Amazon.com: This 1946 film celebrates the life, career, and showmanship of the late Florenz Ziegfeld, perhaps the most famous and influential Broadway producer in the early decades of the 20th century. The film, ostensibly directed by Vincente Minnelli, takes an unusual form. We open in Heaven, at the home of the late Ziegfeld (played by William Powell, who also played him in The Great Ziegfeld), who thinks back on his life and wonders what kind of show he would put on with the talent of today (meaning 1946). What follows is an elaborately staged revue, similar to the blend of cheesecake, music, and comedy that made up the Ziegfeld Follies--but with the stars of that moment (plus actual Ziegfeld veteran Fanny Brice). The most welcome presence is Fred Astaire, who appears in three numbers--including the only dance number ever filmed that paired Astaire with Gene Kelly at the height of their powers. The contrast is fascinating. Otherwise, you get a number of musical scenes, the best of which features Lena Horne (singing "Love"), the worst Judy Garland (in "An Interview"). And there's plenty of other stuff: everything from an Esther Williams water ballet to an excerpt of La Traviata to a variety of broadly acted vaudeville skits featuring actors Keenan Wynn, Edward Arnold, Fanny Brice, and Hume Cronyn. --Marshall Fine
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Big names,big revue Hollywood style!
Ziegfeld Follies was a movie fraught with so many delays,shooting schedule work arounds,cancellations,scene deletions,etc.,that this picture is one of very few to finally be released so long after its' ... Read More
Rating: - Ziegfeld Follies
If Florenz Ziegfeld had made movies, he could not have made a better job than this fabulous M.G.M. musical. Great stars, fantastic production numbers make this a classic. You might have guessed, I loved ... Read More
Rating: - Ziegfeld Follies
I am a huge musical fan and some of my favorite stars ever are in this movie, but it wasn't what I thought it was going to be. Ziegfeld Follies is just a conglomeration of musical numbers, comedies and anything ... Read More
Rating: - Ziegfeld Follies - a big disappointment
While I love musicals, old time Broadway Shows and movies like That's Entertainment I, II, III all of which are a joy to watch and have them in my collection this one was a big disappointment for me.
This ... Read More
Rating: - Far Better than it Looks
After seeing this movie I think that MGM put their money into it with a bet on just one thing: William Powell, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Judy Garland, Red Skelton, Lena Horne, and Fanny Brice are great with whatever ... Read More
- Big names,big revue Hollywood style!
- Ziegfeld Follies
- Ziegfeld Follies
- Ziegfeld Follies - a big disappointment