The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

William Powell - Florenz Ziegfled Jr.

Myrna Loy - Billie Burke

Luise Rainer - Anna Held

Frank Morgan - Jack Billings

Ray Bolger and Fannie Brice as themselves

If someone had told me that I would enjoy a 3 hour film from 1936 about a man I really don't know anything about, I would have asked one question......"Well, who's in it?" After they answer, "William Powell", I would respond with a resounding "Heck, yes I would!!" 

If you ever, and I mean ever, get a chance to see a film with William Powell, don't think, just sit down and enjoy! He has a certain magnetism that, for me, is unexpected and after several viewings of his movies, it has now stuck with me. I will never second guess his talent again. 

You must be thinking, "She must be bringing this up because this movie is superb and without flaws and I must go see it." Well, you have every right to think that but that's not the case. It's not the best film I've ever seen but it certainly has stellar performances from everyone in it and it helps to at least know something about the guy to really enjoy the story, but it's not necessary. So though it maybe isn't the best thing ever made, you should still give it a try! I feel pretty confident you will not be disappointed.

Here's what I know: 

Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. was married to Billie Burke who, 3 years after this movie came out, would grace the screen as Glinda, the Witch of the North from "The Wizard of Oz" (1939). I knew that she had been a stage actress earlier in her career and read that she had enjoyed playing Glinda so much because the character and costumes reminded her of her theater/stage days. This movie reiterated that statement with the theater world she came from and kind of costumes that she wore.

The name "Ziegfeld" gives me no great pause, as it may for others. I only know the name from a movie I've seen and own (well it's more like a series of skits put together on film) called "Ziegfeld Follies of 1946" (1945). It has a SLEW of stars in it from that era including Judy Garland, Red Skelton, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Kathryn Grayson, etc. So my only connection with the name "Ziegfeld" was from a movie that was inspired by the classic Ziegfeld shows, but made many years after his passing. It was more of a tribute to a man that always yearned to bring elegant, elaborate beauty to theater audiences.  

However, to actually watch a movie about the man was so incredibly interesting. It was wonderful to find out how he began his career, be introduced to the people he knew and worked with, and how his classic shows started and changed the theater world. These are the things I just love finding out! Gosh, I love old movies!

The Performances: 

Not to be redundant but William Powell was great in this film. He embodied Ziegfeld, well as much as I think he did. The way Ziegfeld was portrayed he seemed to be a gambler and dreamer of a business man. He had grand ideas but never really had enough money to put on a show and never wanted to put up any of his own money if he had it, but always willing to gamble on others fortune. He was a ladies man, but not on a disgusting way. Considering he showcased a number of beautiful women in extravagant gowns on grandiose sets, he never seemed to be a man who would take advantage of a woman. He instead had a keen eye for beauty and how they should be dressed for glamour. That doesn't mean he didn't take his leading ladies out and buy them expensive gifts (even while married), I still seemed to understand and believe that he loved his wife. He just seemed to be a compulsive spender and would give money to just about everybody he knew, including a waiter or bellboy even when he was flat broke. He'd be glad to give the little guy some extra change. 

William Powell can be an obnoxious stooge if he wants to or a debonair gentleman. He has the ability to switch between the two without so much as a bead of sweat or obvious transition. For some reason, it's believable for him to embody both personality types. 

Myrna Loy plays Billie Burke in the film and, as I've recently found out from a friend, was personally approved by Ms. Burke herself. I can only imagine what it would be like to play a role of a person still alive and able to correct you if you got it wrong. However, there wasn't enough of Billie in the story for them to get anything too wrong, I imagine. Of the 3 hour film, we don't actually see Billie until 15 minutes after the 2 hour mark. I will always speak highly of Myrna Loy as an actress but beyond the 6 or 7 times we see her on screen, there really isn't too much to add other than: she was beyond beautiful and an incredibly natural actress. Pairing her with William Powell never disappoints. 

Luise Rainer as Ziegfeld's first wife, Anna Held, was quite a force in this film. Her character, I believe, is supposed to be flighty and emotional. Of course sometimes the extraneous emotions are valid but for the most part, they make you fidget and stand on edge because she seems so anxious. Though I thought this characterization would only annoy me, I quickly understood it and instead welcomed it as something quite fresh and comical. The amount of times she asks him to leave a room and come back again in a matter of 5 minutes is hilarious. She does this when phoning him as well that it isn't annoying, but instead becomes a familiar gag that, quite surprisingly, doesn't get old. Like the other characters around her, you instead accept it as normal, almost expected, behavior. It's important to note that she won the Best Actress Academy Award for her performance in this film, this being her second Oscar, the first from only the year before. Also, this won the Best Picture Academy Award as well, beating out "Mr Deeds Goes To Town" (Frank Capra), "Liabeled Lady" (another William Powell and Myrna Loy picture) among others.

