The Great Ziegfeld is an exhausting, shiny mess

Is it worth your time?

If you get a kick out of watching 1930s sets that look like they cost more than the GDP of a small country, maybe. If you hate movies that feel like a long, repetitive parade, stay away.

Honestly, this thing is a beast. It’s three hours of Ziegfeld doing the same thing over and over: betting everything, winning, losing, and smiling through it all like he’s got a secret.

The spectacle problem

The musical numbers are huge. Like, staggeringly huge. There’s one with a revolving stage that just keeps going. And going. I started checking my watch after the fifth minute of stairs and feathers.

It’s all very shiny, but it feels like the movie is trying to prove it’s the most important thing ever made. It isn't.

The performances

William Powell is the only reason this doesn't collapse under its own weight. He’s got this light, breezy energy that makes you forget he’s playing a guy who’s basically a walking disaster. He walks into a room and the whole screen feels slightly less cramped.

Luise Rainer? She does a lot of crying. It’s very intense. Sometimes it feels like she’s in a completely different, much sadder movie than everyone else.

• The staircases are absurdly tall. I don't know how they didn't fall.
• The phone call scene. You know the one. It’s loud.
• Some of the extras in the background look like they haven't slept in three days.
• I much prefer the energy of They Go Boom!—it knows when to wrap things up.

I kept waiting for the movie to actually settle down and tell me something real about the guy. Instead, it just threw more sequins at me. By the time the finale rolled around, I felt like I’d eaten a wedding cake all by myself. It’s impressive, sure. But I don't think I ever need to see another feather ever again. 🎭

It’s not quite as agonizing as sitting through The Agonies of Agnes, but it’s close. At least Ziegfeld looks good in a tuxedo.