SWEET CHARITY [1969 / 2020] [Blu-ray] [Limited Anniversary Edition] [UK Release]
The Most Wonderful and Exciting Thing That’s Happened to Movies in Years!
Shirley MacLaine gives one of her greatest performances in this spectacular musical based on Neil Simon’s smash Broadway hit. Director Bob Fosse broke new cinematic ground with this freewheeling, visually stunning story of a lovelorn New York dance hall hostess, Charity Hope Valentine, who dreams of old-fashioned romance but gives her heart to one undeserving man after another. The film ‘SWEET CHARITY’ is based upon the screenplay for the 1957 film ‘Nights of Cabiria’ (Italian: Le notti di Cabiria) co-written by Federico Fellini, Ennio Flaiano, Tullio Pinelli and Pier Paolo Pasolini.
Shirley MacLaine joins all-star cast members Chita Rivera, Sammy Davis Jr., Ricardo Montalban and Stubby Kaye in belting out thirteen vibrant Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields’s numbers including “Big Spender,” “Rhythm of Life,” “There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This” and the show-stopping “If My Friends Could See Me Now.” It’s an unforgettable production of an all-time classic!
FILM FACT: Awards and Nominations: 1970 Academy Awards®: Nominated: Best Art Direction and Set Decoration for Alexander Golitzen, George C. Webb and Jack D. Moore. Nominated: Best Costume Design for Edith Head. Nominated: Best Music, Score of a Musical Picture (Original or Adaptation) for Cy Coleman. 1970 Golden Globes: Nominated: Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical for Shirley MacLaine. 1970 Laurel Awards: Nominated: Golden Laurel Award for Musical. Nominated: Golden Laurel Award for Female Comedy Performance for Shirley MacLaine
Cast: Shirley MacLaine, John McMartin, Ricardo Montalban, Sammy Davis Jr., Chita Rivera, Paula Kelly, Stubby Kaye, Barbara Bouchet, Suzanne Charny, Alan Hewitt, Dante DiPaolo, Bud Vest, Ben Vereen, Lee Roy Reams, Al Lanti, John Wheeler, Leon Bing, Leon Alton (uncredited), Richard Angarola (uncredited), Marie Bahruth (uncredited), Toni Basil (uncredited), Henry Beckman (uncredited), Jack Berle (uncredited), Larry Billman (uncredited), Carol Birner (uncredited), Herman Boden (uncredited), Donald Bradburn (uncredited), Charles Brewer (uncredited), Chelsea Brown (uncredited), Lonnie Burr (uncredited), Jeff Burton (uncredited), Ceil Cabot (uncredited), Dee Carroll (uncredited), Ray Chabeau (uncredited), Noble 'Kid' Chissell (uncredited), Cheryl Christiansen (uncredited), Linda Clifford (uncredited), Kathleen Cody (uncredited), Dick Colacino (uncredited), Bud Cort (uncredited), John Craig (uncredited), Bryan Da Silva (uncredited), Marguerite DeLain (uncredited), Alfred Dennis (uncredited), George DeNormand (uncredited), Kathryn Doby (uncredited), Jimmy Fields (uncredited), Lynn Fields (uncredited), John Frayer (uncredited), Dave Gold (uncredited), Ben Gooding (uncredited), Bick Goss (uncredited), Ellen Halpin (uncredited), Chuck Harrod (uncredited), Sharon Harvey (uncredited), Tom Hatten (uncredited) Buddy Joe Hooker (uncredited), Carlton Johnson (uncredited), Kirk Kirksey (uncredited), Richard Korthaze (uncredited), Jennifer Laws (uncredited), Nolan Leary (uncredited), Lance LeGault (uncredited), Diki Lerner (uncredited), Buddy Lewis (uncredited), Judith Lowry (uncredited), Marco López (uncredited), Trish Mahoney (uncredited), Jerry Mann (uncredited) Lynn McMurrey (uncredited), Joseph Mell (uncredited), Gloria Mills (uncredited), Jackie Mitchell (uncredited), Ted Monson (uncredited), April Nevins (uncredited), Geraldine O'Brien (uncredited), Maris O'Neill (uncredited), Walter Painter (uncredited), Alma Platt (uncredited), Maudie Prickett (uncredited) Louise Quick (uncredited), Frank Radcliffe (uncredited) Leoda Richards (uncredited), Ed Robinson (uncredited), Carroll Roebke (uncredited), Sandy Rovetta (uncredited), Charlene Ryan (uncredited), Dom Salinaro (uncredited), Juleste Salve (uncredited), Victoria Scruton (uncredited), Ronnie Shark (uncredited), Paul Shipton (uncredited), Patrick Spohn (uncredited) Norman Stevans (uncredited), Chet Stratton (uncredited) Walter Stratton (uncredited), Kristoffer Tabori (uncredited) Robert Terry (uncredited), Bob Thompson Jr. (uncredited), Roger Til (uncredited), Jerry Trent (uncredited), Tifni Twitchell (uncredited), Renata Vaselle (uncredited), Bonnie G. West (uncredited), Lorene Yarnell Jansson (uncredited), Kay York (uncredited) and Adele Yoshioka (uncredited)
