The Great Ziegfeld

1936
Approved
2h 56m

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

9.2K

YOUR RATING

Myrna Loy, William Powell, and Luise Rainer in The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video

Play trailer1:45

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76 Photos

Classic Musical 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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

9.2K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 3 Oscars
- 4 wins & 5 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 1:45

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Photos76

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List

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
A.A. Trimble, who portrays Will Rogers in the film, was a Cleveland map salesman who frequently impersonated Rogers at Rotarian lunches.

Goofs
In the "Rhapsody in Blue" portion of the mammoth "Pretty Girl" number, one of the silver-fringe-and-antlers quartet of dancers gets visibly disoriented when her group does its final moves. She's the second one from the left, and her movements are completely out of sync with the other three until, with a thump, she sits down on the stairs. Since the incredibly complex number was shot in very long takes, the error was allowed to remain in the film.

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
The opening credits display the title of the film and the names of the stars in marquee lights, as they would be on Broadway.

Alternate versions
There is an Italian edition of this film, as Bonus Extra, on DVD "FOLLIE DI ZIEGFELD", re-edited with the contribution of film historian Riccardo Cusin. This version is also available for streaming on some platforms.

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 reviews100

Review

Featured review

9/10

Great Ziegfeld, Great Movie!

Long but well worth hanging in there for. Luise Rainer gives an outstanding well-deserved Oscar winning performance as Anna Held. The first half of the movie which covers the period of Ziegfeld's marriage to Held is the better half of the movie. Great re-enactment of stage Follies productions. 9 out of 10.