I also must include a short mention of Frank Morgan. Many know him as The Great and Powerful Oz/Professor Marvel from "The Wizard of Oz". Well, he is just as delightful and entertaining in this film. The slow transition of his character from adversary to friend of Ziegfeld is a delightful aspect to this film. It says so much about both men and it's done in a very believable way.

Things That Stood Out:

 

Fanny Brice - She's hilarious and it was wonderful to see her poke fun at herself (a natural thing she did) but to do it from her own history. Her faces were wacky and she was hilarious but, just as Ziegfeld says, she could tear your heart out in a split second with her rendition of "My Man".

Ray Bolger - He plays a prop man behind the scenes on the Ziegfeld show and we find him dancing while he cleans up. Many know Ray as the Scarecrow from "The Wizard of Oz" (1939). What some might not know is that he was supposed to play the Tin Man originally but lobbied to be the Scarecrow instead and I personally think he was born to play that part. With that piece of trivia trapped in your head for the time being, a part that I thought was delectable: We find him dancing while cleaning up behind stage when Ziegfeld asks about his job and such. Ray says, "I've been a property master for 5 years, but my heart just isn't in it.", to which Ziegfeld replies, "That's a long time to live without a heart!" Does everyone now understand why I squealed with delight at that exchange. You're welcome! Now go tell your friends!

Rhapsody In Blue - If you ever find yourself watching a movie, TV Show or listening to music and "Rhapsody In Blue" (Gershwin) comes on, it will always be something that stands out. It is one of the most perfect pieces of music ever constructed by man. I know that many might think that about the classic composers like Mozart and Beethoven, but when it comes to our more modern world, George and Ira Gershwin were the closest things to musical perfection we had on this earth. I think it's important to mention both brothers even though "Rhapsody" was only George's creation. It's roughly 16 minutes of melodic brilliance that will always give me chills and probably make me cry at the drop of a hat. I must have inherited this from my Mother because I've been there to witness these same emotions take her over with this same song. To not be completely changed by this after listening, well you're just not doing it right! I feel I must say that in the movie, they only used a portion of the song but it happened to be the exact moment that I will always tear up! Sometimes when something is so beautiful, you just have to cry. It may have been these 3 minutes that solidified my enjoyment of this film. This paragraph, as you can tell, has no bias what-so-ever.

Okay, now for the finale:

If you at all enjoy old films, Ziegfeld, William Powell, Myrna Loy or Luise Rainer, plan an evening to watch this delightful film. If you enjoy any of those things mentioned, the movie will not disappoint. If you do not know or enjoy any of those things....well then explore the world outside your comfort zone and keep an open mind. I think the movie and you yourself will be surprised.

Adventures in Blogging, not Babysitting

One goal of this blog is basically summed up in the following quote by whom else but Gloria Steinem. Since I'm reading one of her books she's EVERYWHERE in my mind lately. She has a TON of soundbites that speak to me intellectually and emotionally, both in this book and beyond. The quote:

"Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don't feel I should be doing something else."
-Gloria Steinem

So, that's the goal of this blog: to bring out the writer in me. So far it's been a great time writing down and sharing whatever thoughts that come to mind and for the most part, when I'm writing, I don't feel like I'm wasting time. I don't feel like I should be doing anything else. 

I was recently speaking to a wonderful friend of mine, who is a great writer I might add, and we were both discussing how much we love our "voice" as writers. It seems our "writer's voice" is much more thought out, not as overly emotional but still passionate, and even a bit more confident than our normal selves. It takes great energy and dedication to a thought to not just think of something, but to put it to paper or in my case, a blog. It's been a challenge to convey messages that seem to be completely logical and clear in my head, but when I write, it's all jumbled. That has been difficult but ultimately a welcome challenge. Also, having a Communication Studies degree, I understand the importance of getting a thought across in a concise, clear manner though I often fall short, so this has been a great tool for me to practice.

Thanks for reading and being my guinea pigs in this new venture, thus far!

Monday is Quote Day

It doesn't really get any better in creativity when you have more prestige. It's always the same amount of joy so don't wait to enjoy yourself, because if you already feel stressed and like you gotta get somewhere, that is not gonna change 12 years later. Or 20 years later. You're always gonna feel that way. So enjoy, enjoy because this is all there is.

-Maria Bamford (Comedy and Everything Else Podcast 5-24-10)

So in other words, enjoy everything to the fullest without any specific expectations and make the choice to be happy.

Only for Emergencies!

Cellphones are a wonderful technology that most of us use and some might say they couldn't live without. Whenever I think that, which actually isn't very often, I know that I need to re-examine my focus.

