Ziegfeld Follies is one of my favourite movies, and one of the most opulent technicolor musicals of the 40s. The “story” is that Ziegfeld is putting on one last Follies from heaven, and the entire movie is just a cavalcade of amazing show numbers with absolutely no plot. The comedy skits don’t interest me (except “Number Please” which is pretty funny) but the rest is heavenly.

Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse in the opening number which is also one of the most beautiful.

Lucille Ball.

The super cool panther women.

The outfits are just amazing.

Virginia O’Brien, I love her song!

Esther Williams in a beautiful number.

Kay Williams.

I love these dresses.

Lucille Bremer.

I love the mood of this number featuring one of my favourites, Lena Horne.

I love Lena’s outfit.

This is my second favourite number after the opening pink number, Limehouse Blues.

Lucille Bremer again looking beautiful as a fake Chinese girl.

This part of the number is just amazing. The set so perfectly replicates the beautiful Chinese motifs of 18th century Europe.

The interpretation of different cultures by other cultures, such as China by Europe, is a great interest of mine. I’m fascinated by the fantasy versions of exotic countries filtered through the imagination of others, and even wrote my Bachelor’s thesis on the depiction of China in 18th century European plays. In this number there are even more layers of interpretation since China is filtered through both a different culture and a different time. It not only depicts a European interpretation of China, but also a historical one.

Judy Garland in a number that is pretty, but not my favourite. Maybe I don’t get it but I just don’t think it’s very funny.

Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire.

Men in suits waltzing together= Beautiful.

Kathryn Grayson, who I like a lot, in a really beautiful number.

Neon foam!