This is the same story as "Chicago"(2002), and the musical, but without the music. It is done as screwball comedy and has a great deal of energy and fun.
The movie is pretty faithful to Maurine Watkins play "Chicago," but due to the Hays Moral Code, Roxie could not be found innocent of a murder she committed. Its ironic that a moral code forced the filmmakers to lie, as in real life Beulah Annan was clearly guilty. Despite being guilty, a great publicity campaign "The prettiest little murderess in Chicago" had gotten her off at her trial. According to the Hays Code, a guilty person had to be punished for their crimes (unlike real life), thus she had to be guilty and punished or innocent and found innocent at her trial.
The cast is superb. Adolphe Menjou, may have had despicable politics, but he was a delightful actor. He matches Richard Gere's great performance in "Chicago" as the ultimate shyster-lawyer, Billy Flynn.
I think this is the best of Ginger Rogers great performances outside of her legendary Astaire/Rogers musicals. She is better in this than the soap opera "Kitty Foyle" She had won an academy award for "Foyle," just before she did this movie, Here she's at the peak of her career and she's positively glowing and confident, doing some amazing line readings and hilarious bits of business. The moment where she's questioned about what color she saw when she blacked out is amazing. She takes about five seconds to answer - "...Purple." One can almost see the wheels turning in her mind as she tries to figure out the correct answer.
Lynne Overman, who plays a veteran reporter, Jake Calahan, was a great comic supporting actor of the 1930's. Unfortunately, he died in 1943, just two years after this picture. He played the second lead in half a dozen Dorothy Lamour movies and also supported four or five Fred MacMurray movies and four or five Ray Milland films. He co-starred with everyone from Cary Grant to W.C. Fields to John Wayne, He also gives a definitive laid-back cynic performance.
The supporting cast is delightful. Bruce Cabot (the best Dr. Watson), Phil Silvers (the best Sgt. Bilko)and William Fawley (from My Three Sons) pop up here and there and deliver hysterically funny lines.
The first time I watched it after seeing "Chicago," I was a bit disappointed. However, the second and third times, I started to really embrace the style and humor. I have now seen it about seven times and it really holds up well.
Incidentally, This is better than the 1927 silent version of "Chicago". That version is not as faithful to the play, less cynical and only has about one-third the gags and laughs that "Roxie Hart" does.
The movie is pretty faithful to Maurine Watkins play "Chicago," but due to the Hays Moral Code, Roxie could not be found innocent of a murder she committed. Its ironic that a moral code forced the filmmakers to lie, as in real life Beulah Annan was clearly guilty. Despite being guilty, a great publicity campaign "The prettiest little murderess in Chicago" had gotten her off at her trial. According to the Hays Code, a guilty person had to be punished for their crimes (unlike real life), thus she had to be guilty and punished or innocent and found innocent at her trial.
The cast is superb. Adolphe Menjou, may have had despicable politics, but he was a delightful actor. He matches Richard Gere's great performance in "Chicago" as the ultimate shyster-lawyer, Billy Flynn.
I think this is the best of Ginger Rogers great performances outside of her legendary Astaire/Rogers musicals. She is better in this than the soap opera "Kitty Foyle" She had won an academy award for "Foyle," just before she did this movie, Here she's at the peak of her career and she's positively glowing and confident, doing some amazing line readings and hilarious bits of business. The moment where she's questioned about what color she saw when she blacked out is amazing. She takes about five seconds to answer - "...Purple." One can almost see the wheels turning in her mind as she tries to figure out the correct answer.
Lynne Overman, who plays a veteran reporter, Jake Calahan, was a great comic supporting actor of the 1930's. Unfortunately, he died in 1943, just two years after this picture. He played the second lead in half a dozen Dorothy Lamour movies and also supported four or five Fred MacMurray movies and four or five Ray Milland films. He co-starred with everyone from Cary Grant to W.C. Fields to John Wayne, He also gives a definitive laid-back cynic performance.
The supporting cast is delightful. Bruce Cabot (the best Dr. Watson), Phil Silvers (the best Sgt. Bilko)and William Fawley (from My Three Sons) pop up here and there and deliver hysterically funny lines.
The first time I watched it after seeing "Chicago," I was a bit disappointed. However, the second and third times, I started to really embrace the style and humor. I have now seen it about seven times and it really holds up well.
Incidentally, This is better than the 1927 silent version of "Chicago". That version is not as faithful to the play, less cynical and only has about one-third the gags and laughs that "Roxie Hart" does.