G | 2h 29min | Comedy, Drama, Music | 14 February 1969 | Color, ws
Director: Bob Fosse
Stars: Shirley MacLaine, John McMartin, Ricardo Montalban, Sammy Davis Jr., Chita Rivera, Paula Kelly, Ben Vereen.
Bob Fosse ... choreographer / from the New York stage production staging and choreography by
Ed Gasper ... dance assistant
Paul Glover ... dance assistant
Sonja Haney ... dance assistant
John Sharpe ... dance assistant
Gwen Verdon ... choreographer (uncredited)
1st of 5 film director credits for BF.
JM originated his role on B'way ('65).
11 songs performed (16 chapters with menu):
- ch3. My Personal Property, Performed by Shirley MacLaine
- ch4. Big Spender, Performed by Female Ensemble
- ch5. Rich Man's Frug, Performed by Orchestra and Chorus
- ch6. If My Friends Could See Me Now, Performed by Shirley MacLaine
- ch7. There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This, Performed by Shirley MacLaine, Chita Rivera and Paula Kelly
- ch8. It's a Nice Face, Performed by Shirley MacLaine
- ch11. The Rhythm of Life, Performed by Sammy Davis Jr. and Chorus
- ch12. Sweet Charity, Performed by John McMartin
- ch13. I'm a Brass Band, Performed by Shirley MacLaine and Male Ensemble
- ch14. I Love to Cry at Weddings, Performed by Stubby Kaye and Chorus
- ch15. Where Am I Going?, Performed by Shirley MacLaine
I've loved this since I first saw it on TV (IMDb lists it on NBC in '73).
Today my attention was not good, and I didn't watch as closely, nor enjoy it as much. I found it sad, and didn't see the Hope as much as I should.
I did watch The Rich Man's Frug with devotion; I think that's the number that really made me a Fosse fan. I don't think I would have been aware of his onscreen appearances in film, not even Kiss Me Kate ('53). The primary dancer in RMF is Suzanne Charny, and Ben Vereen makes his first film appearance as a featured dancer there. He's also in the Rhythm of Life number; I didn't look for her.
Both vintage featurettes on this 2003 dvd were NOT in IMDb, so I added them before watching the film, so that might have made me a little cranky. I've had trouble getting one added for Camelot.
The alternate ending on the dvd is interesting. I'm glad they didn't use it as the released ending, since JM finds SM again at the bridge, and re-proposes. While that sounds sweet, they're not really a good couple, but then they're each so flawed that it's hard to imagine a good mate for either. Hence my ennui.
I'll stick with my prior 8 rating. I was hoping it would be an 8+.
Universal, dir. Fosse; 8
