tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post8253353534164434971..comments2024-03-23T21:46:50.843-04:00Comments on the passionate moviegoer: the. worst. production. number. ever.joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-64009414856437831522019-04-15T20:12:00.257-04:002019-04-15T20:12:00.257-04:00Kevin- I believe that you are absolutely spot-on a...Kevin- I believe that you are absolutely spot-on about this. However, remember that the major studios were not enthused about the ratings system and, given that this was a Universal release (<i>and</i> a musical), it's easy to assume that the ratings broad was giving the film a pass. -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-60168609459586390252019-04-15T17:14:32.886-04:002019-04-15T17:14:32.886-04:00Regarding SWEET CHARITY’s G rating, I believe 1968...Regarding SWEET CHARITY’s G rating, I believe 1968 was the first year (or at least the second) where the new rating system was instituted, the MPAA was feeling their way through the new guidelines, and what films should be rated and why.<br /><br />How else to explain Hammer’s DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE (1968) being released with a G rating, TRUE GRIT (1969) having a G rating despite a close up of two fingers being chopped off, and MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969) getting an X rating.<br /><br />I bet if SWEET CHARITY had been released a year or two later, it would not have been rated G. More likely GP (as the PG rating was known by initially). <br />Kevin Deanynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-26914796234461934392019-04-14T17:13:29.420-04:002019-04-14T17:13:29.420-04:00I like the "Rich Man's Frug" product...I like the "Rich Man's Frug" production number--but, yes, the film version of "Sweet Charity" is close to unwatchable! All the elements were there to make a decent picture, but it just didn't "gel," somehow. (But I agree with David P.--bad as "Sweet Charity" is, it's still a better-directed film than the Marshall/Condon musicals!) Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-18346665846423074142019-04-14T16:51:31.061-04:002019-04-14T16:51:31.061-04:00Good question. But the first name that comes to mi...Good question. But the first name that comes to mind is Goldie Hawn who, back in 1969, was brand new and the right age for the role. Plus, she could sing and dance. -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-85931586601571329892019-04-14T16:22:54.389-04:002019-04-14T16:22:54.389-04:00If not MacLaine as Charity, then who? I can't ...If not MacLaine as Charity, then who? I can't think of anyone at that point in time who was right for the role. Billy from Phillynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-3156157064691152952019-04-14T15:32:59.370-04:002019-04-14T15:32:59.370-04:00Yes. And she also did a few dance warm-ups and exe...Yes. And she also did a few dance warm-ups and exercises as Gittle in "Two for the Seasaw." joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-2433108893421319992019-04-14T14:46:43.386-04:002019-04-14T14:46:43.386-04:00I believe MacLaine also danced a bit in Martin &am...I believe MacLaine also danced a bit in Martin & Lewis' "Artists & Models." Andienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-45513581789082053122019-04-14T13:44:26.225-04:002019-04-14T13:44:26.225-04:00Thanks, Tess!Thanks, Tess!joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-70769833734303294572019-04-14T12:53:29.360-04:002019-04-14T12:53:29.360-04:00This is my first blog comment after reading you fo...This is my first blog comment after reading you for years. Why now? Well, you have written what I similarly think but have an inability to write clearly. Often, I read your thoughts and say to myself "Exactly!" - which is what happened a few minutes ago when reading "the. worst. production. number. ever." Tessanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-12528018888236070452019-04-13T13:11:46.759-04:002019-04-13T13:11:46.759-04:00Gary, yes, the G rating. Absolutely ridiculous. Th...Gary, yes, the G rating. Absolutely ridiculous. The only way that I could rationalize that rating was because a big studio was behind the film. Otherwise, it made no sense. It was a joke. -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-37718296007784548632019-04-13T13:01:45.321-04:002019-04-13T13:01:45.321-04:00Y'know what's really crazy? "Sweet Ch...Y'know what's really crazy? "Sweet Charity," a film about hookers, excuse me, dance hall hostesses, and all that implies, was rated "G!" General audiences. Really?Gary Goldsteinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-44659117534530236312019-04-13T12:36:15.478-04:002019-04-13T12:36:15.478-04:00Kevin- Believe it or not, in terms of Fosse films,...Kevin- Believe it or not, in terms of Fosse films, I prefer "Sweet Charity" to "Cabaret," which I found unwatchable the first time I saw it for reviewing purposes - and then hugely overrated as the glowing reviews started to come in. Neither film is very good (but clearly for different reasons); both have unnecessary flaws that (again, for me) stem strictly from Fosse's rather minimal bag of tricks. -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-50938683315325391772019-04-13T09:25:08.226-04:002019-04-13T09:25:08.226-04:00Joe, your assessment of Sweet Charity hit the bull...Joe, your assessment of Sweet Charity hit the bullseye. It was so excruciating that I never would have guessed Fosse would get another chance behind the camera, let alone win an Oscar. (In fact, he is the only person ever to win the Oscar, Tony and Emmy in the same year). When I saw the ad for the movie Cabaret in the New York Times a few years later I wrote it off as another potential loser (Allied Artists? Liza Minnelli?). As for Shirley MacLaine, she has stated that she identifies more as a dancer than an actress, but her graceless clunkiness has always been obvious to me. Sidenote: My parents took me to see Sweet Charity on Broadway because my mother was a huge Gwen Verdon fan. Verdon was a no-show that night and we saw Helen Gallagher in her place. The show was only so-so, and Gwen Verdon’s star dimmed considerably in my mother’s eyes.Kevin Barryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16951372389921640120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-13582920390087068532019-04-12T21:55:12.933-04:002019-04-12T21:55:12.933-04:00Joe, I loved Fosse's bit as the snake in Stanl...Joe, I loved Fosse's bit as the snake in Stanley Donen's "The Little Prince." It's the highlight of the movie!Sheilanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-46990990959041697992019-04-12T21:47:13.169-04:002019-04-12T21:47:13.169-04:00Jodie- Yeah, her dancing in "Charity" le...Jodie- Yeah, her dancing in "Charity" leaves a lot to be desired. "If My Friends Could See Me Now" is a particular disappointment. But she works hard in "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This," keeping up with Chita Rivera and Paula Kelly. Her dancing in "Can-Can" is also rather heavy-footed. Perhaps her most pleasing work as a dancer on film is in a fantasy bit opposite Gene Kelly in "What a Way to Go!" -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-88327832226079512242014-10-14T09:16:19.203-04:002014-10-14T09:16:19.203-04:00I also admire Shirley MacLaine and I know she'...I also admire Shirley MacLaine and I know she's supposed to be a trained dancer. But you'd never know it from this movie. Most of the time she just struts through numbers and shakes her butt. I don't know if Fosse had to adapt his choreography to accommodate her limitations but her dancing in the film is kinda weak.Jodienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-45942044145353136492014-10-14T07:38:42.426-04:002014-10-14T07:38:42.426-04:00I never liked that number either. It's pretty...I never liked that number either. It's pretty inane. But I always liked the movie itself and I like Shirley. It was a film that I saw as a kid and still enjoy it.Betty C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-5120678859419772052014-10-13T22:23:40.116-04:002014-10-13T22:23:40.116-04:00To answer your question, yes, it was always cheesy...To answer your question, yes, it was always cheesy.Barrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-64091908140992694222014-10-13T22:17:46.369-04:002014-10-13T22:17:46.369-04:00Maybe Fosse was aiming for surrealism with "S...Maybe Fosse was aiming for surrealism with "Sweet Charity." I can't think of any other way to explain its oddness.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-83073569501422229202014-10-13T18:20:05.937-04:002014-10-13T18:20:05.937-04:00Agreed. But Fosse at least knew how to photograph...Agreed. But Fosse at least knew how to photograph dance movements - in full frame and not sliced-and-diced - unlike contemporary musical directors such as Marshall and Condon.david p.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-41820694111597586952014-10-13T12:27:52.848-04:002014-10-13T12:27:52.848-04:00This is one musical that was always short on style...This is one musical that was always short on style and sophistication. I think it stinks. I guess the stink was less when it was pared down.glennnoreply@blogger.com