ZIEGFELD GIRL
US, 1941, 131 minutes, Black and white.
James Stewart, Judy Garland, Hedy Lamarr, Lana Turner, Tony Martin, Jackie Cooper, Ian Hunter, Charles Winninger, Al Shean, Edward Everett Horton, Philip Dorn, Paul Kelly, Eve Arden, Dan Dailey, Fay Holden, Felix Bressart.
Directed by Robert Z. Leonard.
Ziegfeld Girl is a mixture of soap opera and musical, choreographed by Busby Berkeley, directed by Robert Z. Leonard, who had directed the Oscar-winning biography, The Great Ziegfeld.
The film was also a star vehicle for the young stars, Lana Turner, Judy Garland and Hedy Lamarr. Lana Turner is the vamp, Judy Garland the aspiring actress, Hedy Lamarr wanting a career. With their interactions they come across Ziegfeld as well as with a young man, played by James Stewart in all earnestness.
The film recreates the atmosphere of Broadway in the early part of the 20th century, the role of the Follies, the goal of aspiring actresses, singers and dancers as well as all the intrigue behind the scenes and the heartbreak for the young actresses who want to reach success. The film was released at the beginning of World War II.
1. And entertaining musical melodrama? The background of Ziegfeld and his Follies? M.G.M. production of the '40s? The stars at the beginning of their careers? The old, old story, 1940s style? How well does it wear?
2. Production values, black and white photography, musical score, Busby Berkeley directing the choreography? New York in the '20s and '30s? Melodramatic American stories?
3. The presentation of the three heroines? The interweaving of their stories and the focus on the Follies? The American nostalgia for the days of Broadway, Ziegfeld? The American Dream and idealising of the American girl? The nightmares of show business for the American Dream? The material of soap opera - how well and credibly presented?
4. The film as musical: the presentation of the Follies, their popularity, Ziegfeld's style? The focus on the girls? Their auditions, training, glamour? The morale-boosting stories and the warnings? The rules for the girls? Rehearsals, performance, decor? The gowns? The baroque, even kitsch, style? Stars? A tribute to an era of American show business? Glamorised in M.G.M. musical productions?
5. The focus on Sheila and Lana Turner's performance? The elevator girl, the dream of being a Ziegfeld girl and wanting it? Her determination even over her love for Gil? Gil and his ordinariness, her family and their ordinary background - her changing her name? Hopes, auditions, training, success? Showing her glamour on the staircase at home? Her helping Susie in her song? The attentions of Jeffrey and his wealth? (And the advice of the Eve Arden character about wealth - and conscience?) Her house, her maid, her being kept? The reaction of her family, the concern of her brother? Gil and his clash with her? His working for the Mafia? The encounter in Florida and mutual dislike? Her visiting him in prison? Her anguish, drinking? Her failure in the performance, collapse and being dropped? Pawning her jewellery? Her wandering the dream of a farm? Her going to the opening? The Grand Walk down the staircase and her collapse? The pathos of her death? American soap opera at its best? Judy Garland as Susie - her vaudeville routines with her father, the old style, her dreams, her looking after Sheila and wanting Jeffrey to marry her? Her brother? Her singing "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" and making it a ballad? Her success? Her father appearing in the Follies? Judy Garland's style in the various songs - "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows", "Minnie from Trinidad", the finale?
7. Sandra and Franz? European background? Classical music? Franz wanting a job in the Follies? The clash when Sandra got her job? Their separation? Frank Merton as the popular singer-star - his infatuation with Sandra? The song routines (and Tony Martin's style)? Frank's wife and the confrontation - Frank and his flirtations, his wife's love? Sandra's dignity at not wanting to take Frank away from his wife? Her buying the violin? Their friend and his 'dead uncle'? The reconciliation and happy marriage?
8. James Stewart as Gil - the truck driver, ambitions? Love for Sheila? Her rejection of him? His confrontation? His being caught up in Mafia driving? Imprisonment? His rejection of Sheila's help? Release? Promises to Sheila? His downfall parallelling hers?
9. Sheila's brother and his innocent love for Susie?
10. Jeffrey Collis and his wealth, patronising showgirls? Setting Sheila up in an apartment? Outings, gambling? The confrontation by Susie and his honourable intentions? His seeing her clash with G11 and his dropping her? The comment on wealthy playboys and their attentions to the Ziegfeld girls?
11. Mr. Gallagher and his nostalgia for the past? Protection of Susie? Her style and his being hurt by her ballad-singing? His going on tour with his friend? The success with "Mr. Gallagher & Mr. Shean"?
12. The Regan family - Irish New York, police? The Ziegfeld girl coming from this ordinary background?
13. The moralising tone of the story - Sheila's downfall, Susie's stardom, Sandra's happiness? The interweaving of the stories? Audience involvement? American dreams and warnings? The typical show business story? A good example of its kind?
