While much of what old-school Hollywood provided would be considered timeless, there are certain oddities that do not seem like they would translate well in modern times. This is exactly what was going through my head as I embarked upon the fantastical journey that is Ziegfeld Follies from 1945. It is not that this film was not a lot of fun; it entertained pretty steadily from beginning to end. It is just difficult to imagine a revue show such as this one being in theaters instead of a one-off television special for one of the major networks. Producer Arthur Freed (An American In Paris) wanted to capture the spirit of the great Ziegfeld Follies Broadway shows on screen with a series of unrelated musical numbers and comedy sketches put together as a feature film. The undertaking was more momentous than anyone could have imagined, as what started out as one director blossomed into seven credited filmmakers corralling the biggest stars of MGM into one ambitious spectacle. The film did manage to tap into the bubbling energy that these various performers brought to this once-in-a-lifetime event to deliver something quite special.
The very loose framing device for this particular motion picture comes in the form of William Powell (The Thin Man series) reprising his role as Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. from the Best Picture winner The Great Ziegfeld. In the prologue of the film, Ziegfeld is mostly resting comfortably in the afterlife, but he wonders aloud if there was ever a chance that one final “Ziegfeld Follies” could be held even after his departure. In a nice bit of unexpected whimsy, the film employs a small amount of stop-motion animation to depict what the great showman is missing on Earth. A gaggle of Hollywood stars are name-checked as old favorites of the show, and wouldn’t you know it that they are coincidentally open to subjecting themselves to one last go around. The movie only exists so you can see hit performer after hit performer do what they do best, but from a filmmaking perspective this movie keeps itself together as a full experience complete with a beautiful overture and exit music.
Those who are fans of Golden Age singing and soft-shoe are in for a real treat when you delve into the talent on display here. The most prominent figure in this production is the ever-reliable Fred Astaire (Broadway Melody of 1940), who pops up a couple of different times to take your breath away. He kicks things off with a bang with the infectious “Here’s To The Girls” which is also aided by a memorable appearance from Lucille Ball (I Love Lucy). To prove that the film is not self-serious, Virginia O’Brien pops up to poke fun at this number with her own “Bring On The Wonderful Men” which brings the house down. The movie does falter in the middle with some China-inspired numbers that do not hold up well in the cold light of day. These misses are few and far between, though, as you are mostly treated to delightful material such as Judy Garland (The Harvey Girls) spoofing her persona as a movie star who wants nothing more than to be in a “sexy” picture. There’s some amusing commentary about biopics that hold up better now than ever. This film knows how to deliver a buoyant, lavish dance number.
Even those who do not have an affinity for musicals will find quite a bit to enjoy throughout this 110 minute film. An early comic bit from Keenan Wynn regarding the trials and tribulations of dealing with a telephone operator is pitch perfect in execution. Red Skelton shows off his impressive elastic face as an advertiser who gets a hit of something strong during a pitch. The best comedic bit of the film comes in the segment entitled “Pay The Two Dollars” starring Victor Moore (It Happened on 5th Avenue) and Edward Arnold (You Can’t Take It With You) which explores the perils of an over-zealous lawyer. The dynamic between the two could not be better, and the story keeps growing and getting more funny as the bit wraps up perfectly. Ziegfeld Follies should not feel as cohesive as it does considering the lack of connection between the stories in a narrative sense. Yet, seeing many of the biggest stars of this studio come together to honor this grand tradition in the only way they know how is enough to make this feel like a complete spectacular vision.
Video Quality
Warner Archive presents Ziegfeld Follies with a glorious new 1080p master transfer sourced from what I suspect is a 4K scan of the original Technicolor negatives, but the press release does not provide confirmation. Warner Archive consistently knocks it out of the park when it comes to their transfers, and this one ranks among the strongest I have seen recently. The film features some miraculous colors within the costumes and settings that pop off the screen with a vibrant intensity. The black levels are incredibly deep with a pleasing stability throughout. The level of detail and clarity is stunning with the appropriate amount of natural film grain intact. The film appears to be almost entirely free of dirt and damage, which gives the feature a timeless aesthetic. There does not appear to be any jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such nuisances. This presentation is an award-worthy effort from Warner Archive on all fronts.
Audio Quality
Warner Archive has made the smart decision to provide both the Original Theatrical Mono audio track along with a Stereo version for this new Blu-Ray. Each track is delivered via DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio presentation that is simply wonderful. With music being the driving force of the film, it is with great joy to report that the track nails these elements impeccably. The track balances vocals with the bombastic accompanying music with magnificent clarity. There are moments where the track is juggling quite a bit with all of the competing elements, but the track maintains its fidelity to perfection. Normal dialogue comes through clearly from beginning to end. Warner Archive has provided a top-notch audio presentation that does not exhibit any glaring signs of age-related wear-and-tear. The disc also comes with optional English (SDH) subtitles.
Special Features
- Vintage Short – The Luckiest Guy In The World: A 21-minute 1947 short from the “Crime Does Not Pay” series starring Barry Nelson presented in standard definition. In this story, a gambling addict goes down a fraught path of trying to make it rich before karma catches up to him.
- Classic Cartoon – The Hick Chick: A seven-minute Tex Avery short from 1946 in HD that was included on the first volume of the Tex Avery Screwball Classics that was released on Blu-Ray last year.
- Classic Cartoon – Solid Serenade: A seven-minute Tom & Jerry short from 1946 presented in standard definition. In this short, the pair are feuding over being woken up by instruments which leads to some pugnacious places.
- An Embarrassment Of Riches: A nearly 15-minute vintage featurette in which historians and stars discuss the development and production of the film. It is fascinating to learn of the assembly-like nature of putting this film together and how it was determined what stars were to appear in the feature under the direction of whichever particular creative figure. This is a really fun piece that you should check out for some great Hollywood history.
- Audio Only Extras: A collection of unused material that is a real treat for fans.
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- Here’s To The Girls – Alternate Take with Unused Ending (Fred Astaire) (6:26)
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- Liza – Unused Musical Sequence (Avon Long & Co.) (6:14)
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- We Will Meet Again In Honolulu – Unused Musical Sequence (James Melton & Co.) (5:33)
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- A Cowboy’s Life – Unused Musical Sequence (James Melton & Co.) (4:44)
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- ‘E Pinched Me – Partially Used In Limehouse Blues Sequence (Kay Thompson Vocal) (0:39)
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- Look At Me, I’m An Indian – Partially Used In Opening Puppet Sequence (Fanny Brice Vocal) (0:48)
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- You’ve Gotta Start Off Each Day With A Song – Unused “Pied Piper’ Sequence (Jimmy Durante Vocal) (4:35)
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- Leo The Lion Speaks – Unused Sequence (1:46)
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- There’s Beauty Ev’rywhere – Unused Finale Sequence (James Melton & Co.) (7:51)
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- Love (Spanish Language Version Performed by Lena Horne) (3:37)
- Theatrical Trailer: A two-and-a-half minute trailer which does a nice job of hyping up the pure spectacle of the picture with the long list of cast members.
Final Thoughts
Ziegfeld Follies is a real oddity of a film that brings together some of the biggest names you know and love to celebrate a grand tradition that meant a lot to those who experienced it. The film features nice bursts of wondrous spectacle that only cease to shift the spotlight over some smart comedic sketches or other impressive, talented people. Even with the nearly countless cooks in the kitchen, the film finds a way to feel like a complete vision. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray with an A/V presentation that is beyond reproach along with a stacked selection of special features. If you appreciate a good variety show feeling, this feature will treat you quite well. Recommended
Ziegfeld Follies can be purchased directly through the Warner Archive Amazon Store or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
