Post by kijii on Sept 2, 2019 18:53:55 GMT
Sweet Charity (1969) / Bob Fosse
Recorded from on TCM
Although I had often associated Shirley MacLaine with the song, "If they could see me now," (her introduction song on talk shows) and the movie, Sweet Charity, I had never seen this movie until last week. The movie, based on Federico Fellini's screenplay, Nights of Cabiria and Cy Coleman's great songs, had already had a very successful Broadway run with Bob Fosse's wife, Gwen Verdon, in the title role. But, she gave the role to Shirley MacLaine for the movie.
This is the first feature film that Fosse directed and is a great introduction to his dancing style and choreography, later seen in movies such as Cabaret and All That Jazz. I would describe the choreography as angular and jazzy with arms and legs emphasized.
I recently heard an NPR interview with Christina Applegate who later played the role of Charity Hope Valentine on stage. She said that the late Cy Coleman was very exacting when directing her. After seeing All That Jazz, and what a perfectionist Bob Fosse was, one can only imagine that working for Coleman and Fosse was like.
This is a pure musical; don't expect a great story line in this movie.
(But, I guess one could say that with most musicals. Right?)
Recorded from on TCM
Although I had often associated Shirley MacLaine with the song, "If they could see me now," (her introduction song on talk shows) and the movie, Sweet Charity, I had never seen this movie until last week. The movie, based on Federico Fellini's screenplay, Nights of Cabiria and Cy Coleman's great songs, had already had a very successful Broadway run with Bob Fosse's wife, Gwen Verdon, in the title role. But, she gave the role to Shirley MacLaine for the movie.
This is the first feature film that Fosse directed and is a great introduction to his dancing style and choreography, later seen in movies such as Cabaret and All That Jazz. I would describe the choreography as angular and jazzy with arms and legs emphasized.
I recently heard an NPR interview with Christina Applegate who later played the role of Charity Hope Valentine on stage. She said that the late Cy Coleman was very exacting when directing her. After seeing All That Jazz, and what a perfectionist Bob Fosse was, one can only imagine that working for Coleman and Fosse was like.
This is a pure musical; don't expect a great story line in this movie.
(But, I guess one could say that with most musicals. Right?)