Chicago - The Oscar Winning Movie Musical
Hollywood Remakes a Broadway Hit Into an Award-Winning Smash Film
Jun 26, 2009
Based on two real murders that occurred in the ‘20s, Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville opened on Broadway in 1975. Featuring music and lyrics by the dynamic award-winning team of John Kander and Fred Ebb, with a book written by Ebb and Bob Fosse, the musical also featured Fosse as the musical’s director and choreographer. The original cast featured Fosse’s wife Gwen Verdon as Roxie Hart, Tony-winner Chita Rivera as Velma Kelly, and Jerry Orbach as lawyer Billy Flynn, set to defend the two accused murderesses. The musical received 11 Tony nominations at the 1976 awards but picked up none as A Chorus Line swept that year’s awards. 21 years later, the revival of the musical took home six Tony Awards.
First Time Film Director Scores Big
In 2002, Rob Marshall made his feature film directorial debut, adapting Chicago to the big screen. According to the Internet Broadway Database, Marshall was already enjoying a successful career as a Broadway choreographer for such shows as Damn Yankees, Victor/Victoria, and Little Me, which he also directed. Marshall, like Fosse, did double duty on the film, also serving as the movie’s choreographer.
Who Knew They Could Sing?
Not surprisingly, Marshall cast some of Hollywood’s biggest names in the title roles. The vivacious, raven-haired Catherine Zeta-Jones was cast as the outspoken Velma Kelly. Her song-and-dance prowess was not completely unexpected, as tribute.ca notes Zeta-Jones starred as the lead in the big budget musical 42nd Street in London’s West End at 17.
Taking on the role of the toe tapping Billy Flynn was leading man Richard Gere. Gere’s casting as the showman shylock was spot on, since audiences knew he could play slick, as seen in Pretty Woman. Few knew beforehand that Gere also had a musical theatre background, having performed the lead in the London production of Grease in 1973, according to The Biography Channel, but playing Billy Flynn did present its challenges. Gere had to learn how to tap dance for the film.
It was the casting of the sweet and attention-seeking Roxie Hart that seemed to be the biggest gamble, as Marshall gave Renee Zellweger in the challenging role. Zellweger had no professional experience singing or dancing and the admittedly soft-spoken actress joined the rest of the cast in intense rehearsals. Her transformation from a sweet naive wannabe showgirl to a sexy showstopper with a sinister streak was highlighted in the solo number “Roxie” and the closing duet with Zeta-Jones, “Nowadays.”
And the Oscar Goes To...
The film was met with both commercial and critical success, grossing over $170-million in the U.S. Musical theatre fans loved the adaptation, with many fans going to see the movie multiple times.
Chicago received 13 nominations at the 2002 Academy Awards, with nods to Zeta-Jones, Zellweger, co-stars Queen Latifah and John C. Reilly, and Marshall for directing. The movie took home six Oscars – including one for Zeta-Jones and the night’s biggest coup, Best Picture, besting the heavily favoured Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers for top honours. With the release of Moulin Rouge the year before and the success of Chicago, Hollywood ushered in a new golden age of movie musicals.