This thought has recently come up from this past weekends events when I forgot my phone before a quick trip and visit with my sister. The mayhem that ensued with that forgotten cellphone was both serious and comical all at the same time. I missed 5 calls, 2 messages and 2 very directed texts. I love that my sister loves me! I do admit that when I realized I forgot my phone, I felt a little naked. I wasn't that far from home where it would've been completely ridiculous to turn around and get it, but instead I took it as an opportunity to be disconnected and enjoy a car ride with music and my thoughts and no distractions.

My feeling of worry when I forgot my phone was not grounded in feeling connected with my sister or a fear of missing out on the newest facebook post. It was more than that. Here's why....get the popcorn!

My childhood took place in the early 1990's and did not include cellphones. We had only a land line at home and I remember very plainly that for local calls, you didn't even have to enter in the full 7 digits, but only 5 and the call would still go through. So instead of 555-1234, all you needed was 5-1234 and the call would still be connected. I grew up in a small town so I'm not sure how common that was across the board, but that's what I remember and my memory is a TRAP!

Continuing on...

Our first cellphone came in a black bag in the late 90's and it looked more like a land line than a cellular phone, at least what I learned from the movies and T.V. The connection was through the lighter in the car (another thing that is non-existent in some vehicles) and if it wasn't plugged-in, it didn't work. Pretty simple.

This phone wasn't something you gabbed-on all night long or even used very often in the car (at least in our family). This cellphone was reserved for emergencies. So my association with cellphones growing up, were not for pleasure or even business, it was only if your car stalled or you were in an accident that you were to use the phone. Only emergencies! Yeah, I got it Dad!

Also, this phone was only in my parents car so it was basically off limits to anyone besides Mom and Dad.

Jump ahead to 11th grade and still no personal cellphone because it was too much money and kids didn't need that kind of thing anyway. Yes, I was still a kid in 11th grade. Well, I was on my way to a friends house in the country all alone (small town in southern Minnesota means you're surrounded by corn fields and half of your class or most friends are going to be from out of town) when all of a sudden a deer ran out in from of me from the right side of the road and it clipped the front drivers side of my car. Anyone who has hit a deer, knows that I was lucky. I was immediately shaken and decided that I didn't need to go to my friends house. I instead turned around and went home.

When I got home, my Mom and Dad were glad to know that I was okay and that the car wasn't badly damaged at all. The lights still worked and there was only a slight dent near the driver's side headlight where there was still fur from the deer. GOLLY! Anyway, it was at this time that I either suggested or it was decided that I was to get a cellphone. Again, I still associated cellphones for emergencies only. I mean I was getting a cellphone because of the deer debacle, which was an emergency. If it had been worse and the car wouldn't have been drivable, I would have had an option to call for help.

This story is the basis for how I still view cellphones today. Though I have a smartphone and I use it for texting, photos, a datebook, the Internet, maps, a dictionary, etc., I still understand the true purpose, in my opinion, of a cellphone. It is an accessory not the focus. My life, friends and family are the focus and my phone is an accessory to that and really only helpful in emergencies. That's why I was nervous when I left my apartment without a phone. It was because if there had been an emergency, I wouldn't have had any way to call for help. And most people passing by a stalled car on the road now assume the people are alright because they probably or most definitely have a cellphone and help is on the way. It reminds me of a study I read in college about altruism and our assumptions that people are being helped so we don't do anything. But that's for another post! :)

Another observation: when I arrived to our destination, I felt lost without being able to contact my sister saying I'd made it and to find out when she'd arrive. It's amazing how much we don't plan anymore. We used to have to plan to meet "at the mall, at Barnes & Noble, in the movie section at 4 o'clock sharp!" Now, we just say, "I'll call you when I get there." It's almost like we don't have to be people of our word anymore. We don't have to be on-time because we can "just call" if we're late and we don't have to be where we planned because, you guessed it, we can "just call" and change things last minute. Of course for the most part, the freedom in being able to adjust the plans we do make is great, but it's amazing how these adjustments mean we're to be dependent on our phone.

With that, I challenge to take a day-off from your cellphone. I'm not saying cellphones are bad or horrible, I'm just saying we should take a moment to remember how life used to be before texting during lunch with friends or taking dark pictures of our food and uploading it to Instagram. I'm pretty sure our selves prior to cellphones would think we're rude and boring!

"Action expresses priorities." Mahatma Gandhi

Monday is Quote Day

"The whole idea is not to figure out what you should do that will matter, but to make each thing you do reflect the values you want, because we don't know what will matter in the future."

-Gloria Steinem

This one is a recent find and I'm in love with it. It has made me sit back and take inventory of my values. It's been a wonderful time of reflection and discovery.