Rating: 
Summary: Very good, underated film musical given OK DVD treatment!
Review: I was eagarly awaiting this DVD. Univeral has presented the roadshow version of SWEET CHARITY on this DVD. Included is the Overture and Intermission music. However, Universal neglected or purposely omitted the Exit music following the end credits, The Exit music was included on a previous laser release. This was a big disappointment, otherwise a good DVD presentation.
Rating:
Summary: It's not complete.
Review: I wish the powers-that-be at Universal would go back and reinstate the exit music on the DVD. That would make this DVD perfect!
Rating: 
Summary: I'm amazed
Review: I'm amazed that some studio gave Fosse the chance to direct again after this downright failure. I do have to give some of the blame (ok, most) to Shirley MacLaine who is annoying, needy, and badly acted/sung/danced. I want to sock her Charity in the nose almost ceaslessly. The only let up from her killing the part are Fosse's dance numbers. "Rich Man's Frug" lives up to its reputation, and "Rhythem of Life" are amazing. ( My friend and I were ready to burn the tape we were watching, and then "Rhythem" came on. We stayed for the rest of the movie.) Fosse as a director also seems to care only when his signature dances, or any dances, come on. That's when the camera usage that one gets to know so well in Cabaret and All That Jazz come in. During the naratives, he seems bored with the story and doesn't put nearly enough energy into it. One is left waiting for the stars, (preferably not Ms. MacLaine) to sing and dance for all they're worth for all the movie. It is also too long. I felt the ending was not harsh enough to Ms. MacLaine's Charity. An STD would have satisfied me.
Rating:
Summary: You're gonna get up, get out, and buy it!!
Review: I'm grateful for the comments before me which explain the enigma that is "Sweet Charity." It takes a book of a relatively sad, downtrodden character and turns it into a musical (and not a happy-go-lucky one either, as is often the assumption). The film comes at the start of the stylized, mod 70's- and while some of Fosse's visuals over-saturate this point, the story is so smart that it doesn't matter. (It was Fosse's first film direction and it has his signature all over it.) And I'm glad that the VHS presentation letterboxes the musical numbers, even if it standard-screens the nonmusical portions. There's no other way to view the dance hall girls sexily draped over the barre in "Hey, Big Spender," or the film's best number- the sensational rooftop dance "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This." (This may be the most theatrical moment in the film as it allows pure, full-bodied dance by Shirley MacLaine, Chita Rivera, and Paula Kelly.) And those who generally dislike musicals would be surprised at the film's bittersweet ending; it's not entirely happy but it is completely triumphant, and it never ceases to bring tears (well, just one) to my eyes.
Rating:
Summary: Hope springs eternal
Review: If you haven't seen the 1969 movie, "Sweet Charity," it's worth taking a look. It's one of those over-the-top musicals so popular in the late 1960s, but beneath the stagey-ness and multiple musical numbers, there's a solid story with real heart. Shirley Maclaine plays Charity Hope Valentine, the classic "whore with a heart of gold." Charity has worked for eight years as a "taxi dancer" in New York City. She has no skills and not even a high school education but she has great dreams of love. Many of the scenes felt very real to me, like when she decides she doesn't want to be a taxi dancer any more and goes to a job agency only to finally fully realize that she's not qualified for a "nice job," as she puts it. Charity gets stuck on an elevator with Oscar, a painfully shy insurance actuary. After a tender and comic scene where Charity helps him deal with his claustrophobia, Oscar asks her out to dinner. Charity is convinced that this guy is going to be a jerk but time and time again he surprises her with his gentleness, shyness and kindness. The only problem is that Oscar doesn't know what she does for a living. In fact, she's lied to him. The girls at work tell her to keep her mouth shut. They even tell her not to get her hopes up. "What's so bad about this job?" one of them asks. The best thing to me about this movie is that, by the end of the movie, Charity's character has grown from her experiences. Her journey is often painful but she never loses hope. I found her story very inspiring. If you like musicals, you'll love this one -- the choreography is wonderful and many of the songs are catchy, including the famous "Big Spender" and "If They Could See Me Now." As a bonus, there's even a scene with the psychedelic church "Rhythm of Life" featuring a decked-out Sammy Davis Jr. as the preacher, "Big Daddy." Other classic "whore with the heart of gold" romance films I reccomend include "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" and "The Owl and the Pussycat."
