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IMDbPro

The Great Ziegfeld

  • 19361936
  • PassedPassed
  • 2h 56m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
8.2K
YOUR RATING
Myrna Loy, William Powell, and Luise Rainer in The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer1:45
1 Video
57 Photos
  • Drama
  • Musical
The ups and downs of Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., famed producer of extravagant stage revues, are portrayed.The ups and downs of Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., famed producer of extravagant stage revues, are portrayed.The ups and downs of Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., famed producer of extravagant stage revues, are portrayed.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
8.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Robert Z. Leonard
  • Writer
    • William Anthony McGuire(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • William Powell
    • Myrna Loy
    • Luise Rainer
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Z. Leonard
  • Writer
    • William Anthony McGuire(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • William Powell
    • Myrna Loy
    • Luise Rainer
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 90User reviews
    • 49Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Oscars
      • 4 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Great Ziegfeld
    Trailer 1:45
    The Great Ziegfeld

    Photos57

    The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
    The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
    Virginia Bruce and Luise Rainer in The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
    The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
    William Powell and Ann Gillis in The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
    Fanny Brice and Harriet Hoctor in The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
    Billie Burke and Myrna Loy in The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
    William Powell and Luise Rainer in The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
    Dorothy Mackaill in The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
    Myrna Loy, William Powell, Virginia Bruce, and Luise Rainer in The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
    The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
    The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

    Top cast

    Edit
    William Powell
    William Powell
    • Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.as Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.
    Myrna Loy
    Myrna Loy
    • Billie Burkeas Billie Burke
    Luise Rainer
    Luise Rainer
    • Anna Heldas Anna Held
    Frank Morgan
    Frank Morgan
    • Billingsas Billings
    Fanny Brice
    Fanny Brice
    • Fannie Briceas Fannie Brice
    • (as Fannie Brice)
    Virginia Bruce
    Virginia Bruce
    • Audrey Daneas Audrey Dane
    Reginald Owen
    Reginald Owen
    • Sampstonas Sampston
    Ray Bolger
    Ray Bolger
    • Ray Bolgeras Ray Bolger
    Ernest Cossart
    Ernest Cossart
    • Sidneyas Sidney
    Joseph Cawthorn
    Joseph Cawthorn
    • Dr. Ziegfeldas Dr. Ziegfeld
    • (as Joseph Cawthorne)
    Nat Pendleton
    Nat Pendleton
    • Sandowas Sandow
    Harriet Hoctor
    Harriet Hoctor
    • Harriet Hoctoras Harriet Hoctor
    Jean Chatburn
    Jean Chatburn
    • Mary Louas Mary Lou
    Paul Irving
    • Erlangeras Erlanger
    Herman Bing
    Herman Bing
    • Costumeras Costumer
    Charles Judels
    Charles Judels
    • Pierreas Pierre
    Marcelle Corday
    Marcelle Corday
    • Marieas Marie
    Raymond Walburn
    Raymond Walburn
    • Sageas Sage
    • Director
      • Robert Z. Leonard
    • Writer
      • William Anthony McGuire(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A.A. Trimble, who portrays Will Rogers in the film, was actually a Cleveland map salesman who frequently impersonated Rogers at Rotarian lunches.
    • Goofs
      During the circus number, each dog moves forward into a box painted on the floor of the stage. The second dog from the right moves forward out of the box, then is seen back in the box in the next shot.
    • Quotes

      Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.: [after catching Ray Bolger doing a little softshoe backstage] Buddy, you're better with your feet than you are with your broom.

      Ray Bolger: Mr. Ziegfeld, you think so? Gee, I wish you'd give me a chance. I've got talent, and I'd like to get away from shifting scenery and moving props.

      Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.: How long have you been a property boy?

      Ray Bolger: Five years, but my heart hasn't been in it.

      Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.: You've been working a long time without your heart, buddy.

    • Crazy credits
      An actor portraying composer Jerome Kern is seen in an office playing "Look for the Silver Lining" on the piano, but he is not mentioned on any cast list for this film. He is simply called "Jerry" by the other characters in the scene.
    • Alternate versions
      The DVD release runs 185 minutes, and includes the overture, entr'acte and exit music, as presented in the original "road show" version of the film.
    • Connections
      Edited into Ziegfeld Girl (1941)
    • Soundtracks
      Harriet Hoctor Ballet
      (1936) (uncredited)

      (also called "A Circus Must Be Different in a Ziegfield Show")

      Music by Con Conrad

      Lyrics by Herb Magidson

      Sung and danced by male and female choruses

      Danced by Harriet Hoctor

    User reviews90

    Review
    Top review
    A Bang for your bucks.
    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!
    helpful•21
    3
    • Bucs1960
    • Dec 6, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 23, 1936 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der große Ziegfeld
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 56 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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