Roxie Hart

Comedy fracas from Maurine Watkins' play "Chicago" (filmed previously in 1927, and remade as a musical in 2002) has gum-snapping, would-be showgirl Roxie Hart, wife to a real schlub in jazz-era Chicago, talked into putting herself at the center of an apartment shooting--because, after all, Chicago courts are sweet on dames. Satire of legal justice (and the theatricality of the law and the press) is pungent and funny without being terribly memorable. Ginger Rogers is very good in the lead, yet winking director William Wellman keeps repeating the same gags over and over; while frantically trying to stay one step ahead of the audience, Wellman tramples all comers--sapping Rogers' good will too soon. A few wonderful stand-outs remain: the jailhouse dance with the reporters, the lively courtroom antics, and the clever final tag. The story is framed in awkward flashback, the sub-plot about moll Two Gun Gertie is introduced and then dropped, and there's a semi-romance that never rises to a boil, but the film still has some big laughs and a lot of energy. **1/2 from ****

There was a real Roxie Hart, and in 1942, she was played by none other than Ginger Rogers with red hair. It's basically the same story as "Chicago" with some changes. What remains the same is that Roxie is a darling of the press, and her trial is a media circus. The difference here is that Roxie didn't shoot anyone, and she and her husband do divorce. Also, the matron doesn't have a song. Roxie's story is told in flashback by a reporter (George Montgomery) who has avid listeners in a coffee shop, particularly the man behind the counter (William Frawley) - who we see as the story continues was actually on the jury! As in "Chicago," Roxie loses the limelight when a fresh news story comes along, but she manages to get the crowd back when she announces she's pregnant.

Ginger is great as Roxie and dances "The Black Bottom" and taps up a storm. She's very sassy and flirtatious, seemingly having a good time. Adolphe Menjou is just right as Billy Flynn, who knows every trick in the book to get Roxie declared not guilty. The film has a wonderful group tap number, too, which is excellent.

All in all, a fun ride, with a great ending. Fans of "Chicago" will find the film interesting and entertaining.

Wow this was one funny lady of her day. Can you imagine transforming yourself from a dancer into a physical comedienne? She did it and did it well.

Basically what we get is a murder committed by Roxie's husband out of jealousy but a ruthless promoter tells her if she confesses to it she can't possibly go to jail or get convicted cause she's a woman and she's in Chicago and no woman ever gets convicted in Chicago. Plus, it'll help her dancing career.

From here on it's just fun hi-jinx and a really spiffy dance number in the jail with the whole cast getting involved.

Your gonna get some quick wit, a cool dance number and Ginger Rogers. That's enough for me...should be enough for you.

I just purchased the DVD of "Roxie Hart"- In my opinion it is not a classic film. The direction seems a bit clunky, and it takes a bit to get a feel for the movie.

Once that has been conquered, it is really a great ride, particularly for Ginger Rogers fans. It really is a tour-Der-force for her, and she's able to demonstrate her comic ability. She also has a couple of dance numbers, one of which is a tap piece that would make anyone appreciate her talent. It may be short, but it's great to watch.

Time and countless remakes have taken the bite out of the satire part of the film. The best way to approach it is as a straight comedy.

As such, it works very well. In fact, I was reminded of the "To War" segment of the Marx Brother's Duck Soup when the press corp broke into dancing the Black Bottom (don't get me wrong -- no comedy can cast a shadow on that classic) If you don't like Ginger Rogers, this won't change your mind. But even a casual fan should enjoy this.

The DVD picture and sound are really pristine, with rich black and white and clear audio.

I bought this film because I am a huge fan of the musical "Chicago." Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed! Although the parts of Velma & Matron Mama Morton were built up a lot for the musical, and there are some slight differences (e.g. in Chicago Roxie really DID shoot Fred Casely... here she doesn't... Roxie and Amos never divorced... here they do... Roxie wasn't really pregnant... here she is), the basic plot is still the same, and what a wonderful story this is! Although I must say that I prefer Jerry Orbach (of Law & Order fame) as Billy Flynn, Adolphe Menjou was great in the role! Stunning performance! But the real spark here lies within Ginger Rogers... whose portrayal of Roxie is absolutely rivetting! (However, to me, the definitive Roxie Hart was and always will be the very wonderful Ms. Gwen Verdon.) She brings such sass to the role... you gotta applaud her! A great movie!