Ziegfeld Follies

George Sidney

Overview

In this film, we meet the legendary showman Flo Ziegfeld in Paradise, where he looks down upon the world and muses over the sort of show he'd be putting on were he still alive. His "dream" show is populated almost exclusively by MGM stars.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/26/2018
UPC:	0888574658229
Original Release:	1946
Source:	Warner Archives
Language:	English
Time:	1:57:00
Sales rank:	2,055

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Lucille Ball	Lucille Ball
Fred Astaire	Various characters
Lucille Bremer	Princess
Fannie Brice	Norma Edelman
Judy Garland	Star
Kathryn Grayson	Kathryn Grayson
Lena Horne	Lena Horne
James Melton	Alfredo
Victor Moore	Lawyer's Client
Red Skelton	J. Newton Numbskull
William Powell	Flo Ziegfeld
Edward Arnold	Lawyer
Cyd Charisse	Ballerina
Esther Williams	Esther Williams
Virginia O'Brien	Virginia O'Brien
Hume Cronyn	Monty Edelman
William Frawley	Mr. Martin
Keenan Wynn	Caller
Eve Whitney	Ziegfeld Girl
Noreen Nash	Ziegfeld Girl
Bunin's Puppets	Actor
Robert Lewis	Chinese Gentleman/Telephone Voice
Jimmy Durante	Actor
Ziegfeld Girls	Actor
Helen Boice	The Countess
Elise Cavanna	Actor
Van Johnson	Guest
Count Stefanelli	The Duke
Grady Sutton	Texan
Ralph Blane	Composer
Harry Warren	Composer
Earl Brent	Composer
Hugh Martin	Composer
Ira Gershwin	Composer
Kay Thompson	Composer
Arthur Freed	Composer

Technical Credits

Eddie Cantor

Robert Lewis

Ralph Blane

Max Liebman

Philip Rapp

Joseph Schrank

Lou Holtz

Eugene Loring

Guy Bolton

Allen Boretz

Eric Charell

Harry Crane

Wilkie Mahoney

James O'Hanlon

Edgar Woolf

David Freedman

Devery Freeman

E.Y. Harburg

Hugh Martin

Jack McGowan

Samson Raphaelson

Frank Sullivan

Harry Tugend

Robert Alton

Irving Brecher

Roger Edens

Don Loper

William Noble

George Sidney	Director
Roy Del Ruth	Director
Charles Walters	Director
Vincente Minnelli	Director
Lemuel Ayers	Director
Arthur Freed	Producer
Eddie Cantor	Screenwriter
Robert Lewis	Director,Screenwriter
Ralph Blane	Screenwriter
Max Liebman	Screenwriter
Philip Rapp	Screenwriter
Joseph Schrank	Screenwriter
Lou Holtz	Screenwriter
Eugene Loring	Screenwriter
Guy Bolton	Screenwriter
Allen Boretz	Screenwriter
Eric Charell	Screenwriter
Harry Crane	Screenwriter
Wilkie Mahoney	Screenwriter
James O'Hanlon	Screenwriter
Edgar Woolf	Screenwriter
David Freedman	Screenwriter
Devery Freeman	Screenwriter,Screenwriter
E.Y. Harburg	Screenwriter
Hugh Martin	Screenwriter
Jack McGowan	Screenwriter
Samson Raphaelson	Screenwriter
Frank Sullivan	Screenwriter
Harry Tugend	Screenwriter
Robert Alton	Screenwriter
Irving Brecher	Screenwriter
Roger Edens	Screenwriter
Don Loper	Screenwriter
William Noble	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Revues are a tricky thing o pull off on film (which is why most producers try to hedge their bets but tacking a plot onto a filmed revue, thereby making it satisfying neither as revue nor as a scripted show), but Ziegfeld Follies manages it beautifully. That's not to say it is by any means perfect, for there are definitely some "lows" mixed in with the "highs." But that's the nature of the revue format. It's also true that what one person considers a "low" may very likely be a "high" for another, and vice versa. But it's pretty safe to say that among Ziegfeld's definite highs are the sensational "Limehouse Blues," in which Fred Astaire and Lucille Bremer dance a tragic little tale amid some of the most sensational purples, blues and greens the screen has ever seen; "The Great Lady Give san Interview," in which Judy Garland is given the opportunity to demonstrate her flair for satirical comedy; Red Skelton's comedic gin routine (in some ways a forerunner of Lucille Ball's legendary "Viteameatavegemin" routine); and Lena Horne, shockingly beautiful, singing a sizzling "Love." If "The Babbitt and the Bromide" is not one of the highs, it's because too much is expected of it as the only (real) onscreen pairing of Astaire and Gene Kelly; it's quite entertaining, but one wants more fireworks from this once-in-a-lifetime event. Low points include an anemic comedy skit with Keenan Wynn and an excerpt from "Traviata" that is very well sung but feels out of place. And occupying a position all its own is the "Meet the Ladies" number -- that position secured by the surreal and curious image of a stunning Ball snapping a whip at cat-clad ladies of the chorus. Ziegfeld is lavisha nd filled with eye candy of all sorts; if it's closer in spirit to a tribute to MGM than to the legendary showman, it's still darn good entertainment.