ZIEGFELD: THE MAN AND HIS WOMEN (TV)
Summary
This drama biography film is about the life and loves of Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr., the famous Broadway producer and impresario and creator of the Ziegfeld Follies revues. The program begins in London in 1895, where Ziegfeld and friends watch Anna Held performing onstage. Oscar Hammerstein intends to hire her for his show, but Ziegfeld goes to her dressing room and charms her, offering her more money. They soon enter a relationship and he assures her that he can break her contract with the Folies Bergère, despite having little money himself. He calls “Diamond” Jim Brady and offers a pricey partnership, and the deal is quickly sealed. Anna begins performing in New York, and though she receives excellent reviews, Ziegfeld is eager for more attention. He stages a bizarre news story to gain headlines, and allows Anna to be photographed in a bath of milk despite her protests. Years pass and their relationship continues, although she dislikes the way he pushes her to promote various products to gain more money. She performs in a show called “The Parisian Model” in which she appears scantily clad, much to the audience’s delight. Soon, however, Ziegfeld meets Lillaine Lorraine and immediately starts attempting to make her a star as well, and Anna protests, revealing that she is pregnant with his child. Ziegfeld tells her that she must make “arrangements,” as she has a show to open soon, warning that she will be replaced by Lillaine should she fail to follow through. He begins showering Lillaine with gifts and attention, carrying on an affair when Anna is away, although Lillaine states that she has no desire to marry him. He offers to put her in his show, despite her lack of singing and dancing talents, and he is harsh with her when she fails to perform satisfactorily onstage. Ziegfeld’s associate, Abe Erlanger, argues against Lillaine’s casting, saying she has no talent, but Ziegfeld points out that her beauty will be enough and designs a new show in which she sings very little and merely appears in glamorous outfits.
He soon catches her with another man, however, and their relationship declines as they argue over her fashion choices and behavior. At a party, Ziegfeld tells Abe that they are over, and spots an attractive young lady alongside producer Charles Frohman. He engages the bandleader’s help in securing a dance with her, and learns that her name is Billie Burke. She explains that Frohman and others have warned her against his womanizing ways, but he states that things are over with Anna and Lillaine and proceeds to woo her, charming even her mother. Frohman warns Billie strongly against marrying him, but she maintains that she is in love with him, and Ziegfeld assures her that she is his “only wife” forever. However, she is still under contract with Frohman for a touring play, and their first months of marriage are spent apart. While she is gone, Ziegfeld continues producing new shows, despite the threat of WWI, and tells his girls to “stay beautiful” or risk being fired. He hires architect Joseph Urban and, after a rather aggressive audition, actress Fanny Brice. When Billie returns home, she confronts him about the latest rumors of an affair, but he dismisses her. He continues working, grudgingly agreeing to give W.C. Fields a short slot onstage, and is only somewhat distracted by the birth of his daughter Patty. He learns about a new dancer, Marilyn Miller, and goes to see her, although she is coy about his offer, saying she already makes a very large salary. Patty begins to grow up and Ziegfeld dotes on her, although he is unnerved by Billie’s desire to resume working.
Marilyn performs an elegant ballet with a male partner and Ziegfeld quickly decides to make her his lead star, although in a solo performance only. Billie becomes suspicious again, but he assures her that Marilyn is marrying someone else. He takes Patty to see the ballerina, but she is rude to the little girl backstage, much to Ziegfeld’s annoyance. Billie notes the rumors in the newspapers about the two of them, and Ziegfeld admits that he cannot be monogamous despite his love for her. Over time, more and more of his stars begin leaving the Follies for careers in Hollywood, and he is doubtful when Hammerstein calls and offers him a new show to produce, the musical “Show Boat.” Billie encourages him to do it, but on opening night, Ziegfeld worries that the audience will hate the racially-charged story. However, after a rousing performance of "Ol' Man River," the audience responds with great enthusiasm and the show is a success, leading to many further productions. Ziegfeld spends time with Patty, now a teenager, and she explains that meeting Marilyn made her realize that she never wants to be involved with show business, and Ziegfeld seems pleased with her choice. Ziegfeld continues having great success through the ‘20s…until October, when he loses everything in the stock market crash. He falls into a depression, but Billie reassures him that they will be fine because of her family fortune and film offers, and he attempts to create more shows. He visits Billie on a film set and they talk about the peaceful life they may one day have away from show biz. Patty then explains that her father died in 1932, and that his legacy lives on in the Broadway theatres that he pioneered. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: May 21, 1978 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:36:55
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 106250
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Biography
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV, 1978
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- M.J. Frankovich … Executive Producer
- Buzz Kulik … Producer, Director
- William J. O'Sullivan … Associate Producer
- Joanna Lee … Writer
- Dick DeBenedictis … Music by
- Miriam Nelson … Choreographer
- Samatha Eggar … Cast, Billie Burke
- Barbara Parkins … Cast, Anna Held
- Pamela Peadon … Cast, Marilyn Miller
- Valerie Perrine … Cast, Lillian Lorraine
- Paul Shenar … Cast, Florenz Ziegfeld
- Ron Husmann … Cast, Jack Norworth
- Frances Lee McCain … Cast, Martha
- Cliff Norton … Cast, Abe Erlanger
- David Opatoshu … Cast, Flo's Father
- Nehemiah Persoff … Cast, Charles Frohman
- Richard B. Shull … Cast, Joseph Ervin
- Inga Swenson … Cast, Nora Bayes
- Jessica Rains … Cast, Goldie
- Lilyan Chauvin … Cast, Louise
- Tara Talboy … Cast, Patricia Ziegfeld (Age 14)
- Stacy Sackett … Cast, Patricia Ziegfeld (Age 5)
- Valerie Walker … Cast, Patricia Ziegfeld (Age 2)
- James Francis … Cast, Florenz Ziegfeld (Age 4)
- Leon Charles … Cast, Diamond Jim Brady
- Marti Stevens … Cast, Blanche Burke
- Penny Ciarlo … Cast, Olive Thomas
- David Knapp … Cast, Julius Steger
- Catherine Jacoby … Cast, Fanny Brice
- Gene McLaughlin … Cast, Will Rogers
- David Downing … Cast, Bert Williams
- Richard Shea … Cast, Eddie Cantor
- Dan Tullis, Jr. … Cast, The Stevedore
- Kent Kuehn … Cast, The Great Sandow
- Walter Willison … Cast, Frank Carter
- Victor Rogers … Cast, Talent Scout
- William Bogert … Cast, The Parson
- David Griffiths … Cast, Somerset Maugham
- Lola Mason … Cast, The Saleslady
- Roger Til … Cast, The Casino Manager
- Jim Veres … Cast, Chauffeur Rudy
- Louise Fitch … Cast, Wardrobe Woman
- Milt Oberman … Cast, Stage Manager
- David Levy … Cast, Irving Berlin
- Sari Price … Cast, Parson's Wife
- Burr Smidt … Cast, Attendant