Great Ziegfeld, The (BLU-RAY)
US Import
This 1936 Best Picture Oscar® winner is every bit extravagant as its subject: theatrical empresario Florence Ziegfeld, Jr. Said Newsweek, "it carries on his tradition of superlatives: the most expensive actors, the best dancers, the most beautiful girls…" William Powell gives one of his most acclaimed performances as the legendary Ziegfeld. Joining him are other stars from the MGM constellation: Myrna Loy (Powell's partner in The Thin Man series), Luise Rainer (the portrayal of actress Anna Held that won her the first of two consecutive Oscars®), The Wizard of Oz's Frank Morgan and Ray Bolger, and, in a rare screen appearance, the legendary Ziegfeld star Fannie Brice. Of course, it wouldn't be Ziegfeld without a parade of tunes (more than 20!), Showgirls (more than 300!) and dazzling set pieces. Most spectacular of all is the massive "wedding cake" sequence said to Irving Berlin's "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody". No applause was added to the soundtrack of this scene. Live audiences, provided plenty… and still do. Meticulously remastered and presented in its "Roadshow version", with original Overture, Entr'acte and Exit music, this new Blu-ray release from Warner Archive aptly can be described by paraphrasing one of the many original songs written for the film-It Never Looked So Beautiful Before!
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM FROM PRESERVATION ELEMENTS (2023)
- Historical retrospective:
- "Ziegfeld on Film"
- Vintage Newsreel excerpt "New York hails 'The Great Ziegfeld'"
- Classic Warner Bros. Cartoon: "TOY TOWN HALL"
- Audio-only LEO IS ON THE AIR Radio promotional program
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature