10 BIG SHOWS IN 1.

In the 1890s, Florenz Ziegfeld (William Powell) goes to San Francisco, hoping to have a career in show business; later in New York, he comes up with an unbeatable concept.

Seen as an irresistible spectacle in its day, this epic is part biography, part recreation of the great Ziegfeld’s stage shows, with pretty girls and splashy production numbers; several of his former collaborators are involved, including Fanny Brice who plays herself.

Far from entirely truthful, but a bigger problem is a thin story and uninspired musical numbers. Still, Powell is perfect and the film has a sense of humor.

1936-U.S. 177 min. B/W. Directed by Robert Z. Leonard. Screenplay: William Anthony McGuire. Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons, Eddie Imazu. Costume Design: Adrian. Cast: William Powell (Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr.), Myrna Loy (Billie Burke), Luise Rainer (Anna Held), Frank Morgan, Fannie Brice, Virginia Bruce, Reginald Owen, Ray Bolger… Mae Questel. 

Trivia: Among the Ziegfeld girls can be spotted Patricia Ryan, better known as Pat Nixon later in life. Followed by two sequels, starting with Ziegfeld Girl (1941).

Oscars: Best Picture, Actress (Rainer), Dance Direction (Seymour Felix).