Roxie Hart (1942)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

William A. Wellman

Writers:

Maurine Dallas Watkins (play)
Nunnally Johnson (writer)

Release Date:

13 November 1942 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

The low-down story of a high-class gal!

Plot:

To try and kick-start her show-business career, our heroine admits to a Chicago murder. But although Cook County don't seem to let dames swing...

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | Murder | Actress | Miscarriage Of Justice | Farce

Cast

Ginger Rogers	...	Roxie Hart
Adolphe Menjou	...	Billy Flynn
George Montgomery	...	Homer Howard
Lynne Overman	...	Jake Callahan
Nigel Bruce	...	E. Clay Benham
Phil Silvers	...	Babe
Sara Allgood	...	Mrs. Morton
William Frawley	...	O'Malley
Spring Byington	...	Mary Sunshine
Ted North	...	Stuart Chapman
Helene Reynolds	...	Velma Wall
George Chandler	...	Amos Hart
Charles D. Brown	...	Charles E. Murdock
Morris Ankrum	...	Martin S. Harrison
George Lessey	...	Judge

Runtime:

75 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Sweden:15

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The storyline had to be changed in this version in order to placate the Hays Commission code; both the silent (Chicago (1927)) and modern (Chicago (2002)) versions are more faithful to the original 1926 play.

Quotes:

Babe: Well hush my big black mouth!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults (1997) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)

Better than 'Chicago'

This very entertaining movie goes a long way to show that Ginger Rogers was much more than a dancing partner for Fred Astaire. She displays wonderful comedic timing and delivery and shines in every scene. And, yes, she does do a little dancing. Adolph Menjou again displays his considerable talent and range as her attorney, though at times he is a bit over the top. George Montgomery was quite a pleasant surprise. The supporting cast is superb. Any viewer who has seen 'Chicago' must see this version of the Roxie Hart story. Granted it is shorter, but this film seems to move at a smarter pace. The dialogue was funnier and, to me, there were fewer slow spots than this century's version. Enjoy!