---
title: "The Great Ziegfeld: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-great-ziegfeld/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-great-ziegfeld"
critics_score: 76
critics_reviews: 8
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Great Ziegfeld (1936): what the critics said

Critics' score 76 from 8 reviews: 7 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative.

## Los Angeles Times — Edwin Schallert

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 16 April 1936. 

The review highlights the film's spectacular quality and beautiful musical numbers during its premiere, noting it sustains interest despite its length and out-Ziegfelds Ziegfeld in production values. It singles out the monumental 'A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody' sequence for praise as a highlight of splendid musical entertainment.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/story/2022-09-20/from-the-archives-the-great-ziegfeld-film-premiere-revives-thrill-of-other-days)

## The New York Times — Frank S. Nugent

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 9 April 1936. 

The critic finds the film a thoroughly Ziegfeldian production in its opulence and reverential approach to its subject, with strong performances and spectacular musical numbers. He singles out the lavish staging and the 'A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody' sequence for particular praise while noting the three-hour length could have been trimmed in places.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1936/04/09/archives/the-great-ziegfeld-metros-lavish-biography-of-a-showman-opens-at.html)

## Radio Times — Tony Sloman

Rating 4/5. 

This sumptuously mounted MGM musical biography of Broadway's most flamboyant showman is perhaps slightly too long for today's tastes, but it thrilled cinema-goers at the time and won the best film Oscar. Luise Rainer also won the first of two successive Academy Awards as best actress for her performance here as Ziegfeld's wife, Anna Held, and her famous telephone scene is a lesson in screen acting.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-htna2j/the-great-ziegfeld/)

## Empire — David Parkinson

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 5 April 2006. 

The critic notes that the film drags in places and doesn't aim for biographical accuracy, but praises its shiny spectacle and impressive choreography.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/great-ziegfeld-review/)

## The New Yorker

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 11 April 1936. 

The review describes the film as a respectful and scrupulous Hollywood tribute to Florenz Ziegfeld, noting its three-hour length and gigantic chorus numbers as a lavish period piece of Broadway history. It praises the document-like recreation of Ziegfeld's world and standout bits including Fannie Brice's scenes.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1936/04/18/1936-04-18-079-tny-cards-000017705)

## Variety — Abel Green

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 15 April 1936. 

The critic calls the film the last gasp in filmusical entertainment and an outstanding picture with undeniable box office appeal, praising its cohesive direction, production numbers, and William Powell's performance as Ziegfeld. It singles out the 'A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody' number and overall lavish mounting while noting the excessive footage as its main shortcoming.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/1936/film/reviews/the-great-ziegfeld-2-1200411276/)

## Eye for Film — Chris

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 June 2008. 

The critic finds much of the film awful due to shambolic dialogue and an uncharismatic lead, but two elements elevate it. The Oscar-winning performance by Luise Rainer stands out, along with a breathtaking cinematic recreation of the Ziegfeld Follies that exceeds expectations.

[Read the review](http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-great-ziegfeld-film-review-by-chris)

## Consequence — Blake Goble

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 22 February 2016. 

The critic finds the film an entertaining but forgettable ode to excess and showmanship centered on its lavish production numbers, particularly the elaborate eight-minute wedding cake sequence. While praising its opulent spectacle and whimsical 1930s style, the piece notes it feels naïve by modern standards and has largely been forgotten despite its Best Picture win.

[Read the review](https://consequence.net/2016/02/forgotten-best-pictures-the-great-ziegfeld/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-great-ziegfeld.md