So last year, when I morphed my utter misery and despair into a bizarre fascination with Shirley Maclaine (which happened concurrently with my Billy Wilder obsession, before my short Glenn Ford detour, and prior to my delving into the works of Woody Allen, with a stopover for Doris Day comedies and an occasional foray into the Richard Dreyfus films of the 1970s ), one of the movies I enjoyed while I wasn't watching The Apartment every night was Sweet Charity--the flop that basically ended the motion picture musical as we know it. More a victim of changing times than anything else, Charity did have its faults--it was too long, for one--but almost a year after my first viewing, I'm still turning back to it as a "go to sleep" film. Last night, I plopped it into my trusty Mac Mini and, since I'm sure someone snuck some caffeine into my Diet Tropicana Twister orange soda, I got more than halfway through before conking out at around 2:30 in the morning.
As I watched, I realized how unique and special director/choreographer Bob Fosse's brand of dance was. And Charity straddles the classic Hollywood musical style with Fosse's grittier sensibilities. Based on the Broadway musical (also choreographed by Fosse), which itself was based on the Fellini film Nights of Cabiria, Charity follows the adventures of the title character, a lovable loser who remains optimistic about life as she remains unlucky in love. Some of the musical numbers--"Hey, Big Spender," the dance party sequence, "Rhythm of Life"--with cameo by Maclaine's rat pack friend, Sammy Davis, Jr.--are real treats. It's definitely worth a rent.
If you have Fox Movie Network, I also recommend checking out All That Jazz this Friday night. (It will air three times in a row, beginning at 8 p.m.) Jazz is the autobiographical musical drama written and directed by Fosse, who brazenly cast Ann Reinking, his mistress, as. . . his mistress.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
13 comments:
Love Shirley. Saw her live one-woman show once. :) Charity not my favorite musical... including the last revival with Christina Applegate. But it's theatre history, for sure.
Thanks for stopping by today! And you are right about the renaissance... it started with Little Mermaid more or less. I was referring to Lion King being our first *Wrap Party*, but I phrased teh sentence funny. Thanks for the clarification. I changed the post so it's more clear now! :)
~S
Have seen that one. I love musicals so I'll check it out. Thanks!
I took my mom and niece to see Sweet Charity on Broadway with Christina Applegate and LOVED it. I have to say, though that Denise O'Hare stole the show. His performance in the elevator was a classic. He's just a great actor. My all-time favorite scene on Broadway is O'Hare as the accountant in "Take Me Out" in hhis soliloquy on baseball. Priceless!
The musical I keep going back to is Gigi, Carli. I can watch it every few months, year in and year out.
I grew up watching musicals with my grandparents, and I think when I was 6 my favorite movie to watch was 'Paint Your Wagon'. Not the norm with kids today, but musicals are still high on my list!
Here from Michele's today.
Here from Michele.
All That Jazz, didn't that have Roy (Jaws)Scheider in the title role and didn't Jessica Lange play an angel? That was a bit strange.
My "put you to sleep" movie was "Little Shop of Horrors"... I didn't make it through the first ten minutes. A better sleep aide than counting sheep or sleeping pills.
Great movie....anything with Liam Neeson in it. One of my goals in life... see every movie with Liam Neeson in it.
I remember watching old Jane Powell, Deanna Durbin and Ann Blythe musicals when I was a kid...haven't seen one since Chicago. Thank you for visiting...I will have to really peruse your movie lists. They look full of really good movies.
I've read Shirley Mclain's books as well. Her brother got some kind of achievement award this year. What about hers? Michele sent me.
Here from Michele's today. I'll have to check that movie out. Thanks for the tip.
While I will agree that it is too long, Charity is a great musical. I was actually IN that musical back in the college days. There are some great numbers in there. And Fosse was an absolute genius!
I think there are two kinds of people. Those that love musicals and those that loathe them. I'm in the latter camp. I just do not get them. Oh, there are a few that I like. My Fair Lady, Fiddler, Bye Bye Birdie, South Pacific. But otherwise, ugh. When I lived in London it was the height of the Andrew Lloyd Weber fanaticism, and a friend was a theatre critic who got free tickets. I saw all his shows. Hated them all. HATED THEM.
I know, what I dud I am!
My husband loves a musical.
Me, not so much.
Maybe someday I'll tell him about it, but not this weekend.
Helloooo from Michele's.
I used to love musicals, but I haven't seen one in ages. I've never seen Sweet Charity but the two songs you mention are familiar. I'd say that I will rent it, but I don't have much spare time to watch movies at the moment. Michele says hi.
Post a Comment