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Anna
Yasha, who likes Anna, accomodates siberian Pavel Kuganov, which later becomes a class-conscious worker in a factory. Anna refuses Yasha's offer of marriage and he therefore runs off to Siberia. After Pavel is hailed as a hero because he survives a fire accident in factory (which is in fact effect of his sabotage), Anna marries him. Pavel then becomes a reckless communist careerist, but only on surface. In fact, he is a traitor of the country and a spy, and gives Anna's party ID card to anti-communist movement. In spite of that, Anna is expelled from the communist party. Yasha returns from Siberia, only to find her love Anna desperate. They reveal the truth about Pavel (that he is a kulak who killed a kolchoz co-op leader), which means an end for Pavel.
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Plot Summary
This lavish biographical musical chronicles the life of Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., a legendary Broadway impresario known for his spectacular Ziegfeld Follies. The film details his rise to fame, his passionate but tumultuous marriage to the beautiful showgirl Anna Held, and the ultimate decline of his extravagant theatrical empire. It explores Ziegfeld's relentless pursuit of perfection and the personal costs associated with his ambitious artistic endeavors.
Critical Reception
The Great Ziegfeld was a critical and commercial success, lauded for its grandeur, performances, and spectacle. It is widely considered one of MGM's most opulent productions of the era, praised for its ambitious scope and faithfulness to the larger-than-life personality of its subject.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its lavish production values and impressive scale.
William Powell and Myrna Loy deliver strong performances in their iconic roles.
Luise Rainer's Oscar-winning portrayal of Anna Held is a standout, despite the film focusing on Ziegfeld.
Google audience: While specific Google user ratings from 1936 are unavailable, retrospective reviews often highlight the film's historical significance as a grand Hollywood musical and a fascinating look into the world of early 20th-century Broadway.
Awards & Accolades
Won the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 9th Academy Awards. Luise Rainer won the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Fun Fact
The film's finale, featuring a recreation of Ziegfeld's famous Follies, cost over $200,000 to produce, a staggering sum for the time, making it one of the most expensive sequences in Hollywood history up to that point.
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