Rating:
Summary: The Best Odds I Ever Had
Review: In 1966, Bob Fosse scored one of his greatest personal triumphs when he directed and choreographed the original Broadway production of "Sweet Charity." But when he made his directorial debut with the film version three years later, things didn't go as well. Most critics felt he wasn't so much an auteur as a kid who'd been unleashed in a cinematic candy store, going overboard with zoom shots, montages, and cross-cuts, basically clobbering the delicate, whimsical tone of his Broadway show with slam-bang, razzle-dazzle overkill. And despite a few positive reviews, the film failed at the box office; it would be years before any studio gave him the chance to direct another movie - but as we all know, he would rebound with a vengeance, snaring Academy Award nominations for "Lenny" and "All That Jazz," and winning the Oscar for "Cabaret." And now that it's been released on DVD, a second look at "Sweet Charity" is in order. Were the criticisms directed at the film justified? In some cases, yes. Is it worth buying? Well, if you're a connoisseur of the movie musical - ABSOLUTELY. To start with, you've got some seriously talented women working at peak form here. Shirley MacLaine may not entirely fill Gwen Verdon's dancing shoes - who could? - but she makes a delightful Charity nonetheless. If you're looking for proof, simply watch the opening credits; not since Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast At Tiffany's" has an actress so thoroughly nailed a character in her first few minutes of screen time. There may be some overly cute moments here and there (for which the director and/or screenwriter must share resposibility), but there's no denying MacLaine gives a very real and touching performance. As for Chita Rivera, she's so hot in "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This" she practically burns a hole in the screen. Paula Kelly has some pretty hot moves too, not to mention a great way with a one-liner ("Oh girl, do you know how many guys are running around this city carrying pocket books?"). And though Suzanne Charny may not be a household name, she dances her way into silver screen immortality with "Rich Man's Frug" - after you've seen her in this number, I doubt you'll ever forget her (and keep an eye out for a dynamic young Ben Vereen in the ensemble). Which brings us to the musical numbers, most of which are dynamite - which isn't too surprising, considering Fosse was not only a great choreographer, but also a veteran of the hallowed MGM Movie Musical era. The aforementioned "Rich Man's Frug" and "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This" are both showstoppers, as are "Big Spender," "If My Friends Could See Me Now," and "I'm A Brass Band" (imaginative use of NYC locations like the Brooklyn Bridge, Yankee Stadium, Lincoln Center, and Wall Street make the latter number truly spectacular). "The Rhythm Of Life" and "I Love To Cry At Weddings" are still a chore to sit through (despite Sammy Davis Jr.'s presence in the former), but with a click of your DVD remote you can easily skip those sequences. Finally, one of the best reasons for buying the "Sweet Charity" DVD is that it contains the film's alternate ending which, as far as I'm concerned, is far superior to the one used in 1969. I know there are many who feel that concluding the movie with Charity being dumped yet again is truer to the spirit of the Fellini film on which its based ("Nights Of Cabiria"), but using flower children in the finale was a ghastly, self-conscious idea that looked out-of-date within hours of the film's release (at least the Broadway show displayed some wit when Charity encountered the Good Fairy, who turned out to be an advertising plug for a TV show). Fosse was right in wanting to avoid sentimentality and the happily-ever-after cliche, but I don't think he took into account the unexpectedly strong chemistry between Shirley MacLaine and John McMartin (their courtship scenes are genuinely charming), or how much the audiences wanted Charity to cop a break - even if it didn't last forever. The alternate ending, therefore, is a suprisingly shrewd one; not only does it add a nice touch of symmetry (with another plunge in the lake), but it manages to bring Charity and Oscar together without creating any illusions about their future. As the dialogue makes clear: OSCAR: The odds against us are at least a hundred to one. CHARITY: Those are the best odds I ever had. And so they walk off together - maybe for a few months, maybe for a few years, maybe forever - who knows? But at least they have some hope, and I think they deserve it. I think the audience deserves it, too. But alternate ending or not - that's your call - "Sweet Charity" is one of the better film musicals you'll find.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Odds I Ever Had
