Robert Z. Leonard, in full Robert Zigler Leonard, (born October 7, 1889, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.died August 27, 1968, Los Angeles, California), American film director who was one of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 's premier directors for some 30 years, best known for a series of popular musicals. Universal Pictures originally made Show Boat as a silent, and obtained the rights to the popular Broadway score after the film was shot. "What I tried to do primarily was to get across the essential spirit of the man", Powell later said, "his love for show business, his exquisite taste, his admiration for the beauty of women. The Great Ziegfeld is a 1936 American musical drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and produced by Hunt Stromberg. You're almost there! The enhancements that you chose aren't available for this seller. However, there were too many of them and towards the end, I fast-forwarded through them to get to the true meat of the story. AMERICAN GROOVES RADIO HOUR hosted by JOE LAURO 00:54:34 From 1908-1931 THE ZIEGFELD FOLLIES were perhaps the most well known and beloved of the Broadway reviews. The curtains, made of rayon silk, measured 4,300 yards (3,900m). Third parties use cookies for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalised ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. "[15], Although it has some accuracies, The Great Ziegfeld takes many key liberties with Ziegfeld's life and the history of the Follies, resulting in many inaccuracies. He was born on March 21, 1869, and grew up against a background of Beethoven, Schumann and Bach. [10] It was acclaimed upon release as the greatest musical biography to be made in Hollywood and still remains a standard in musical film making. There's a dance sequence in this film that rivals anything Gene Kelly ever attempted. [13] The script, although fictionalized with embellishments needed for the motion picture,[14] did show some accuracies in the life of Ziegfeld. The Great Ziegfeld. Flo's new shows are a success, but after a while, the public's taste changes, and people begin to wonder if the times have not passed him by. Ziegfeld was a notorious womanizer, and while that's alluded to, it's all pretty innocent, lacking a certain zest, authenticity, or both. 2.5 out of 5 stars. Rotten Tomatoes reports a 72% approval rating based on 67 reviews, with a weighted average of 6.1/10. Flo and Billie eventually have a daughter named Patricia. The film suggests they married, which is not true. The definitive site for Reviews, Trailers, Showtimes, and Tickets Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 August 2018. The Great Ziegfeld, DVD 16 product ratings Condition: Very Good Price: US $9.98 Buy It Now Add to cart Add to Watchlist Fast and reliable. The Great Ziegfeld (1936) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Robert Z. Leonard Writing Credits William Anthony McGuire . The camera pulls back to show the entire structure, and the satin curtain descends, enclosing each level in turn until the stage curtain closes. with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. It was hugely successful in its day and has worn not all that well - but it is well worth watching. From the Collection: This collection is comprised of motion picture souvenir booklets and poster books published from all over the world on films primarily made in the United States and Europe. This early circus film is more of a waste of time than a good use of one. This lively biopic depicts the rise of Florenz Ziegfeld (William Powell), a theater producer who became renowned during the 1920s for his lavish stage productions. They're also apparently true to the extravagance of his Ziegfeld Follies, which ran on Broadway from 1907 to 1931. You can certainly do worse, but I would only recommend the film with reservations. Starting out by promoting individual performers, Ziegfeld established revues featuring dozens of women, shows that developed into his famous Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE HELLO FRISCO Ziegfeld FOLLIES of 1915 Ragtime 35478 at the best online prices at eBay! [46] Time qualified it as "Pretentious, packed with hokum and as richly sentimental as an Irving Berlin lyric, it is, as such, top-notch entertainment. The Follies featured many performers who, though well known from previous work in other theatrical genres, achieved unique financial success and publicity with Ziegfeld. [29], Frank Morgan, a stage and film character actor, played the role of promoter Billings in the film. But Billings is coming . We dont share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we dont sell your information to others. The disc will play perfectly without interruption and the case, inlay notes and sleeve may show limited signs of wear. His mother, Rosalie (ne de Hez), who was born in Belgium, was the grandniece of General Count tienne Maurice Grard. Rotten Tomatoes, home of the Tomatometer, is the most trusted measurement of quality for Movies & TV. 1CD. I do have a life contrary to popular belief :D This week I watched The Great Ziegfeld for the first time. 1936 - State Theater Ad - 18 May MC - Allentown PA.jpg 953 1,749; 290 KB Release Dates He achieves his goal, with the hits Show Boat (1927), Rio Rita (1927), Whoopee! Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. [8] (D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation and Intolerance, both silent films, had each run over three hours.) Ray Bolger was never cast in a "Follies" show,[16] and although she was born in the U.S, Billie Burke grew up in England and spoke with a Mid-Atlantic accent throughout her life; Loy who portrays her clearly has an American accent in the film. [41], In 1941, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer produced a sequel titled Ziegfeld Girl, starring James Stewart, Judy Garland, Hedy Lamarr, and Lana Turner, which recycled some film from The Great Ziegfeld. Revisiting movies and TV shows from the past, primarily around a central theme or completing series runs. Bought this for my mother as a child she use to go to the movies , I actually watched it with her and thoroughly enjoyed it even though I am of a different generation , its a film that I would watch on tv in all honesty but I am sure my mother will watch it again and again Bought this for my mother as a child she use to go to the movies , I actually watched it with her and thoroughly enjoyed it even though I am of a different generation , its a film that I would watch on tv in all honesty but I am sure my mother will watch it again and again and enjoy it, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 May 2013. 65x. | You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie Preferences, as described in the Cookie Notice. William Powell and Myrna Loy (The Thin Man films) star as Flo Ziegfeld and his second wife, Billie Burke, who played Glinda the good witch in The Wizard of Oz. The Great Ziegfeld manages to combine an interesting story with spectacular production numbers, something that MGM musicals of the early sound era achieved on only an occasional basis. [10][3]:45 Held served Ziegfeld with divorce papers on April 14, 1912, and their divorce became final on January 9, 1913. Find The Great Ziegfeld stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. When she showed up in his office as an adult, I thought their relationship would be explored more, but it was just dropped. This is one of those biopics that the studios used to churn out and is a superior example of the genre with good performances all round, and a better than good one from Louise Rainer as an actress called Anna Held, one of the great man's lovers. [35] The extravagant dances and ensemble sequences were choreographed by Seymour Felix and Harold Adamson, including the song sequence of "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody" (it was Irving Berlin's 13th annual edition in 1919). [18], In the film, the last few lines of the song "Ol' Man River" (from Show Boat) are sung by what sounds like a tenor, while the song was intended for bass Paul Robeson and sung in the original production by bass-baritone Jules Bledsoe. We could infer that the latter was because he was charming and in later years, because he could help them with their career, but the two women he married werent overly ambitious themselves and seemed content to be a housewife, ending their careers, so his power wasnt necessarily the draw for them. There is a 176-minute theatrical cut, and a 185-minute roadshow cut. Sadly, there isnt much there though. [111]:228229[114]:201 A 1978 NBC-television film, Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women, stars Paul Shenar as Ziegfeld. TCM has acclaimed the "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody" sequence as one of "the most famous musical numbers ever filmed". [112][113] It was MGM's most expensive production since Ben-Hur (1925), and it made back twice its cost. Super excited to be making an appearance with THE ZIEGFELD SOCIETY. The film is occasionally cited as a "prime example of the Academy's fallibility" in a year when other critically acclaimed pictures such as Mr. This film undoubtedly takes liberties with how the actual story went down, but I kinda expected that. Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. (the one and only William Powell), or Flo, as everyone calls him, wants to put on an extravagant show, the most lavish, extreme, and ornately staged set piece anybody has ever seen. Watch your purchase on Movies Anywhere supported devices. The screenplay by William Anthony McGuire was a "novelty" to many audiences who were familiar with the theatrical Broadway shows of the follies. They had met at a New Year's Eve party. [8] McGuire's script, now in the Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, California, is dated September 21, 1935, probably the date when it was finalized. It is an unbeatable combination and MGM has . The Great Ziegfeld [1936] [DVD] William Powell (Actor), Myrna Loy (Actor), Robert Z. Leonard (Director) Rated: Universal, suitable for all Format: DVD 282 ratings IMDb 6.7/10.0 643 & FREE Returns Prime Video 3.49 7.99 DVD 6.43 