Alright I just watched Chicago for the first time…I know it doesnt come out for awhile but a friend of mine works at Blockbuster 
And Im sure this whole topic had come up when the movie was released in theaters, but Ohmigoodgod this movie is OUTSTANDING!!! The dance numbers were pure s-e-x. Wow. I wish IIIII could be a jazz performer…Too bad we dont have those anymore. sigh Oh well. 
If you havent seen this movie yet, when it comes out on video/dvd, you MUST MUST MUST go out and rent it. Its phenomenal.
Have you ever seen the 1927 silent version, starring Phyllis Haver? Superb! It gets, of course, the “period feel” better, having actually been filmed in the 1920s, and Haver is amazing. I saw it at a revival house, she she got a standing ovation at the end—I don’t know why this wasn’t rerelased on video/DVD to coincide with the new version.
Because, Eve, sadly very few people care about silent films anymore. I am surprised that it didn’t turn up on TCM to coincide either with the theatrical release or the DVD release. Although I suppose it still might. I’d love to see it, but I fear I may have to contect myself with the Ginger Rogers version, Roxie Hart.
It’s a really terrific movie, and in great shape, still. Dark and funny and with terrific performances. I was hoping maybe TCM would pick up on it and show it, with all the recent Chicagomania. No such luck, it would seem.
Next Tuesday is it’s release date. I pre-ordered it from Amazon, and I got the soundtrack in earlier this week. I saw it twice in the theater (only movie I’ve seen twice in the theater in years).
I’m not even a huge fan of musicals, but I loved Chicago, and I intend to buy the DVD this Tuesday. Great performances (especially CZJ!), wonderful songs, and the sexiest (non-porno) movie I’ve ever seen, far and away.
Folks, see if you can catch one of the touring companies of the original Broadway musical (OK, the 1996 revival of it) if you want pure sex onstage. The Broadway version currently has Melanie Griffith starring as Roxie and you can get rush tix for twenty bucks. And the touring companies are generally first-rate Broadway singers and dancers.
There’s nothing like live theater in my book, but that said, CHICAGO THE MOVIE is one of the best adaptations from the stage I’ve ever seen. I also saw it twice, the first time in the packed Ziegfield Theater about four blocks from where the stage version is playing. The Manhattan audience ate it up and cheered and applauded after each number!
I think the DVD might have the cut song ‘Class’, a hilarious dirge sung by Mama and Velma during Roxie’s trial. “Jesus Christ! Ain’t there no decency left?!”
Ziegfeld, dear. “Ziegfield” makes the baby Eddie Cantor cry.
I worked with the only amatuer theater group to get the rights to chicago. We finished the show last weekend. Anyone whos seen the movie really has to see the musical version. Mr cellophane is such a great song. Anyone in the dc area who saw the show which was with wildwood summer theater let me know.
It was a great film, though Christine Baransky was completely miscast in her role. If you saw it on stage, you’d know why.
I missed “Class,” too. They also left off Mary Sunshine’s solo number, and, more importantly, changed Roxie’s line before she shot Fred. I thought the original (“No one walks out on me, you son of a bitch”) was much better.
But it’s one film I’d watch over and over.
The ten words guaranteed to make my head explode.
Word from my theatre-buff friends is that she is terrible. Since we’re all pretty possessive of our theatre, they could be exaggerating, but I don’t think so. I’d save my money and wait until someone new takes over the role.
Then again, I’ve seen it three times on Broadway with Bebe Neuwirth, and she and Chita Rivera are the only true Velmas in my book (then again, Vicki Lewis of “Newsradio” fame wasn’t bad at all.). I don’t count CZJ because she’s a film star - but I thought her performance in the film was magnificent. She deserved her Oscar.
(Won’t go into what I did when the casting was announced, but let’s say I still hold to my first opinions about the casting of Renee Zellwegger and Richard Gere - although they weren’t bad, they didn’t really do much for the roles.)
The film’s awesome, though. Between CZJ, Queen Latifah, and John C. Reilly, it’s a great flick. (Made even better by the fact that I saw it in NYC’s Ziegfield Theatre on opening night - nothing will ever compare to seeing a musical film in that place).
And Eve, I would adore seeing the silent-film version. I’ll keep an eye out in case it’s ever released.
Ava
Mehitabel, I totally missed where you saw it in the Ziegfield, too! LOL - sorry! We may have been in the same show for it:).
Ava
<hangs head in shame for misspelling Florenz’ name>
And I probably misspelled his first, now.
Yeah, Melanie has gotten generally lousy reviews; note how I tactfully refrained from commenting, just reported.
Bebe and Anne were great, especially Anne’s dancing (over her singing we draw a Griffithesque curtain) and Bebe’s acting. My favorite pair, however, has to be Sandy Duncan as Roxie and my idol Karen Ziemba as Velma. With Joel Grey himself as Amos, Brent Barrett as Flynn, Marcia Lewis as Mama, and I think D. Sabella as Mary. WOW!! They just nailed it without a weak link in the cast.
So many fantastic Broadway people they could have cast (although they did use Diggs and Baranski) but they’re not “box office” to the general public. What a shame.
You’re a better person than I for just reporting - I’m sort of big-mouthed when it comes to Broadway:).
I love Karen Ziemba - I’m with you there. I never did see her as Velma, but I saw her in Contact (holy CRAP, she was amazing!) and I have a bunch of CDs with her. She’s got a beautiful voice. And Joel Grey…sigh. He’s the man (did you hear he just signed to play the wizard in Wicked? Can I tell you how excited I’ve been for this show - first Kristen Chenowith, then Norbert Leo Butz, then Joel Grey…this is like the show of my dreams.).
Yeah, that was my problem with the whole show - there are Broadway performers that could have shone in the movie, but wouldn’t have been as big of a box office draw. Which sucks, but hey, it’s business. But when they start screwing up Broadway, then a line’s gotta be drawn - thank GOD this film was good.
Ava
By the by . . . The real-life Velma was a real hag. The real-life Roxy was more gorgeous than any of the actresses who’ve played her. Her name was Beulah Annan, and she died in a sanitarium in 1928. You can read their real stories in this book.
Ah, cool. Thanks, Eve, I just ordered a copy. I love reading stuff like that. Although, it makes me a little sad to hear that the real Roxie never particularly achieved her dreams.
[hijack]
Speaking of silent films, do you happen to know of any books based on the life of Mabel Norman? I’ve read a tiny bit about her from “Mack and Mabel” but can’t seen to find any book about her and I’d really like to read about her life. I figure if anyone would know, you would.
[/hijack]
Ava
Well, if the play is close to accurate, she was a murderer after all. I loved the movie, but it’s definitely not one where the bad guys get what they deserve.
Good point. On the other hand, she’s just so damn likeable;).
I am very eager to get my book, though - I’m looking forward to finding out the whole story.
Ava
You’ll love the photos—there are two of “Velma” and one of “Roxie,” who, as I said, was moooovie-star gorgeous.
The only biography ever written of Mabel Normand was Mabel, by Betty Fussell (Ticknor & Fields; 1982). Pretty easy to find on the used-book sites.
Eve, you rock. I have been searching for a book about her for months - I should have known to just ask you.
Can’t wait for the book - Amazon’s promised me it’s on the way.
Ava