Story of movie Sweet Charity Film : Sweet Charity (full title: Sweet Charity: The Adventures of a Girl Who Wanted to Be Loved) is a 1969 American musical comedy-drama film directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse, written by Neil Simon, and featuring music by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields.
| Sweet Charity | |
|---|---|
theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Bob Fosse |
| Produced by | Robert Arthur |
| Screenplay by | Peter Stone |
| Story by | Neil Simon (book for musical) |
| Based on | Sweet Charity by Neil Simon Le Notti di Cabiria (Nights of Cabiria) by Federico Fellini |
| Starring | Shirley MacLaine |
| Music by | Cy Coleman Dorothy Fields |
| Cinematography | Robert Surtees |
| Edited by | Stuart Gilmore |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 149 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $20 million |
| Box office | $8 million |
It stars Shirley MacLaine and features John McMartin, Sammy Davis Jr., Ricardo Montalbán, Chita Rivera, Paula Kelly and Stubby Kaye. It is based on the 1966 stage musical of the same name – which Fosse had also directed and choreographed – which in turn is based on Federico Fellini, Ennio Flaiano and Tullio Pinelli's screenplay for Fellini's film Le Notti di Cabiria (Nights of Cabiria). However, where Fellini's black-and-white film concerns the romantic ups-and-downs of an ever-hopeful prostitute, the musical makes the central character a dancer-for-hire at a Times Square dance-hall.
The film is notable for its costumes by Edith Head and its dance sequences, notably "Rich Man's Frug".
Screenplay
Charity Hope Valentine works as a taxi dancer along with her friends, Nickie and Helene. She longs for love, but has bad luck with men, being robbed and pushed off Gapstow Bridge in Central Park by one ex-boyfriend. She has another humiliating encounter with famous movie star Vittorio Vitale (Ricardo Montalbán).
After failing to find a new job through an employment agency, Charity meets shy Oscar Lindquist in a stuck elevator. They strike up a relationship, but Charity does not reveal what she does for a living. When she finally does tell Oscar, he initially seems to accept it, but finally tells Charity that he cannot marry her.
The optimistic Charity faces her future, alone for the time being, living hopefully ever after.
Alternate ending
An alternate ending found on the Laserdisc and DVD versions picks up after Oscar leaves Charity. Oscar starts to go crazy in his apartment and, feeling suffocated, goes for a walk in the park. He sees Charity on their bridge in Central Park and thinks she is going to jump. Racing to rescue her, he trips and falls in the water. Charity jumps in after him, but can't swim so Oscar rescues her. Oscar realizes Charity is the only breath of fresh air in his life, proposes again, and she accepts. Fosse thought the ending was too corny, but filmed it in apprehension that the studio would demand a happy ending. In the end, though, they agreed with Fosse and kept the original ending from the stage version.
- Shirley MacLaine as Charity Hope Valentine
- John McMartin as Oscar Lindquist
- Ricardo Montalbán as Vittorio Vitale
- Chita Rivera as Nickie
- Paula Kelly as Helene
- Stubby Kaye as Herman
- Barbara Bouchet as Ursula
- Sammy Davis Jr. as Big Daddy Brubeck
- Suzanne Charny as "Rich Man's Frug" lead dancer
- Ben Vereen as "Rich Man's Frug" dancer
Box office
The film cost $20 million to make, but made only $8 million at the box office, which nearly sank Universal Pictures.
According to Variety, the film earned rentals of $4,025,000 in the US and Canada.
Awards and honors
The film received three Academy Award nominations: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Alexander Golitzen, George C. Webb, Jack D. Moore); Best Costume Design; and Best Music, Score of a Musical Picture (Original or Adaptation). It received one Golden Globe nomination for Shirley MacLaine as Best Motion Picture Actress - Musical/Comedy.
It was also screened at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival, but outside of the main competition.
The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:
- 2002: AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions – Nominated
- 2004: AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs:
- "Big Spender" – Nominated
- "If My Friends Could See Me Now" – Nominated
- 2006: AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers – Nominated
- List of American films of 1969
.jpg)
