Ziegfeld Girl is a rarity in the film catalog of Judy Garland.  It’s one of the few “post Oz” films that isn’t a vehicle for either her alone, or her and a co-star (Mickey Rooney, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire) and one in which she's really more of a supporting player.  Ziegfeld Girl is really Lana Turner’s film.

Originally scheduled in 1938 for Joan Crawford, Eleanor Powell (MGM’s “Queen Of Taps”), Margaret Sullivan, and Virginia Bruce, Ziegfeld Girl ended up starring Lana Turner, Hedy Lamarr, Judy Garland, and Eve Arden in the main female leads.  This was probably done because, at the time the film was finally in pre-production, Joan Crawford and Eleanor Powell’s careers were already declining.  In addition, the studio was giving Lana, Hedy, and of course Judy, big “build-ups” to make them the "new" stars at MGM.  Judy had already proven herself in The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Babes in Arms (1939), and she had just finished Little Nellie Kelly (1940).  Lana was the studio’s obvious new “sexpot” and Hedy had recently made a big splash as well.  With her exotic looks and accent Hedy would become MGM’s “Bird Of Paradise” while Lana would be more "American" and therefore more "accessible". Lana would end up staying at MGM for almost 20 years and would become one of the studio's most enduring stars, with a career that would last over 30 years.

The story is very slight.  It’s the typical “3 Girls trying to make it” backstage story.  One achieves stardom (Judy), one achieves happiness via marriage (Hedy), and one falls for the glitz and glamour and ends up dead from alcoholism (Lana).  Pure melodrama!  But, packaged by MGM's professionalism, with musical numbers directed by Busby Berkeley, Ziegfeld Girl would become an extravaganza of glitz and corn and music and melodrama! This is the movie that proves, "they don't make 'em like they used to". Just to film the opulent musical numbers today, with the chorus girls, chorus boys, costumes, music, and all the trimmings, would cost a fortune. But MGM had the resources to make Ziegfeld Girl one of the most opulent films of the day. Or any day!!

James Stewart and Jackie Cooper play the main lead male roles.  Stewart was fresh off the double success of  Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939) and his Oscar winning role in The Philadelphia Story (1941). 

NOTE: This is the only film in which Judy starred with James Stewart and even though they both get top billing, they never share a scene together! Years later, James Stewart would talk about the magical days during the late 1930's when he and several other stars and contract players would take their breaks and sit outside the music building and listen to Judy rehearse with Roger Edens.

Ziegfeld Girl is something of an oddity for Stewart.  His character is far below the actor’s abilities.  He’s merely a plot device for the Sheila Hale (Lana Turner) character.  But Stewart gets top billing anyway, based solely on his recent successes.  A reflection of her star status, Judy gets second billing, even though her role is much smaller than Lana or Hedy’s roles.

Lana really handles her scenes well.  She’s given the melodramatic plot line of the pretty chorus girl falling prey to the “Stage Door Johnnies” and booze.  It’s really her picture from beginning to end.  Her handling of the decent down the stairs “one last time” (even though she’s close to death!) is wonderfully done and shows that Lana could actually act.  This is the film that would cement Lana Turner’s star status.

Judy’s part is basically a supporting role, but she gets several great numbers.  There’s the vaudeville routing with Charles Winninger “Laugh, I Thought I’d Split My Sides” ­ a throw away number that Judy handles nicely due to her real Vaudeville background.

“I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” is the ballad standout for Judy.  Beautifully sung. No one has ever given a better rendition.  It would become a classic Garland film moment.  When watching her sing this, one can see why Lana Turner said to Judy (during the making of this film) “You know, I’d give all of my beauty for just half of your talent ­ the look on your face when you sing.”  That’s praise indeed.  NOTE: The “Judy Garland The Golden Years At MGM” laser disc contains the existing recording session tracks for Ziegfeld Girl.  Included are several takes of Judy’s “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” proving just how amazing Judy was in each take.

Minnie From Trinidad” is the big Busby Berkeley extravaganza showcasing Judy’s character’s ascent to stardom.  It’s completely over the top ­ in a good way!  Judy’s voice is well suited to this type of number (actually her voice is well suited to any style).  She’s able to take the tongue-in-cheek lyrics and make them fun.  At the end of the number, she’s lifted up and down on what are supposed to be large bamboo-type sticks.  I’ve always wondered how they got away with putting Judy on something like that ­ something that could possibly seriously injure one of MGM’s biggest stars.  It’s possible that it’s really not Judy until they do a close-up.  Hard to tell!

Judy also gets to appear in the other big musical number “You Stepped Out Of A Dream”.  Judy’s character is not yet a star, so that after each girl’s segment, poor Judy/Susan is stuck behind Tony Martin, Lana Turner and Hedy Lamarr for the final shot of the number.  This probably didn’t do much for Judy’s insecurities about her looks. 

“Dream” is a dream alright.  Eye popping costumes and huge sets add to Tony Martin’s wonderful rendition of this standard.  The song is really just an excuse to show the “typical Ziegfeld” number of beautiful girls wearing outlandish costumes descending down a long flight of stairs.Lana and Hedy both get their turn coming down the stairs.  Lana proves that she can navigate stairs better than anyone.  What a beautiful walk she had! Judy doesn’t just walk down the stairs, she dances down as the head of a line of sequined clad chorus girls.  Very effective!

The film is also contains one of Dan Dailey's earliest roles as "The Champ" Jimmy Walters who is first spurned then used by the Sheila Hale (Lana Turner) character. Dailey who would go over to 20th Century Fox and star in several musicals with Betty Grable.

Ziegfeld Girl was incredibly opulent, even for the "Golden Years" of Hollywood. The melodrama works because the entire film is packaged with the talent and professionalism that only MGM could achieve. It contains a few of Judy's best numbers on film and shows that in any setting (with any dialog), the talent of Judy Garland would still shine!

So sit back, relax, and lose yourself in a fantasy world that never really existed in the first place. They don't make 'em like that anymore!

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1980 "Soundtrack Album" of the songs recorded directly from the soundtrack of the film from "Classic International Filmusicals" * C.I.F. 3006 1990 Home video (out of print). Also released on laser and DVD. "Bootleg" soundtrack - contains the songs directly from the soundtrack of the film (including those not available elsewhere). The sound quality is "ok" - but not up to par with the Rhino CD. The currently available Rhino Records 2 disc set which contains several of Judy's songs from Ziegfeld Girl - all remastered from the original MGM recording masters.