Ziegfeld Follies (1945)

The late, great impresario Florenz Ziegfeld looks down from heaven and ordains a new revue in his grand old style.

Directors:

Lemuel Ayers, Roy Del Ruth,

Writers:

David Freedman, Hugh Martin,

Stars:

Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, Judy Garland

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fred Astaire	...	Fred Astaire ('Here's to the Ladies') / Raffles ('This Heart of Mine') / Tai Long ('Limehouse Blues') / Gentleman ('The Babbit and the Bromide')
Lucille Ball	...	Lucille Ball ('Here's to the Ladies')
Lucille Bremer	...	Princess ('This Heart of Mine') / Moy Ling in 'Limehouse Blues')
Fanny Brice	...	Norma ('A Sweepstakes Ticket')
Judy Garland	...	The Star ('A Great Lady Has An Interview')
Kathryn Grayson	...	Kathryn Grayson ('Beauty')
Lena Horne	...	Lena Horne ('Love')
Gene Kelly	...	Gentleman ('The Babbit and the Bromide')
James Melton	...	Alfredo ('La Traviata')
Victor Moore	...	Lawyer's Client ('Pay the Two Dollars')
Red Skelton	...	J. Newton Numbskull ('When Television Comes')
Esther Williams	...	Esther Williams ('A Water Ballet')
William Powell	...	Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.
Edward Arnold	...	Lawyer ('Pay the Two Dollars')
Marion Bell	...	Violetta ('La Traviata')

Storyline

In heaven, showman Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. fondly recalls his first Broadway revue, the Ziegfeld Follies of 1907. Even from heaven, he is hoping that he can, for one last time, create that same magic by mounting one last follies. As he thinks about who he would like to appear in these follies, he is assisted in realizing his fantasy, at least in his own mind, by such luminaries as Fred Astaire, Edward Arnold, 'Lucille Ball' , Marion Bell, Lucille Bremer, Fanny Brice, Cyd Charisse, Judy Garland, Kathryn Grayson, Lena Horne, Gene Kelly, James Melton, Victor Moore, Virginia O'Brien, Red Skelton, Esther Williams, Keenan Wynn, and, of course, a bevy of beautiful girls.

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Plot Keywords:

heaven | revue | florenz ziegfeld | ziegfeld follies | whip | 

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Taglines:

Flashing...smashing SCREEN ENTERTAINMENT! DAZZLING IN ITS BEAUTY...PACKED WITH GLORIOUS Melodies! (original print media ad - many caps)

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 April 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ziegfeld Follies of 1944

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,240,816 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Original director George Sidney quit after one month of filming and was replaced by Vincente Minnelli.

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Goofs

During the "A Great Lady Has An Interview," Judy Garland is continuously pushing her hair back out of her face during the interview portion of the scene. However, when the musical part begins her hair is firmly fixed up off of her face and stays that way until the end of the number when her dance moves have obviously loosened it up enough to start falling in her face again.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.: Ah... Saturday, September twenty fifth. Another heavenly day. Ah, yes. Always a heavenly day.

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Crazy Credits

"Bunin's Puppets" are listed as cast members just above Cyd Charisse.

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Connections

Featured in Glorious Technicolor (1998)

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Soundtracks

"A Great Lady Has An Interview (Madame Crematante)"
Music by Roger Edens
Lyrics by Kay Thompson
Sung and danced by Judy Garland & Male Chorus

User Reviews

A MGM Masterpiece

I have enjoyed reading the various postings about this movie, but found it somewhat depressing to find so many viewers have been obviously conditioned by present day "standards of talent." (and by that I mean there is no one today to fill the shoes of these musical giants). Speaking for myself, this was quite an amazing achievement in the form it was meant to be -- a "Review" -- not a musical with a storyline -- and I think it is only fair to judge it on those terms, rather than what you wished it would be. My opinion: most of the comedy numbers were OK, but one should remember that these numbers were directed at a 1946 audience, who appreciated this kind of gentle humor more than present day viewers. As for the musical numbers -- I don't think MGM ever mounted anything as lavish and, in particular, "This Heart of Mine". One posting said the storyline didn't make any sense (it certainly did to me), and more than one decried the inadequacy of Lucille Bremer as a dancer. Lucille Bremer was not only beautiful, but was an excellent dancer and for me, they were perfect together. "Limehouse Blues" (filmed on the "Dorian Gray" set) is one for the history books. Judy Garland looked beautiful and, in an early example, showed what a terrific range she possessed. The Technicolor was magnificent. By the way, contrary to what was posted, this was one of MGM's highest grosses of he 1940s.