Rating: 
Summary: "Without love, life would have no purpose."
Review: "Sweet Charity" will never be regarded as a classic, and that's a damn shame. While most musicals are sugar-coated and meaningless, this is a rare exception. Not only are the musical numbers downright sexual, but they are thrilling to watch. And it's amazing how such a simple storyline could be given so much depth with MacLaine's strong character development. The film is well-paced, and the camera work is amazing. The script is brilliant. At times it came be funny and light hearted, and then be dark and depressing. If you see the film, be sure and see the version with Fosse's orginal ending. The alternate "happy" ending was way too Hollywood and really gave no point to Charity's personal journey. The original ending, however, is one of the greatest conclusions in film history. While some viewers may see it as a downer, it is so inspiring and bestows the overwhelming feeling of hope to both Charity and the audience. With that in mind, isn't that a "true" happy ending?Reading the poor reviews of this film can only lead me to believe that those reviewers did not watch this film with an open mind nor an open heart. This is truly brilliant filmmaking.
Rating:
Summary: Sweet Sweet Charity
Review: A wonderful movie based on one of the best musicals ever written. Shirley MacLaine is perfect for the part of Charity, because there is something that her and Gwen Verdon share...some unique quality as actresses...the ability to make everything so sweet, truthful, hopeful... theres just a look in thier eyes. Well anyway, she does a great job in this movie. and of course, the choreography of Bob Fosse is incredable. Never has there been a movie or musical that makes you fall SO in love with a character. You laugh with her, cry with her, hurt with her, and her hope is SO contagous. This movie's less than happy ending is painful at first, but then you realize it couldn't have ended any other way and hae still been truthful to Charity's character. It is strangly uplifting . "Sweet Charity" is a classic.
Rating:
Summary: Shirley's best musical
Review: As far as i'm concerned Bob Fosse is (was) the "king" of super high energy shows both on stage and film. Coming from the stage i can tell you first hand that his way of dance is the most differcult to undertake, but beautiful Shirley MacLaine with all her high energy wisks you from one large production number after another. If you enjoyed Broadway's "Chicago", then you will also enjoy this Broadway musical transferred to film. My only complaint is i've been waiting for years to get this on DVD in it's letterbox form and 5.1 stereo sound. The one great thing about the VHS is that it is in 3-channel stereo and all the production numbers are in letterbox. After the numbers it goes back to full screen. In some respects that is better than nothing. It's a wonderful cast and you'll see Shirley MacLaine at her VERY best.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Wonderful
Review: Big Spender is one of the best musical numbers in the history of musicals. It will take your breath away! Bob Fosse is absolutely incredible. He is one of my favorite choreographers!
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT NUMBERS, BORING STORY
Review: Boy, what great songs and even musical sequences! But, yegads, is this a boring story! Prostitute with a heart of gold seeks Mr. Right in a city of Mr. Wrongs (gee, I wonder what happens eventually; then when THAT happens, I wonder what happens again--ZZZZZZZZ. As you can figure out, nothing all that unpredictable). You'll enjoy the numbers, but be bored to tears by the action. Rent it, then get the soundtrack or original broadway recording for the great songs.
Rating:
Summary: Sweet Charity
Review: I am sure that some folks might know this, but there were two endings filmed to this musical. The one we see on TV or in the video is the sad version, but there was also the up beat version. Right after Charity is gilted, Oscar returns to his apartment- only to find out that his clostrophoebia (spelling?) is coming back. He leaves his apartment for air, when he comes across Charity standing in front of the bridge, where, Charley, her former boyfriend dumped her into the river in the beginning of the film. Oscar assumes that Charity is going to jump, so he runs to stop her, but trips on her bag instead and dumps her into the river anyway. Hence, an arc was drawn here from the beginning of the film.. No matter, Oscar jumps in as well, and confesses that he would suffocate without her, and wants her back. They both get out of the river, and as they start to walk away, Charity looks up, and "Thanks God", which gives another meaning to the final title, "...And she lived hopefully ever after".
Cute, but trite-- after all this drama, I am sure that the audience would have felt cheated if it ended this lightly. Hence the ending that we see now was chosen over this. This ending was in the Laser DISC version, which has gone long out of print. Let us hope that this will be in the DVD edition as well.
Rating: 
Summary: This is an opinion, not a review.
Review: I give the DVD transfer 4 stars, not the film. I was never enthralled with this film on its first theatrical run. I found Shirley MacLaine (a first-rate actress) to be too "cutesy". The new DVD is a nice transfer job, both picture and sound, but Shirley is still a bit much in the acting department and very strained in the dancing department, especially when side-by-side with Paula Kelly and Chita Rivera. "If They Could See Me Now" is not danced by her so much as photographed and edited by camera and editing crew. MacLaine, for the most part cavorts in a series of poses while the editor does the creative work. On stage, the number calls for some terrific Fosse dancing complete with high kicks -- a real treat to see. So many good numbers were left out of the film, especially the love song the "Italian movie star" sings to his battling lover while Charity is in the closet. All of them can be found on the original cast CD. But the DVD price is reasonable, and it might please a lot of people who aren't familiar with the "old" musicals!
Rating:
Summary: Sweet Charity is SWEET!!!!
Review: I had waited years to see this classic on DVD and at last, it's here! I LOVE the musical number, "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This" and watched it about three times the first night I bought it! The Alternate ending was fantastic and worth waiting for! Own this gem!
Rating:
Summary: eek...
Review: I pretty arbitrarily gave this three stars, as I didn't even finish watching this film. I just thought I would warn any fan of "Nights of Cabiria" that regardless of this film's own strengths, it is a pretty painful experience if you have seen and loved "Nights of Cabiria". Sorely lacking in poetry... Much though I like Shirley Maclaine, there is no way to compare her performance to Giulietta Masina's. Honestly, this film offended me pretty deeply, though I doubt it would have had I not seen the source first. Simplistic, to say the least, but then it's a musical isn't it?
Rating: 
Summary: A Real Drag
Review: I saw this movie years ago, but didn't remember much about it, except some of the songs, and the basic story. I also saw "Nights of Cabiria", from which the story was taken. I love musicals, and I
think Shirley MacLaine is very talented. She is very sweet as Charity Hope Valentine, and one can't help wanting a happy ending for her. So why did I think this movie was awful? First of all, some of the dialogue was so repetitious it became irritating-- how many times can you listen to Charity say "Fickle finger of fate" over and over without wanting to hit the mute button? Also, some of the scenes went on and on and on-- especially the elevator scene. And-- the intermission was totally unnecessary. But the worst disappointment for me was the musical numbers. I didn't like any of them--- they were so far over the top as to be silly. Bob Fosse must have thrown everything into them that he could--- instead of letting the dancers and the songs carry the numbers, he had so much busyness in all of them-- too many people, costumes that didn't fit the story, silly moves-- and they all went past the point of enjoyment. I fast forwarded thru
a couple of them just to get them over with. I have never done that before with any movie. This could have been so much better-- the story was good, the charactors were good-- but the whole thing should have been toned down. The movie could have been 30 minutes shorter if there had been some trimming. It was entirely too long. Also--- all that stop action-- what was that all about? I know, I know-- it was to show the progress of the story, but it was a distraction.
I didn't like the movie and was glad when it was over.
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