SWEET CHARITY (1969)
Shirley MacLaine is Charity Hope Valentine a dance hall girl who always seems to get the short end of everything or as she puts it… the fickle finger of fate…
But she never loses faith that she will meet the right guy to take her away from her dreadful life. Based on Federico Fellini’s sublime Nights of Cabiria 1957 starring Giulietta Masina.
The lush colors and masterful photography by Robert Surtees (The Graduate 1967, The Last Picture Show 1971) create a visual kaleidoscope, surrounded by the incredible choreography by Bob Fosse who also directed the film. With memorable music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields.
Sweet Charity is a musical dream dressed up in Edith Head’s stunning and stand-out fashions.
The film also stars the wonderful Paula Kelly as Helene, and Chita Rivera as Nickie… the dance numbers are just too smokin’, and there’s a particular mod party dance sequence that is probably the closest thing for me to dropping acid… phantasmagorically chic…
Nickie (Chita Rivera) to Charity-“You know what your problem is… You run your heart like a hotel"¦ You got guys checking in and out all the time.”
One of the best moments of the film: Enter Sammy Davis Jr and The Rhythm of Life!