Ziegfeld — the famous Broadway showman The film "The Great Ziegfeld" tells the story of one of the most renowned impresarios and showmen on Broadway in the early 20th century. Florenz Ziegfeld became famous for his stage production Ziegfeld Follies, which premiered successfully in 1907. Over the following decades, he gained even more popularity, discovered new stars for the public, and remained in high demand. The picture aims to show the fascinating life of this man. The movie is filled with a variety of musical numbers — colorful, vivid, loud, and full of emotion. At times, it almost feels like you’re not watching a film at all, but an actual Broadway performance captured on camera and seamlessly edited into a biographical story meant to tell the tale of the showman himself. William Powell does an excellent job portraying Florenz Ziegfeld. He’s convincing and charismatic. I also enjoyed Luise Rainer’s performance — she deservedly won the "Oscar" for Best Actress. Her character is Ziegfeld’s beloved, and she brings warmth and authenticity to the role, enriching the film with emotional depth. Her portrayal of Held feels alive and sensitive — a woman who supported Ziegfeld for as long as she could. Myrna Loy plays the showman’s wife, whom he married in 1914. It’s a very different role compared to Held’s, but unfortunately, Loy’s performance doesn’t work as well. Her character feels flat and forgettable, especially after such a heartfelt portrayal by Rainer. Perhaps the issue lies partly in the script, but overall, the actress fails to impress. The film gradually reveals different aspects of the impresario’s life. The audience witnesses the rise and fall of the showman, his personal relationships, and gets a glimpse into how grand Broadway productions were created in those days. Moreover, the picture explores Ziegfeld’s inner world. The problem, however, is that the lengthy runtime becomes exhausting. The storytelling rarely surprises, and the film lacks the emotional depth it could have had. The pacing feels bland, and despite all the glamour, it doesn’t truly grip the viewer. Its excessive duration, filled with one stage number after another, eventually wears you down by the midpoint. Still, "The Great Ziegfeld" is a decent film. It stands out as a visually impressive yet overly long production. Luise Rainer’s Oscar-winning performance remains its highlight. The film also received two other "Oscars" — for Best Dance Direction and Best Picture. Personally, I find the Best Picture win questionable. Much stronger contenders included "Romeo and Juliet" starring Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard, "San Francisco" with Clark Gable, and "The Story of Louis Pasteur" with Paul Muni. Nonetheless, "The Great Ziegfeld" became the triumphant winner of that ceremony. It remains in memory as a respectable but overextended film — an overly long production with an unremarkable script and a rather uninvolving plot. 5 out of 10