Cheap Sweet Charity (DVD) (Shirley MacLaine, John McMartin) (Bob Fosse) Price

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Customer Reviews of Sweet Charity

It has a fascinating visual style: For instance, the opening titles are a kaleidoscope of psychedelic freeze frames as Charity makes her way through the city towards a meeting with a potential 'beau'. There is an edginess and jumpiness to the editing that meshes well with Bob Fosse's dramatic and exaggerated choreography and direction, exemplified by the heightened fashion statements in some costume and set designs: 'The Rich Man's Frug' nightclub dance number is a stunning example.

New York, its energy, vitality, character and magnetism, plays another major role in the film. Charity embraces the city and its many attractions as her 'personal property' in the first song. Famous locations such as Yankee Stadium, Wall Street and The Lincoln Centre are used to great affect in 'I'm a Brass Band', featuring Charity and chorus in red marching uniforms. A bridge in Central Park is the setting for two critical events in Charity's life where her survival is tested and rebirth tempted.

But then there is the 'hope' and optimism that shines through the jigsaw puzzle of conflicting emotions and expressions that is Shirley MacLaine's face as Charity Hope Valentine: The look, the smile, the vulnerable glance and hesitant stare. And the tears, all those tears: But after they have gone, remarkably she keeps going. Whether it's a "chance" rendezvous with an Italian movie star, trying to get a normal job and escape the "seedy" life of a dance hall hostess or finding "love" with a respectable guy. And through it all this central performance of rich, raw emotion and mesmerising complexity touches the viewer and propels 'Sweet Charity' into the realms of great "musical" drama.

The supporting cast also play an important role. Sammy Davis Jnr. is dynamic as Big Daddy as is Broadway legend, Chita Rivera, as one of Charity's dance hall colleagues. John McMartin reprising his stage role as Oscar Linquist, paints his character with many unusual shades. The rest of the cast are outstanding especially in the many hypnotic dance sequences and production numbers like 'The Rhythm of Life'. The film is wrapped in a lively, energetic and tuneful score by Cy Colman and Dorothy Fields that contains many well known favourites.

On DVD the film looks great. The widescreen print is virtually flawless and the sound mix is set at a wonderful 4.0 channel surround. The Overture and Intermission music are also included. There are some valuable extras as well including a glimpse at how the film was made featuring interviews with the Director, Bob Fosse and Costume Designer, Edith Head. So 'Sweet Charity' is definitely a must buy, if only to see Shirley MacLaine's best screen performance.

A Great Film!
It's a shame that this film hasn't been released on DVD so far. An alternative "happy ending" (which can be found on the laserdisc version) and a lot of behind the scenes material simply call for a DVD release. So Universal, come on!
Bob Fosse's debut as a film director didn't make much money at the box office and now it's one of those classic "the-bigger-the-better" Sixties musicals. Many good reasons to buy this video: the dynamic dancing of the wonderful Chita Rivera and Paula Kelly (who was recruited from the original London cast), Suzanne Charney's dazzling performance in "Rich Man's Frug", a fantastic score by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields (even though five songs from the stage version didn't make it into the film), welcome guest appearances by Sammy Davis, Jr. and Stubby Kaye and most important of all Fosse's incredible choreography. I have to admit that I don't really enjoy MacLaine's performance in the film. She wasn't a stand out dancer like Gwen Verdon who originated the role on Broadway and her acting seems to be a little too over the top for a musical comedy.
A little footnote for fans: you will find a couple of well-known Fosse dancers in this film: Ben Vereen, Louise Quick and Kathryn Doby.

For Serious Fosse Fans Only
Ok, this movie is a clunker. The story doesn't hold up well in today's feminist or post-feminist era and MacLaine's performance made me cringe.

However, here's the great thing about DVD: use the scene selector to skip right to the fabulous dance numbers! "Rich Man's Frug" and "Hey Big Spender" are two of Fosse's best on film, and big enough that you'll want to watch them several times to catch all the details and dancers. And as a special treat to Fosse fans, the extras on the DVD include some brief segments with THE MAN himself.

Fosse newbies, skip right over this and go straight to CABARET which is a brilliant musical AND a brilliant film.