2025 Blind Spot Series: Ziegfeld Follies

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Official synopsis:  The late, great impresario Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. (William Powell) looks down from Heaven and ordains a new revue in his grand old style.

This is one those classic films that I had never heard of until one of my favorite readers/classic film extraordinaire Joel recommended me to me. It was an easy sell. Judy Garland, Lucille Ball, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly. I'm in.

Said follies are divided into segments. Some being comedy bits and others musical numbers. I think the film could've made better use of its framing device by having Ziegfeld talk in between all or most of the segments. He only appears at the beginning and it didn't feel like enough. 

Of all the segments, I enjoyed the musical numbers the most. Watching Astaire and Kelly tap together is a treat, as is any time Judy Garland is on screen. I wish she would've gotten to sing a little more in her sketch. 

On top of having a very compelling cast, the sets and costumes are glorious. They're so grand and full of color. 

Ziegfeld Follies is currently streaming on HBO Max.

Grade: B-

Comments

  1. thevoid99June 11, 2025 at 2:11 PM

    This I haven't seen but I do want to as I do love Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire.

    ReplyDelete
  2. BirgitJune 11, 2025 at 2:16 PM

    Oooh how I love these ensemble casting movies and this is a good one. Love Judy and the pairing if Astaire and Kelly is magical. Glad you saw this one.

    ReplyDelete
  3. joel65913June 12, 2025 at 6:34 PM

    Hi Brittani!

    So glad you took my recommendation! The film is a bit lopsided, even in the way it looks at various points.

    The musical numbers are peak MGM Golden Age lavishness and then the comedy sketches are rather flat and muddy. That holds true for the contents of those two competing genres within the film. I love all the performance pieces but several of the humor sequences have the feeling of tired burlesque, though I’m glad the film captured Fanny Brice in one of her rare film appearances which turned out to be her last. But even if there are rough patches those musical productions numbers more than make up for them.

    Lucy looks A-MAZ-ING in that pink gown and feather headdress and her whole number has a fun surrealness to it.

    I’m not the biggest Lena Horne fan but her “Love” number is beautifully done.

    You can really see the differences between Gene Kelly athleticism in his style versus Fred Astaire almost balletic precision, yet they perform together so seamlessly.

    I’m sure there would be an outcry today over Astaire and Lucille Bremer’s (she didn’t have what it took for major league stardom, but she was an exceptionally fine dancer) makeup in Limehouse Blues but it makes sense for the number, and they are exquisite together.

    While it’s entertaining and pretty this is one of Esther Williams’ lesser aquatic numbers (no water skis, diving boards or fleet of surrounding swimmers!) If you’ve never seen any of them, take a look at this link which is much more typical (not the greatest quality though)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqGRhkPiHeg

    I adore Judy’s “A Great Lady Has an Interview.” I’m always down for her to sing more, however the piece wasn’t originally conceptualized for her but for Greer Garson to spoof her Grand Dame image. Greer demurred and Judy pushed to take it over sensing she could have fun with it, and she does.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJune 23, 2025 at 8:31 PM

      I agree with pretty much everything you said there! I read that Judy's part was originally for Greer. I'm glad Judy got to make it her own. I never really considered how different Kelly and Astaire were as dancers until I watched them side by side.

      Delete
  4. joel65913June 19, 2025 at 9:51 PM

    Hi Brittani, I posted a comment about this days ago but haven't seen it so I wondering if maybe something happened and it didn't go through?

    ReplyDelete

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