Review: In 1966, Bob Fosse scored one of his greatest personal triumphs when he directed and choreographed the original Broadway production of "Sweet Charity." But when he made his directorial debut with the film version three years later, things didn't go as well. Most critics felt he wasn't so much an auteur as a kid who'd been unleashed in a cinematic candy store, going overboard with zoom shots, montages, and cross-cuts, basically clobbering the delicate, whimsical tone of his Broadway show with slam-bang, razzle-dazzle overkill. And despite a few positive reviews, the film failed at the box office; it would be years before any studio gave him the chance to direct another movie - but as we all know, he would rebound with a vengeance, snaring Academy Award nominations for "Lenny" and "All That Jazz," and winning the Oscar for "Cabaret." And now that it's been released on DVD, a second look at "Sweet Charity" is in order. Were the criticisms directed at the film justified? In some cases, yes. Is it worth buying? Well, if you're a connoisseur of the movie musical - ABSOLUTELY. To start with, you've got some seriously talented women working at peak form here. Shirley MacLaine may not entirely fill Gwen Verdon's dancing shoes - who could? - but she makes a delightful Charity nonetheless. If you're looking for proof, simply watch the opening credits; not since Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast At Tiffany's" has an actress so thoroughly nailed a character in her first few minutes of screen time. There may be some overly cute moments here and there (for which the director and/or screenwriter must share resposibility), but there's no denying MacLaine gives a very real and touching performance. As for Chita Rivera, she's so hot in "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This" she practically burns a hole in the screen. Paula Kelly has some pretty hot moves too, not to mention a great way with a one-liner ("Oh girl, do you know how many guys are running around this city carrying pocket books?"). And though Suzanne Charny may not be a household name, she dances her way into silver screen immortality with "Rich Man's Frug" - after you've seen her in this number, I doubt you'll ever forget her (and keep an eye out for a dynamic young Ben Vereen in the ensemble). Which brings us to the musical numbers, most of which are dynamite - which isn't too surprising, considering Fosse was not only a great choreographer, but also a veteran of the hallowed MGM Movie Musical era. The aforementioned "Rich Man's Frug" and "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This" are both showstoppers, as are "Big Spender," "If My Friends Could See Me Now," and "I'm A Brass Band" (imaginative use of NYC locations like the Brooklyn Bridge, Yankee Stadium, Lincoln Center, and Wall Street make the latter number truly spectacular). "The Rhythm Of Life" and "I Love To Cry At Weddings" are still a chore to sit through (despite Sammy Davis Jr.'s presence in the former), but with a click of your DVD remote you can easily skip those sequences. Finally, one of the best reasons for buying the "Sweet Charity" DVD is that it contains the film's alternate ending which, as far as I'm concerned, is far superior to the one used in 1969. I know there are many who feel that concluding the movie with Charity being dumped yet again is truer to the spirit of the Fellini film on which its based ("Nights Of Cabiria"), but using flower children in the finale was a ghastly, self-conscious idea that looked out-of-date within hours of the film's release (at least the Broadway show displayed some wit when Charity encountered the Good Fairy, who turned out to be an advertising plug for a TV show). Fosse was right in wanting to avoid sentimentality and the happily-ever-after cliche, but I don't think he took into account the unexpectedly strong chemistry between Shirley MacLaine and John McMartin (their courtship scenes are genuinely charming), or how much the audiences wanted Charity to cop a break - even if it didn't last forever. The alternate ending, therefore, is a suprisingly shrewd one; not only does it add a nice touch of symmetry (with another plunge in the lake), but it manages to bring Charity and Oscar together without creating any illusions about their future. As the dialogue makes clear: OSCAR: The odds against us are at least a hundred to one. CHARITY: Those are the best odds I ever had. And so they walk off together - maybe for a few months, maybe for a few years, maybe forever - who knows? But at least they have some hope, and I think they deserve it. I think the audience deserves it, too. But alternate ending or not - that's your call - "Sweet Charity" is one of the better film musicals you'll find.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Film!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Lacks Spark But Redeemed By Performances, Choreography
Review: Like most musicals of the 1950s and 1960s, this story of a slightly dim but goodhearted dance hall "hostess" in search of true love lacks the spark of a truly great movie musical--but it is redeemed by Fosse's unique choreography, Shirley MacLaine's dazzling performance, a superior cast, and the way they combine in a series of brilliantly filmed musical turns. MacLaine is remarkably successful in the title role, entirely believable from first to last, and appears in two of the film's most memorable moments--the star-turn "If They Could See Me Now" and the exciting "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This." The film also recreates Fosse's Broadway staging of the famous "Big Spender" number and offers Sammy Davis Jr. (a performer I usually dislike) a very effective and highly entertaining solo with "The Rythmn of Life." Although the film is rather stagey, a bit slow in spots, and occasionally artificial in a way that violates its own stylistic premise, Fosse and company keep the touching story line in good focus throughout the story. The uncompromising ending will displease some, but most will find it more appropriate than the traditional happy ending associated with the musical genre. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: For Serious Fosse Fans Only
Review: 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.
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