Rhythm of Life- Sweet Charity- Page 2

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 4:20pm

Years ago, I decided that the only way to watch the film was to simply fast forward through all the book scenes and just focus on the musical numbers, which are all absolutely brilliant -- some of the most thrilling and dynamic ever captured on screen. The film as a whole just doesn't work and the dialogue scenes are so poorly paced, overlong, listless and melodramatic (other than the scenes with Chita and Paula Kelly and the elevator scene with John McMartin) that they actually detract from overall experience of watching the film. But, thank god that Fosse's original, definitive staging for "Big Spender," "Rich Man's Frug," "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This," "Brass Band" et al were preserved for posterity.

Posted: 4/6/07 at 7:47pm

I don't think they'renearly as bad as you say... hrmm

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 6:12pm

For those of you naysayers, baggin' on The Rhythm of Life number, you can find a TREAT posted on "that site."

Search for Rhythm of Life, Diana Ross, Temptations.

Pure groov-alicious heaven.

Posted: 5/29/07 at 6:30pm

That's freakin fantastic! thanks

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 9:33pm

"He's an adorable oddball who takes her to the latest religious ceremony in his Church of the Month Club on this date."

I saw the revival with Christina Applegate, and although I liked the song, I just thought "Huh?" when I saw that number performed onstage. It seemed so out of place and slowed the plot down a lot. In fact, after I saw the show, I came on here and mentioned that.

Someone said that the purpose of the song basically is to give Charity a potential look into her future if she decides to spend it with Oscar, who, as we see onstage, is pretty quirky. The direction in this revival is horrible though, so you lose some of the "creepiness" factor that apparently was present in the movie. In the revival it came across as a mess, and the choreography was mediocre. It seemed too goofy. With the right direction and choreography, this number may seem less out of place than it was in the revival.

Posted: 5/29/07 at 10:46pm

Of course under FOsse it was a huge showstopper too which can be reason enough sometimes for a song--especially as I believe it comes near the top of Act II? I doubt Cilento achieved the same e3ffect with his choreography.

(and as someone else mentioned the original Felini film is almsot like a travelogue with the Charity character as our guide--we see all the different weird thigns out there in the city--ie the Frug)