ROXIE HART

US, 1942, 75 minutes, Black and white.
Ginger Rogers, Adolphe Menjou, George Montgomery, Lynne Overman, Nigel Bruce, Phil Silvers, Sara Allgood, William Fawley, Spring Byington, George Chandler.
Directed by William A.Wellman.

Originally, this was a 1926 play, filmed in 1927, a silent film, keeping closer to the play than this film version does. The Oscar winning Chicago, 2002, goes back to the characterisations and issues of the play which was somewhat sanitised for this version because of the restrictions of the Motion Picture Code.

The setting is Chicago, Roxie is a dancer and confesses to murder of her husband in order to enhance her career. Ginger Rogers had just won an Oscar for Kitty Foyle in 1940 and had proven herself a substantial actress and not only just for dancing in Fred Astaire films. Adolph Menjou is a lawyer, a flamboyant performance, and there is a whole range of character actors of the period in supporting roles. Direction is by William A. Wellman who directed a wide range of films from the 1920s to the 1950s, including the first Oscar-winning film, Wings.

The running time is very brief, and draws on some of the screwball comedy styles of the 1930s.

1. 1940s story, in the light of Chicago? Entertaining, the period, the touch of the spoof?

2. Brief running time, a small film, the work of an action director? Ginger Rogers and having received an Oscar? An effective supporting cast?

3. Based on a play, the tradition of screwball comedy, spoofs? The staging, the world of gangsters? The world of the press? The world of courts and law? Repartee and wit? Song and dance? Fast and timing?

4. Black-and-white photography, the sets, the period, costumes, decor, style? The courts?

5. The structure, headings, titles? Homer and his telling the story, the bartender, the involvement, the toasts – and the end and the final joke with Roxie and the children?

6. The situation, Amos and Roxie, the murder, the police, the press? The setup? Roxie as a character, agreeing to participate? The character of Amos? The photos?

7. Roxie, the charges, in prison, her glamour, the response of the press, the story and the parents' phone call, Mrs, Potter, the role of Billy Flynn, dirty, Amos and the pregnancy, Homer and the weakness? The range of characters? The touch with song and dance?

8. Billy Flynn, his reputation, style, with Roxie, the court?

9. Amos, murder, death? Roxie, escape? His being tried, guilty?

10. Howard, the reporter, interest of the newspapers, getting information, the research, the interrogations, Roxie and the questions?

11. In the court, the testimony, the witnesses, the verdict? Roxie and her response?

12. The role of Howard, journalist, interest in Roxie – and the end, marriage and children?

13. The stage and film versions of Chicago, audiences becoming familiar with the characters, the change in the plot, more sympathy for
the husband, and Roxie being not so innocent?