1. This film does its job. Entertainment in the Depression, theatre and film especially, were created as a means of escape from the financially distressed world outside the theater doors. The character of Anna Held exhibits a playful stance on competition, which is standard for things made during this time. The film as a whole is a lighter retelling of what actually happened, especially since Ziegfeld and Held were not actually married and the relationship they had was less than delightful.
2. The theme of light competition and uncertainty will find its way into the Depression era musicals. People were less likely to make rational decisions during this time because they thought they had nothing to lose. Held choosing to see Ziegfeld rather than Billings is an example of this.
3. If this film were made after the code, it might have cut Anna Held's character all together. Her relationship with Ziegfeld was not as honorable as people would have liked considering they never married. The dressing room scene would have had Anna Held behind a privacy partition the entire scene, maybe peeking out her head every few lines, so as to preserve her modesty.
DAILY DOSE OF DELIGHT #1 (From The Great Ziegfeld)
in MAD ABOUT MUSICALS: THE HISTORY OF THE HOLLYWOOD MUSICALS
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Daily Dose #1
1. This film does its job. Entertainment in the Depression, theatre and film especially, were created as a means of escape from the financially distressed world outside the theater doors. The character of Anna Held exhibits a playful stance on competition, which is standard for things made during this time. The film as a whole is a lighter retelling of what actually happened, especially since Ziegfeld and Held were not actually married and the relationship they had was less than delightful.
2. The theme of light competition and uncertainty will find its way into the Depression era musicals. People were less likely to make rational decisions during this time because they thought they had nothing to lose. Held choosing to see Ziegfeld rather than Billings is an example of this.
3. If this film were made after the code, it might have cut Anna Held's character all together. Her relationship with Ziegfeld was not as honorable as people would have liked considering they never married. The dressing room scene would have had Anna Held behind a privacy partition the entire scene, maybe peeking out her head every few lines, so as to preserve her modesty.