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> Ziegfeld Follies |
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see larger picture
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Staring:
Fred Astaire,
Gene Kelly,
Judy Garland,
Fanny Brice,
Red Skelton
Average Customer Rating:  
List Price: $19.98
Our Price: $6.68
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Warner Brothers
EAN: 0012569678590
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Original recording remastered, Subtitled, NTSC
Label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2006-04-25
Running Time: 117
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1946-04-08 |
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Description
A dead showman looks down upon the earth and dreams of his perfect show.
Amazon.com
This 1946 film celebrates the life, career, and showmanship of the late Florenz Ziegfeld, perhaps the most famous and influential Broadway producer in the early decades of the 20th century. The film, ostensibly directed by Vincente Minnelli, takes an unusual form. We open in Heaven, at the home of the late Ziegfeld (played by William Powell, who also played him in The Great Ziegfeld), who thinks back on his life and wonders what kind of show he would put on with the talent of today (meaning 1946). What follows is an elaborately staged revue, similar to the blend of cheesecake, music, and comedy that made up the Ziegfeld Follies--but with the stars of that moment (plus actual Ziegfeld veteran Fanny Brice). The most welcome presence is Fred Astaire, who appears in three numbers--including the only dance number ever filmed that paired Astaire with Gene Kelly at the height of their powers. The contrast is fascinating. Otherwise, you get a number of musical scenes, the best of which features Lena Horne (singing "Love"), the worst Judy Garland (in "An Interview"). And there's plenty of other stuff: everything from an Esther Williams water ballet to an excerpt of La Traviata to a variety of broadly acted vaudeville skits featuring actors Keenan Wynn, Edward Arnold, Fanny Brice, and Hume Cronyn. --Marshall Fine
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Thanks to the miracles of DVD, 2009-08-18
Completely forgettable films can be resurrected and beautifully restored. Wow, is this awful. While not uniformly disastrous, it is boring, unfunny, poorly acted, over-produced, weirdly lit, and musically lame. (Except for the glorious La Traviata, but that is badly sung and bizarrely staged.) There is some good dancing (and some frightfully bad dancing) and a weak laugh or two in a couple of comedy sections, but I will be passing this along somewhere.....just gotta figure out who!
I bought this as an Astaire fan. He is certainly has all the highlights in this, but small highlights they are. Not worth much.
What a Masterpiece!, 2009-08-29
I grew up watching my Grandparent's VHS copy so was thrilled to see that Ziegfeld Follies is now on DVD! The cover is quite different to that of the Bill Collins VHS but the quality of the film itself is remarkable. Watch it on Widescreen if you can, it is absolutely beautiful!
Not only are there songs like 'This Heart of Mine' by Fred Astaire (with gorgeous choreographing to match), 'Love' by Lena Horne and a catchy up-tempo number by Judy Garland, but you'll also see some catchy comedy songs like 'The Babbit and the Bromide' with Gene Kelly, 'Bring On Those Wonderful Men' (Virginia O'Brien) and some hilarious skits starring Fanny Brice and Red Skelton. This really is a true gem for fans of all ages!!! 10/10.
One of the Great MGM Musicals, 2010-03-16
Any musical featuring Astaire, Garland and Kelly in their prime, and directed in color by Vincente Minnelli is bound to be a hit. And this one certainly was.
With Garland emerging into womanhood, we see a glimpse of her vocal magnetism and comic genius in a musical number spoofing movie stars. Astaire has several big numbers, including the incredible oriental ballet with Lucille Bremer. We see Astaire for the first and only time in oriental makeup and garb; the dancers costumed in red against a blue-purple set is typical Minnelli--magnificent contrast and artwork. And the Kelly-Astaire duet is their only serious dancing together in their careers (discounting That's Entertainment which occurred well past their active years). The video quality is like being at the movies--especially if you watch it on your HD-enhanced blu-ray player.
For musical lovers, 2010-04-06
I bought it for my wife, who is a musical lover, big fan of Fred Astaire , Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse, etc.
She loved it.
Ziegfeld Follies, 2009-09-08
A number of the popular stars of the '40's (Judy Garland, Lena Horne, Frank Sinatra, Red Skelton, etc.) are given invidivdual performance numbers in this film. If you're interested in that period, you would enjoy the flim. If you're more familiar with more modern entertainers, you might not find it as interesting.
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