The 9th Best Picture winner was The Great Ziegfeld, a highly fictionalized account of the life of Broadway impresario Florenz Ziegfeld. Mr. Ziegfeld had passed away, leaving behind large debts. His wife agreed to permit a fictional biopic in order to raise quick money. The result was The Great Ziegfeld.
MGM spared no expense in recreating Mr. Ziegfeld's lavish production numbers and they impressed critics and audiences alike. The film was wildly successful despite taking huge liberties with the truth and a clear favorite to win Best Picture, which it did. Two of the co-stars- Frank Morgan and Ray Bolger- would go on to perform together in the classic The Wizard of Oz.