Additional DVD options Edition Discs Amazon Price New from Used from DVD 16 Feb. 2004 1 6.43 6.43 0.87 DVD The Great Ziegfeld, 1936, Box: 4, Folder: 2. [22] The unnamed party in this romantic triangle was showgirl Lillian Lorraine, an entertainer of limited talent but charismatic stage presence and beauty whom Ziegfeld discovered in 1907 when she was a 15-year-old performer in a Shubert production. Genre: The two of them imbue this biography with class, and through sheer force of will in the production, one can see why the film won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Pity it wasn't in colour but very enjoyable and well worth seeking out. Carl Laemmle. The "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody" set alone was reported to have cost US$220,000 (US$4,296,067 in 2021 dollars[3]),[4] featuring a towering rotating volute of 70ft (21m) diameter with 175 spiral steps, weighing 100 tons. by grunes The 1936 Oscar for best picture went to the nearly three-hour The Great Ziegfeld, a musical biography of sorts about the American impresario Florenz Ziegfeld, most famous for his Broadway series the Ziegfeld Follies which sought "to glorify the American girl." In London, during a trip to Europe, Ziegfeld met Anna Held, a Polish-French singer. [9][10] It was Held who first suggested an American imitation of the Parisian Folies Bergre to Ziegfeld. Ziegfeld was baptized in his mother's Roman Catholic church. Reviews And while William Powell plays Ziegfeld with energy from big spectacle to big spectacle, the film rarely slows down to reflect on Ziegfeld's raison d'etre. Designed by Joseph Urban and Thomas W. Lamb, the auditorium was egg-shaped, with the stage at the narrow end. Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.: You've been working a long time without your heart, buddy. From 1907 onwards his name became synonymous with a spectacular annual musical review on Broadway and he also found time to develop the careers of other stars such as Fanny Brice (who plays herself) and Eddie Cantor. Show Boat (1929) The Great Ziegfeld. [1][24] They had one child, Patricia Ziegfeld Stephenson (19162008). The Ziegfeld Follies under Vincente Minnelli initially was performed in December 1935 before making its Broadway debut on January 30, 1936. [8] William S. Gray was responsible for the editing of the film. Rainer, the first person ever to win two acting Oscars which happened to come in back-to-back years, for The Great Ziegfeld (1936) and for The Good Earth (1937), and just a couple of years. The Great Ziegfeld is a 1936 film about the life of the renowned theater producer Florence Ziegfeld Jr. the Terms and Policies, and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. (screenplay) Cast (in credits order) verified as complete Produced by Music by Arthur Lange . Motion picture, Theatre, and Ballet souvenir book collection, MSS 327 large. Movie Addeddate 2021-05-23 23:30:33 Identifier ziegfeld-follies-1945 Scanner Internet Archive HTML5 Uploader 1.6.4. plus-circle Add Review. [45] The New York American said that the film is "pretty nearly everything such an extravaganza should be", with "romance and reality, song and dance, gaiety and beauty, pathos and bathos". Powell admitted to being "amazed" with the film after viewing it and was very grateful at having had the privilege to portray Ziegfeld, considering it to be a very important moment in his career. Ray Bolger: Five years, but my heart hasn't been in it. Privacy Policy Lovely performances from all the actors makes this film very entertaining as well as a textbook reference to the pre war look of Hollywood in the wake of Busby Berkley must have more steps muses The Great Ziegfeld at the end. srt. Howard Gutner documents that due to MGM's wealth and the high budget, Adrian indulged in "sheer lavishness" in making the costumes, surpassing anything he had done previously. In the title role Powell offers a believable combination of ambition and hucksterism, and his Thin Man costar 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. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. As this film clocks in at three full hours, one reviewer likened it to a "huge, lumbering, Paleozoic beast with a heart", and it's a great analogy. I've got talent, and I'd like to get away from shifting scenery and moving props. Luise Rainer, First to Win Back-to-Back Acting Oscars, Dies at 104. [40] 14 witnesses who had seen the act at the 1893 Chicago World Fair supported this, although the lawsuit was dropped after Mahzar died from a heart attack. Just confirm how you got your ticket. costar 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. Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head: Season 2, Link to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season 5, Link to Marvel Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer, Link to RT25: Celebrating 25 Years of Rotten Tomatoes, Link to Betty Gilpin & Co. on Deciphering. This could & should have been a great script had it not been supervised by the great man's wife. Graphic Desi. 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