SWEET CHARITY
US, 1968, 149 minutes, Colour.
Shirley Mac Laine, Sammy Davis Jnr., Ricardo Montalban, John Mc Martin, Chita Rivera, Paula Kelly, Stubby Kaye.
Directed by Bob Fosse.
Sweet Charity is a very enjoyable musical. It was popular on its first release, but tended to be under-rated. It will probably receive quite some attention in the future because of the reputation of its director, Bob Fosse, who later went on to make and win an Oscar for Cabaret, then make Lenny.
The musical Sweet Charity is based on an Italian film of the 50s, The Nights of Cabiria. It was written and directed by Fellini with his wife Giulietta, Massina. The original is a classic and a most appealing film. The adaptors of the Italian film, especially Neil Simon, have kept faithfully to the basic line of the plot, the characterisation by Giulietta, Massina, even with some of the details of her performance. Shirley Mac Laine appropriately Americanises these traits. Many of the sequences of the original are adapted very well to the American setting, especially the home of the film star, the visit to the night club. Just as Fellini had much social satire, so does Sweet Charity. In the original Cabiria is robbed and abandoned at the end of the film but gains hope by joining a group of young people moving along the road with joy, laughter and music.
Two versions of the film Sweet Charity were prepared: a happy ending of being re-united with Oscar and parallel to the original Italian film where Charity goes with the flower children back into the city. The music is quite famous and very enjoyable. The choreography by Bob Fosse is quite stylised and spectacular. This is the film in which Sammy Davis Jnr. sings the Rhythm of Life.
1. How good and successful a musical was this? Its impact? Audience expectations of musical comedy, fulfilment here?
2. The use of colour and Panavision, New York locations. modern decor, music and rhythms, styles and photography and editing?
3. The importance of the songs and music? Their use within the plot, the show stopping kind of songs? Comment on the place of each song, its contribution to the plot and character, the stylistic techniques, impact: the 'Sweet Charity' theme, 'Hey Big Spender'. 'If My Friends Could See Me Now', 'I'm A Brass Band'. 'My Personal Property', 'It's a Nice Face', 'I Love to Cry at Weddings', 'Where Am I Going', 'The Rhythm of Life', 'There's Got To Be Something Better Than This?' Comment also on the dance sequences and their style, especially the Rich Man's Frug and its satire on musical comedy styles? The comedy qualities of the music?
4. How well developed was the person of Charity? Her introduction, the significance of her name, her work as a hostess, the detailed presentation of the atmosphere of the dance hall, her friends, Herman and his running of the dance hall, the type of men that they encountered? The significance of her relationship with Charlie, his pushing her into the lake after robbing her? A symbol of the type of things that happened to her? How attractive a personality? Her strengths and weaknesses? Shirley MacLaine's style?
5. The importance of her encounter with Vittorio Vitale? Her watching, her awe of him, his taking her out, the visit to the apartment and the songs? Ursula and her relationship to Vittorio? The fight? Her being spoilt? Charity having to spend the night in the closet?
6. Her ambitions to do something better than being a dance hall hostess? Her talk with her two friends, their ambitions, their singing about their ambitions? The pathos of her interviews for employment and her lack of abilities?
7. The humour of her encounter with Oscar? Being trapped in the lift? His claustrophobia? The details of their relationships? Not telling the truth? Their falling love? The change in Charity? Oscar's change? The eccentric outings, for example, the tabernacle and 'The Rhythm of Life'?
8. The problem of telling the truth? The effect on Charity? Her wanting to tell him? The preparation for the wedding? His inability to go through with it, his walking out and the effect on Charity?
9. The realisation on the part of both of them of their needs? Charity's going to the bridge and going into the lake? Oscar's discovering his claustrophobia again and seeking her out?
10. The film had two endings: Oscar returning to rescue Charity. Oscar not returning and Charity going back to the city with the hippies? Which is the better ending? Which fits in better with the momentum of the whole film?
11. Comment on the characterization, the complexities of the plot and audience interest in them, the values about life in New York. The dance hall hostess and the possibilities of redemption?
