The Goldwyn Follies

The Goldwyn Follies is a 1938 Technicolor film written by Ben Hecht, Sid Kuller, Sam Perrin and Arthur Phillips, with music by George Gershwin, Vernon Duke, and Ray Golden, and lyrics by Ira Gershwin and Sid Kuller. Some sources credit Kurt Weill as one of the composers, but this is apparently incorrect. The Goldwyn Follies was the first Technicolor film produced by Samuel Goldwyn.

The Goldwyn Follies
One of theatrical release posters
Directed byGeorge Marshall
Produced bySamuel Goldwyn
George Haight
Written byBen Hecht
StarringAdolphe Menjou
The Ritz Brothers
Vera Zorina
Andrea Leeds
Edgar Bergen
Music byGeorge Gershwin
CinematographyGregg Toland
Edited bySherman Todd
Production
company
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
February 4, 1938 (1938-02-04)
Running time
122 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2 million[1]

The movie, which features Adolphe Menjou, Vera Zorina, Edgar Bergen (with Charlie McCarthy), Andrea Leeds, Kenny Baker, Ella Logan, Helen Jepson, Bobby Clark and the Ritz Brothers, depicts a movie producer who chooses a simple girl to be "Miss Humanity" and to critically evaluate his movies from the point of view of the ordinary person. The style of the film is very similar to other musicals of its era, including the "Gold Diggers" series and others. The film is an effective satire on Hollywood and has some excellent numbers choreographed by George Balanchine.

Songs include:

This was the last film score written by George Gershwin before his death on 11 July 1937. The Goldwyn Follies was released on 20 February 1938. The movie was nominated for an Oscar for Best Score as orchestrated by Edward B. Powell under the musical direction of Alfred Newman, as well as Best Interior Decoration.[2]

Cast

Reception

The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:

  • 2006: AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals – Nominated[3]However, the film is listed as one of "The Fifty Worst Films of All Time," the book co-written by film critic Michael Medved.

References
  1. Goldwyn Believes Color Photography Here to Stay; Budgets $2,000,000 for Big Musical to Prove It!: Stars Enlisted From Grand Opera to Radio for Role in 'The Goldwyn Follies' in Technicolor; Gigli's Screen Debut; Gloria Dickson on Way Up; Valentino Helps the Press Agents; Notes of the Theater. The Washington Post (1923-1954) [Washington, D.C] 21 Sep 1937: 14.
  2. "NY Times: The Goldwyn Follies". NY Times. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  3. "AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-08-13.
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