Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A star vehicle for Ginger Rogers, April 11, 2003
Most people these days will want to see this film in order to compare it to the musical CHICAGO. ROXIE HART was the film adaptation of a previous stage hit CHICAGO, which introduced to the world the character Roxie Hart and her attorney Billy Flynn. I think it would be a shame if that was the only reason people watched this. Ginger Rogers turned in one of the half dozen best performances of her career in the title role (though in 1942 I think she was better in Billy Wilder's film debut as a director, in THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR). For those who only know her from her musicals paired with Fred Astaire, this film could be a surprise. Ginger had actually managed by 1942 a number of excellent non-musical comedic roles. It is ironic to compare this film with the 2002 musical version, and realize that the nonmusical version starred a musical star, while the musical starred a nonmusical actress (though Renee Zellweger acquitted herself very well indeed). Adolph Menjou is great as Billy Flynn. Menjou is sometimes today remembered more for his nonscreen activities than his acting. He cooperated with the House Un-American Activities Committee in the forties in ferreting out "communists" in Hollywood, which has placed him historically in a rather poor light. He is also remembered for being one of the best dressed men of the 20th century, appearing regularly at the top of lists of the best dressed men in the world for years. He was a star of the silent screen, but while he made a number of very good films in the sound era (including a tremendous role as a corrupt French officer in the great Stanley Kubrick anti-war film PATHS OF GLORY), his success was haphazard. This is a very satisfying film, and one can enjoy it either on its own merits or by comparing it with the recent Oscar-winning musical and Tony-winning stage musical. Either way, it is a film that the more recent versions shouldn't make us forget.
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ginger Rogers is simply great!, August 21, 2004
We all know about the 2002 Academy Award Winning Musical "Chicago", starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere and Renée Zellweger, but not too many people knew that this story had been filmed before as plain comedy in 1942.
Ginger Rogers does an excellent job portraying the rather vulgar & low-brow, but very appealing Roxie Hart, who is being judged for shooting a man, something she, in fact, didn't do...but, which oddly enough, she must pretend she did, in order to gain public notoriety & "stardom", in the late `20s Chicago!
She has to convince a Jury (integrated by men-only) to acquit her not-guilty, the poor young thing! (Rogers), helpless, shy, "demure", ...she just had to fight for "her honor"....and in the process she (hilariously) displays (in front of the Jury) many-a-smile and lots of "legs" (and batting eyelashes too!), to obtain it!!
Adolphe Menjou is excellent as her attorney, the "best in town", guiding her through all kind of schemes to gain both the acquittal and the press-coverage she so desperately needs to show "her talents" and become a "public name"...BTW, you have to watch Rogers dance the blackbottom!
George Montgomery is good as a young reporter who falls for Roxie, and the rest of the cast is filled with great character actors like Lynne Overman, Nigel Bruce, Spring Byington, William Frawley, Sara Allgood, Phil Silvers,...all of whom give expert and flawless performances.
The story was filmed before as a silent in 1927, as "Chicago", with Phyllis Haver as Roxie Hart.
Fox's DVD edition is great, giving us a great, sharp, crisp (in glorious Black & white) copy of the film.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Different but lots of fun, April 13, 2003
I watched this out of curiousity after becoming a fan of Chicago the movie. It's fun to compare and contrast the modern version against this Ginger Rogers vehicle. Check out familiar characters (such as the prison matron "Mrs." Morton and Mary Sunshine) new characters (the reporter who has a crucial role in the end) and even missing characters (no Velma Kelley.)This 1942 film has the title character as a woman on trial for shooting a man who is strongly implied to be her lover. Unlike the Roxie Hart in Chicago, this Roxie is innocent and only on trial for publicity to bolster her show business career. Rogers is a lot of fun and chews the scenery as the gum snapping Roxie. In retrospect, it seems a natural that this story became a musical. Aside from a brief tap dance sequence, it's too bad Rogers couldn't show off her musical talents here. Make note to watch for the totally different but funny ending.
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