. Ziegfeld
(as Joseph Cawthorne)
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| Nat Pendleton | ... | ||
 |
Harriet Hoctor | ... |
Herself
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| Jean Chatburn | ... |
Mary Lou
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Paul Irving | ... |
Erlanger
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| Herman Bing | ... |
Costumer
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Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
At the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, sideshow barker Flo Ziegfeld turns the tables on his more successful neighbor Billings, and steals his girlfriend to boot. This pattern is repeated throughout their lives, as Ziegfeld makes and loses many fortunes putting on ever bigger, more spectacular shows (sections of which appear in the film). French revue star Anna Held becomes his first wife, but it's not easy being married to the man who "glorified the American girl." Late in life, now married to Billie Burke, he seems to be all washed up, but... Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
Taglines:
10 Big Shows In 1 See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
8 April 1936 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
El gran Ziegfeld See more »Filming Locations:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USACompany Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (roadshow)Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
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See more »
(1913) (uncredited)
Music by Antonín Dvorák
Played on the violin during the "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody" sequence
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
For her famous telephone conversation scene, which is generally credited as being what clinched the Oscar for her, Luise Rainer drew a lot of her material from a play by Jean Cocteau entitled "The Human Voice". See more »Goofs
The "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody" number incorporates snippets of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue", which was premiered circa 1924, but after its performance Anna Held, who died in 1918, is still portrayed as alive and married to Ziegfeld. See more »Quotes
Fanny Brice: Tell Mr Ziegfeld, I'm not in and if I was in, I wouldn't see him and if I did see him, tell him, I wouldn't buy a thing.See more »
Crazy Credits
The opening credits display the title of the film and the names of the stars in marquee lights, as they would be on Broadway. See more »Soundtracks
Humoresque, Op. 101/7(1913) (uncredited)
Music by Antonín Dvorák
Played on the violin during the "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody" sequence
See more »
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Boy, is this movie long......but worth it for the most part. William Powell is, as usual, his urbane, sophisticated self in a romanticized portrayal of Florenz Ziegfeld. Myrna Loy,leaving behind her wisecracking Nora Charles persona, does a fair job as Billie Burke. Burke, whose movie career was based on dithering, silly women, was once a beauty who graced the Follies. Loy doesn't come across as either but she has never given a bad performance so she is believable. But Louise Rainer as Anna Held is the one to watch here. A beautiful doll-like creature, she enchants you with her performance. The famous telephone scene may be overrated somewhat but it worked for me....and obviously for the Academy...it garnered her an Oscar. The music is so wonderful and the "Pretty Girl is Like a Melody" with Dennis Morgan is eye candy. One glaring fault is that there is a very short sequence with the great Fanny Brice in which she is singing "My Man" ( probably one of the greatest torch songs of all times) and it is just cut-off in mid warble as the story goes on to another scene. An unforgivable sin!! There could have been a little less talk and a little more singing/dancing in the movie but since it is a biography and not primarily a musical, all, except for the Brice faux pas, is forgiven!