MAKSQUIBS CINEMATHEQUE: ZIEGFELD FOLLIES (1946)

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Sunday, June 8, 2008

ZIEGFELD FOLLIES (1946)

Considering its botched opening (Shakespeare, Barnum & Ziegfeld as heavenly neighbors) & the Dali meets Tanguy meets Lux Detergent finale, to say nothing of its tortured production history, this plotless revue hits a remarkably high batting average. All the Fred Astaire numbers score, with "Limehouse Blues" something of a neglected masterpiece. Red Skelton does his classic Guzzler’s Gin; and Fanny Brice, daringly egged on by helmer Roy Del Ruth, gives a masterclass in comedy stage technique. Watch her work away at Hume Cronyn’s face. Only Judy Garland, playing dress-up in the 'Madame Crematon' sketch, unexpectedly tanks. It heralds the neurotic camp appeal that would too often plague her great talent. And note how yummy all those full-figured, curvy dames are; Lucille Ball, Esther Williams, Lena Horne and Cyd Charisse, not a Size 0 in sight.

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A last thought before we go.

Well, enough from me. But before we sign off, here's a great quote from Emile Zola's L'OEUVRE (THE MASTERPIECE), which is about painting rather than the yet to be invented medium of film, but which points a fine critical eye toward the whole idea of art criticism. It's a good, if chilly, thought to keep in mind, especially when you surf the net.

"Has it ever struck you that posterity may not be the fair, impartial judge we like to think it is?

"Suppose the artist's paradise turned out to be as nonexistent as the Catholics, and future generations prove just as misguided as the present one and persisted in liking pretty pretty dabbling better than honest to goodness painting. There are some accepted masterpieces for which I myself wouldn't give a twopenny damn.

"Classical training has given us a wrong view of everything and forces us to acclaim as geniuses a lot of fellows who are no more than well-balanced, facile painters, while what we might really prefer is the work of more emancipated but less even artists known only to an initiated few. Immortality at present depends entirely on the average, middle-class mind and is reserved only for the names that have been most forcibly impressed upon us while we were still unable to defend ourselves...

"Perhaps that's the sort of thing that's best left unsaid. It's certainly the sort of thing that gives me the shudders!"- Emile Zola

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Now Over 5500 Reviews and (near) Daily Updates!

Sunday, June 8, 2008

ZIEGFELD FOLLIES (1946)

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A last thought before we go.

DROP ME A LINE