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Poster for The Great Ziegfeld

The Great Ziegfeld

Seen it?

1936 | 185 min | Music, Drama, Romance

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It won 2 Oscars and it earned strong reviews (71% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a lukewarm 6.3 out of 10 from audiences. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for romantics. If you loved tick, tick... BOOM! or West Side Story, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Warm and romantic.
The pace
Unhurried and epic, at 3 hr 5 min.
What might put you off
  • It's long: 3 hr 5 min.
  • Made in 1936: an older pace and style.

At the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, sideshow barker Florenz Ziegfeld turns the tables on his more-successful neighbor Billings, and also steals his girlfriend. This pattern repeats throughout their lives, as Ziegfeld makes and loses many fortunes putting on ever-bigger, more spectacular shows

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    71% on Rotten Tomatoes, 69 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesBelow par

    6.3 out of 10

  • AwardsVery strong

    Won 2 Oscars: Best Picture, Best Actress. Also nominated for 4 more Oscars.

  • Box office & staying powerSolid

    $5 million worldwide on a $2 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 50K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Robert Z. Leonard

  • William PowellFlorenz 'Flo' Ziegfeld Jr.
  • Myrna LoyBillie Burke
  • Luise RainerAnna Held
  • Frank MorganBillings
  • Fanny BriceFannie Brice
  • Virginia BruceAudrey Dane
  • Reginald OwenSampston
  • Ray BolgerRay Bolger
  • Ernest CossartSidney
  • Joseph CawthornDr. Ziegfeld