ZIEGFELD GIRL (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1941), directed by Robert Z. Leonard, is basically a sequel in name only to the Academy Award winning three-hour blockbuster of THE GREAT ZIEGFELD (1936) starring William Powell, also directed by Robert Z. Leonard. Though the Ziegfeld character is mentioned numerous times in the story, his character never appears. An attempt for another musical blockbuster like its predecessor, it fails mostly in styles and orchestrations being more 1941 modern than to the time and era prior to Ziegfeld's death in 1932. Had it been titled ZIEGFELD FOLLIES of 1941, or even THREE BROADWAY GIRLS, then this modernized version to an original story by William Anthony Maguire would have been sensational. Even without these merits, the film itself is quite entertaining, bearing a huge impressive cast headed by James Stewart, actually in a supporting role to the major lead performers of Judy Garland, Hedy Lamarr and Lana Turner, with well-staged choreography by Busby Berkeley. Of the three for the show, Garland shines with her vocals while Turner gives the meatiest performance. For Viennese born Lamarr, another star attraction foreign in character as well as in musicals, she does not sing nor dance. She becomes a star attraction by simply sitting and listening motionlessly to her leading man singing to her, and nothing else.
Supposedly set during the roaring twenties, "The fabulous era - when Florenz Ziegfeld glorified the American Girl, and New York wore her over its heart like an orchid - while she lasted." The plot centers upon three young girls from different walks of life: Sheila "Red" Regan (Lana Turner), a department store elevator girl living with her parents (Edward McNamara and Fay Holden), and younger brother, Jerry (Jackie Cooper), who is selected by Noble Sage (Edward Everett Horton) to report to Florenz Ziegfeld productions for a upcoming job as a chorine. Problems persist when her boyfriend, Gilbert Young (James Stewart), a truck driver who loves her, fears he will lose her in the process to millionaire Geoffrey Collis (Ian Hunter) and luxurious life; Susan Gallagher (Judy Garland), 17-year-old daughter of a vaudeville has-been (Charles Winninger) who breaks up their partnership so she could have real success on her own; and Sandra Kolter (Hedy Lamarr), married to struggling violinist Franz (Philip Dorn), who feels himself a failure when finding himself forced to obtain a job beneath his dignity. With Sandra's beauty attracting the attention of Ziegfeld's associate, Sage, she becomes the real breadwinner and romance attraction to lead singer, Frank Melton (Tony Martin), married to a former Ziegfeld girl (Rose Hobart) of years ago. Others in the cast include: Paul Kelly (John Slayton, stage manager); Eve Arden (Patsy Dixon); Dan Dailey Jr. (Jimmy Walters); Felix Bressart (Mischa); Bernard Nedell (Nick Capalini), with Mae Busch and Joyce Compton, among others.
Production numbers include: "Laugh, I'd Thought I'd Split My Sides," "You Stepped Out of a Dream," (pleasingly sung by Tony Martin); "Whispering," "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows," "The Caribbean Love Song," "Minnie From Trinidad," "Gallagher and Shean" (wonderfully performed by Charles Winninger and Al Shean); "Ziegfeld Girl," and THE FINALE: "You Gotta Pull Strings," "You," and "You Never Looked So Beautiful Before." Of the tunes, Judy Garland stops the show with her long but highly entertaining number of "Minnie from Trinidad." The finale consists of production number montages lifted from THE GREAT ZIEGFELD to new playback 1940s style orchestration.
Overall, ZIEGFELD GIRL (which should have been titled ZIEGFELD GIRLS since it revolves around three girls), is quite impressive, even down to Lana Turner's binges and notable staircase scene. Who knows how much longer the director's cut was before the song or story edit process took place for its present 134 minute time frame? Available on video cassette and later DVD process, ZIEGFELD GIRL can be seen and enjoyed occasionally on cable television's Turner Classic Movies channel. (***)
Supposedly set during the roaring twenties, "The fabulous era - when Florenz Ziegfeld glorified the American Girl, and New York wore her over its heart like an orchid - while she lasted." The plot centers upon three young girls from different walks of life: Sheila "Red" Regan (Lana Turner), a department store elevator girl living with her parents (Edward McNamara and Fay Holden), and younger brother, Jerry (Jackie Cooper), who is selected by Noble Sage (Edward Everett Horton) to report to Florenz Ziegfeld productions for a upcoming job as a chorine. Problems persist when her boyfriend, Gilbert Young (James Stewart), a truck driver who loves her, fears he will lose her in the process to millionaire Geoffrey Collis (Ian Hunter) and luxurious life; Susan Gallagher (Judy Garland), 17-year-old daughter of a vaudeville has-been (Charles Winninger) who breaks up their partnership so she could have real success on her own; and Sandra Kolter (Hedy Lamarr), married to struggling violinist Franz (Philip Dorn), who feels himself a failure when finding himself forced to obtain a job beneath his dignity. With Sandra's beauty attracting the attention of Ziegfeld's associate, Sage, she becomes the real breadwinner and romance attraction to lead singer, Frank Melton (Tony Martin), married to a former Ziegfeld girl (Rose Hobart) of years ago. Others in the cast include: Paul Kelly (John Slayton, stage manager); Eve Arden (Patsy Dixon); Dan Dailey Jr. (Jimmy Walters); Felix Bressart (Mischa); Bernard Nedell (Nick Capalini), with Mae Busch and Joyce Compton, among others.
Production numbers include: "Laugh, I'd Thought I'd Split My Sides," "You Stepped Out of a Dream," (pleasingly sung by Tony Martin); "Whispering," "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows," "The Caribbean Love Song," "Minnie From Trinidad," "Gallagher and Shean" (wonderfully performed by Charles Winninger and Al Shean); "Ziegfeld Girl," and THE FINALE: "You Gotta Pull Strings," "You," and "You Never Looked So Beautiful Before." Of the tunes, Judy Garland stops the show with her long but highly entertaining number of "Minnie from Trinidad." The finale consists of production number montages lifted from THE GREAT ZIEGFELD to new playback 1940s style orchestration.
Overall, ZIEGFELD GIRL (which should have been titled ZIEGFELD GIRLS since it revolves around three girls), is quite impressive, even down to Lana Turner's binges and notable staircase scene. Who knows how much longer the director's cut was before the song or story edit process took place for its present 134 minute time frame? Available on video cassette and later DVD process, ZIEGFELD GIRL can be seen and enjoyed occasionally on cable television's Turner Classic Movies channel. (***)