gretchkuhn

I have seen this movie twice so far, and I want to see it at least 100 more times! I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!! I have seen the Broadway Musical 4 times, and I want to see that at least 100 TIMES MORE ALSO!!! I am a Die-hard Bob Fosse fan, and despite the fact that the Choreography is NOT FOSSE's, I STILL LOVE THIS MOVIE! I absolutely adore the storyline, in which these women murder either their husbands or boyfriends and they end up in the Cook County Jail, in Chicago, IL... The story focuses on 2 particular ladies, Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger), and Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones)... From all of my research on this Show, I have discovered that this was based on a true story way back in the 1920s... When this originally opened on Broadway in 1975 with Gwen Verdon as Roxie, and Chita Rivera (who has a small cameo in the Jailhouse) as Velma, it was actually a huge production, with major sets, and I consider the movie to be reminiscent of the Original... Billy Flynn, the lawyer who defends both Roxie & Velma, when we first meet him, singing "All I Need is Love" was originally staged as a Striptease, and Richard Gere does just that! Granted, it is only down to his boxer shorts & t-shirt, but it is tastefully done... Richard also sings pretty well, considering it has probably been 25+ years since he sang in London's Original Production of the Now-Classic 1950s musical GREASE as Danny Zuko (John Travolta's role in the Movie of the same Name), and was the Understudy to Barry Bostwick (Rocky Horror Picture Show - Brad Majors) on Broadway, in the Original Broadway Production! GO SEE IT! YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY! Unless if you just do not like musicals to begin with... DO NOT COMPARE IT TO MOULIN ROUGE, either as they are 2 very different musicals! Granted, Moulin Rouge's success sure has helped CHICAGO, but Bob Fosse was even trying to make CHICAGO into a movie way back in 1975! This has traveled a very long and winding road, to finally be on the Silver Screen! Rob Marshall was absolutely inspired when directing this movie!

I just saw this today, 19 January, and I was amazed! I have seen the Broadway Revival 4 times, and LOVE the Stage Show... When I heard that Richard Gere was going to be Billy Flynn, I was a bit skeptical, until I did some research on him... He was on Broadway, in "GREASE" as understudy to Barry Bostwick (Rocky Horror Picture Show) as Danny Zuko. When "GREASE" went over to London's West End, Richard opened as 'Danny Zuko.' Granted, it has been 25+ years since Richard has really sang, I thought that Richard did a most admirable job as Billy Flynn... Catherine Zeta-Jones is Velma Kelly. She is astounding! I knew prior that she could sing, as she put in her time in London's West End herself... Sing more, please, Catherine! I wish I had her legs! Renee Zellweger as Roxie Hart did a commendable job. Roxie Hart is a Performer-want-to-be... A Third Class Act, good enough for some places, but not Quality enough for the Big Time... But Renee pulls it off perfectly! Renee, keep on singing! I really liked the fact that they had so many Broadway Actors in the Movie, primarily as the Dancers in the Jazz Clubs, or as the Husbands of the Murderesses of the Cook County Jail. Granted, I would have loved to have had Broadway People as the Main Characters: Roxie, Velma, Billy, "Mama" Morton, but I do realize that you need "Name Actors" especially for a Hollywood Production, and for it to at least break even... Even though I was around for the Original Broadway production in 1975, and I did not see it then, but from what I have read about it, this is closer to that than it is to the Current Broadway production... When you mention "CHICAGO" to the right people, and they will say "Bob Fosse," as he choreographed the Original B'way, and Ann Reinking (one of his Dancers) choreographed the Revival, there is really nothing FOSSE in CHICAGO the Movie. But I did get glimpses of "Fosse" throughout... Rob Marshall, who was the Choreographer of "CABARET" currently playing at Studio 54 in NYC, a Fosse show to the utmost, did a wonderful job as Choreographer & Director for "CHICAGO." Cannot wait until your next Movie! Rob was both Director and Choreographer for Disney's re-creation of "ANNIE" with Victor Garber and Kathy Bates. Rob was the Choreographer for Disney's "Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA," also with Victor Garber & Whoopi Goldberg as King & Queen, and Brandy as Cinderella.

I remember seeing this TV movie when it was first run.

I was about 10 when it was on, and I was TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY with PHILIP ANGLIM's performance as JOHN MERRICK, aka the Elephant Man...

As much as I love David Lynch's (1980) movie with the absolutely adorable ANTHONY HOPKINS as FREDERICK TREVES and JOHN HURT as JOHN MERRICK, it was PHILIP ANGLIM's performance TOTALLY VOID OF COSMETICS, PROTHESTICS, AND OTHER MAKE-UP, THAT BLEW ME AWAY!!!

Philip Anglim ACTUALLY CONTORTED HIMSELF TO SUCH A DEGREE, THAT I THOUGHT THAT HE WAS A PRETZEL!!!!! THAT THERE WAS NO WAY THAT HE CAN UNTANGLE HIMSELF!!!

To tell you the truth, I was so impressed with Philip's performance, that I honestly DO NOT REMEMBER any other performance here, despite the fact that both GLENN CLOSE! and CHRISTOPHER HEWITT! (Mr. Belvedere) were both in the show!!!

I would venture a 99.44% chance that it was this performance that made me fascinated with the story of John Merrick.