Ziegfeld Follies

Ziegfeld Follies is a star-studded, musical-comedy anthology film released in 1945 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film brings together a top-tier squad of Hollywood’s most gifted performers, led by William Powell, Judy Garland, and Lucille Ball. Each cast member contributes their unique flavor to the one-of-a-kind cinematic extravaganza directed by a variety of able hands, including Vincente Minnelli, Lemuel Ayers, Roy Del Ruth, and others. A Film that pulls out all the stops to showcase MGM's vast wealth of talent, Ziegfeld Follies masterfully interweaves music, dance, comedy, and drama to paint an elaborate tapestry of both joy and sophistication.

The narrative structure of Ziegfeld Follies hinges on a fascinating premise. The movie, named after the extravagant stage shows produced by Florenz Ziegfeld, imagines a heavenly spectacle conceived and directed by Ziegfeld himself, a decade after his untimely demise. William Powell reprises his role as Ziegfeld from a previous MGM film 'The Great Ziegfeld', assembling a range of acts that he believes will thrill audiences from beyond the grave.

Accompanying Powell’s Ziegfeld is a star-studded ensemble, each contributing to the various acts that make up this cinematic spectacle. For lovers of song and dance, scenes feature the likes of Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Esther Williams, Cyd Charisse, Lucille Ball, and others putting their best foot forward. Judy Garland also gets a chance to shine both dramatically and comically, while iconic comedians like Fanny Brice and Red Skelton provide deeply hilarious moments with skits that are sure to keep viewers in stitches.

Astaire's impeccable dancing talent takes center stage in two key segments. He teams up with Lucille Bremer for the beautiful excerpt 'This Heart of Mine' and the fun, yet elegant 'Limehouse Blues'. On the other hand, Astaire shows his comedic side when he pairs with Gene Kelly for 'The Babbitt and the Bromide', a rare and appreciated team-up of two of Hollywood's greatest dancers.

Judy Garland gets her moment to shine in 'A Great Lady Has An Interview', embodying a Hollywood diva in a self-mocking parody that showcases her incredible voice and remarkable comic timing. The opulent 'Water Nymph' number, featuring the synchronised swimming star Esther Williams, showcases another type of performance art that MGM excelled in promoting.

The film is framed by a series of magnificent production numbers that pay homage to the grandeur of Ziegfeld’s original follies. Notably, the luxurious 'Beauty' sequence showcases a bevy of showgirls led by the radiant Lucille Ball, sweeping across the screen in a harmonious and technicolor parade. Equally breath-taking are the elaborate sets that perfectly capture the spirit of the original Ziegfeld Follies with an added hint of 40s Hollywood splendor.

As a gem of the Golden Era, Ziegfeld Follies is void of a traditional narrative structure, instead offering a series of vignettes held together by Powell's Ziegfeld and his vision for perfect entertainment. The series of skits, dances, and songs may be disjoined, but each element brings its own unique charm to the film. It's a testament to the rich pool of talent that MGM could call upon during this time.

Ziegfeld Follies is a must-watch for any fan of the Golden Age of Hollywood. The film provides a charming window into entertainment in the 1940s, capturing the glamour, grandeur, and talent of the era's biggest stars. Its unique combination of humor, drama, dance, and song make it an enchanting and enduring spectacle that continues to charm viewers decades after its original release. This film is a time capsule of a bygone era of glittering stage shows, inviting audiences to a world that is at once nostalgically familiar and wonderfully surprising. MGM pulls back the curtain to offer a peek at the magic of showbiz, transporting audiences to a world of glamour and enjoyment that is undeniably the spirit of the Follies. A remarkable showcase for the depth and variety of MGM’s prodigious talent pool, Ziegfeld Follies offers audiences an extravagant slice of classic Hollywood entertainment.