Three hours--185 minutes to be exact--is the running length of The Great Ziegfeld. The film chronicles the life of Florenz Ziegfeld, a Broadway producer who started his career promoting a strong man at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Despite the length of the film, The Great Ziegfeld is highly entertaining. Ziegfeld led a fascinating life, and in this film, he is portrayed as a suave con-man who wildly swings back and forth from being utterly broke to the most successful producer on Broadway. His confidence remains unshakable (most of the time), and he charms the other characters and the audience.
I must admit, the running length is daunting. I split the viewing into two nights, ending night one with the intermission. The film is long due to the multiple musical numbers; the film is, after all, chronicling the life of a Broadway producer, so naturally it includes some of his productions. Most productions scenes include 3-4 songs, one of which is always the glamorous and over-the-top finale that Ziegfeld was known for. Towards the end, I was sick of the productions and more interested in seeing how Ziegfeld's story would end. Despite being tired of seeing the productions, with each one, the extravagance struck me. The film was produced during the Great Depression but seeing this film you wouldn't know it because of the extravagant costumes and set designs. It's no wonder that Ziegfeld was so incredibly popular during the Roaring 20's: he captured the extravagance of the time perfectly.
The Great Ziegfeld is worth the time, but I'd recommend it for a rainy day or a wintry afternoon when you want to stay indoors and indulge in drama, song, and dance.
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