Director: Bob Fosse
Producer: Robert Arthur
Screenplay: Peter Stone
Composers: Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields
Orchestration: Ralph Burns
Make-up Artist: Bud Westmore
Cosmetics by CINEMATIQUE
Hair Stylist: Larry Germain
Hair Stylist for Miss MacLaine: Sydney Guilaroff
Costume Designs: Edith Head
Cinematography: Robert Surtees, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Panavision)
Audio: English: 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo
English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio Surround Sound
Subtitles: English
Running Time:
‘SWEET CHARITY’ with Overture: 150 minutes
‘SWEET CHARITY’ with No Overture: 148 minutes
‘SWEET CHARITY’ with Alternative Ending: 144 minutes
‘SWEET CHARITY’ with Alternative Ending only : 11:50 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Universal Pictures / Powerhouse Films / INDICATOR
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: In the film ‘SWEET CHARITY’ [1969] Charity Hope Valentine [Shirley MacLaine] is not dancing at her usual venue the Fandango Ballroom, because Charity Hope Valentine is desperately on the search for love. When we first meet Charity Hope Valentine, she is positively elated over the fact that she thinks she has finally found the love of her life, but when each other finally meet up on a bridge in Central Park and her date pushes her off the bridge and robs her of all her worldly possessions. It is an experience that would make a lot of people want to completely give up, but not Charity Hope Valentine, because she still has faith that her one true love is out there and isn’t about to let anything get in her way of finding it.
One night, Charity Hope Valentine runs into Italian movie star Vittorio Vitale [Ricardo Montalban] who is living in a ritzy New York apartment and he had been planning to go out with his girlfriend Ursula [Barbara Bouchet], but when they get into a fight, he winds up going to a club with Charity Hope Valentine instead and by the end of the evening takes Charity Hope Valentine back to his place for dinner and Charity Hope Valentine cannot believe her luck, and the Ricardo Montalban character is charmed by Charity Hope Valentine’s “realness” and simple honest nature and tells him why she answers his questions with “fickle finger of fate” instead of “I don’t know” and then delights in repeating the sayings. But then suddenly without warning Ursula drops by and Charity Hope Valentine eventually has to spend the rest of the night hiding in Vittorio Vitale’s closet.
Another of the film’s funniest scenes is the one that is spiced up with other repeated phrases like “without love life would have no purpose” and “up yours!” Sammy Davis Jr. plays Big Daddy Brubeck the preacher of a “street church” that tells the gospel of love; and Ben Vereen is one of its Frug dancers. The Frug was a dance craze from the mid-1960s, which included vigorous dance to pop music and it evolved from another dance of the era, the Chicken, which featured lateral body movements, was used primarily as a change of pace step while doing the Twist.
Charity Hope Valentine’s night with Vittorio Vitale only makes her even more determined to better her life. So Charity Hope Valentine decides she wants to leave the Fandango Ballroom, and goes to an employment agency, but while Charity Hope Valentine is there, she ends up getting stuck in an elevator with Oscar Lindquist [John McMartin] and Charity Hope Valentine learns that he is claustrophobic and one of the film’s wackiest scene in the film. After Charity Hope Valentine helps him cope with his claustrophobia, so Charity Hope Valentine and Oscar Lindquist begin seeing each other. Once again, Charity Hope Valentine thinks she has found what she has been looking for, but there is just one problem, Oscar Lindquist does not know about her job at the Fandango Ballroom and is under the impression that Charity Hope Valentine works in a bank.
Chita Rivera and Paula Kelly play her “heard it all before” fellow dance hall hostesses and Stubby Kaye plays the nightclub’s manager. Soon enough, Oscar Lindquist finds out the truth and he tries to be okay with it and they plan to get married, but after he goes to her farewell party at the Fandango Ballroom, he realizes he cannot marry her and leaves her once again alone. Left alone at the marriage license bureau, Charity Hope Valentine starts walking home completely heartbroken, but without realising it she suddenly walks through Central Park, and realises that she should not give up hope just yet. But what is also very uplifting about the film ‘SWEET CHARITY,’ is to my mind the three brilliant music and dance routine, that was “THERE’S GOTTA BE SOMETHING BETTER THAN THIS” which is performed by Chita Rivera, Paula Kelly and Shirley MacLaine; “THE RHYTHM OF LIFE” which is performed by the brilliant all round entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. and Chorus and “I’M A BRASS BAND” which is performed by Shirley MacLaine and Male Ensemble and is definitely on par with the amazing dance routines you get to see in the film ‘West Side Story.’
You can watch the film a hundred times and still find more to catch the eye that captivates the technique of the dancers is totally impeccable in this film ‘SWEET CHARITY’ and are like liquid dynamite. But to sum up for me, what was the corniest thing about the film ‘SWEET CHARITY’ is the unhappy ending that I feel is less genuine to the plot of the film and more like a self-conscious effort on Bob Fosse's part to appear really hip by giving us the opposite of a Hollywood Happy ending. Granted, Bob Fosse's ingrained cynicism is by now the stuff of legend and one slightly negative aspect of this film in that we are introduced to lots of horrible grainy images throughout the film, that was not really needed in this film and I personally felt it slightly spoilt the flow of the film, but I suppose Bob Fosse felt this was the “in thing” to do in the 1960s period. Now, at the end of the film we are asked the big question “And she lived hopefully ever after,” so do we deny Charity Hope Valentine the obvious happy ending she so deserves, I leave that to your own conclusion. One wonderful bonus of owning this brilliant Blu-ray disc is that you get the full length original film that includes the Overture and also the Intermission.
SWEET CHARITY MUSIC TRACK LIST
MY PERSONAL PROPERTY (uncredited) (Music by Cy Coleman and Lyrics by Dorothy Fields) [Performed by Shirley MacLaine]
BIG SPENDER (uncredited) (Music by Cy Coleman and Lyrics by Dorothy Fields) [Performed by Female Ensemble]
RICH MAN’S FRUG (uncredited) (Music by Cy Coleman) [Performed by Orchestra and Chorus]
IF MY FRIENDS COULD SEE ME NOW (uncredited) (Music by Cy Coleman and Lyrics by Dorothy Fields) [Performed by Shirley MacLaine]
THERE’S GOTTA BE SOMETHING BETTER THAN THIS (uncredited) (Music by Cy Coleman and Lyrics by Dorothy Fields) [Performed by Chita Rivera, Paula Kelly and Shirley MacLaine]
IT’S A NICE FACE (uncredited) (Music by Cy Coleman and Lyrics by Dorothy Fields) [Performed by Shirley MacLaine]
THE RHYTHM OF LIFE (uncredited) (Music by Cy Coleman and Lyrics by Dorothy Fields) [Performed by Sammy Davis Jr. and Chorus]
SWEET CHARITY (uncredited) (Music by Cy Coleman and Lyrics by Dorothy Fields) [Performed by John McMartin]
I’M A BRASS BAND (uncredited) (Music by Cy Coleman and Lyrics by Dorothy Fields) [Performed by Shirley MacLaine and Male Ensemble]
I LOVE TO CRY AT WEDDINGS (uncredited) (Music by Cy Coleman and Lyrics by Dorothy Fields) [Performed by Stubby Kaye and Chorus]
WHERE AM I GOING (uncredited) (Music by Cy Coleman and Lyrics by Dorothy Fields) [Performed by Shirley MacLaine]
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Blu-ray Image Quality – Universal Pictures, Powerhouse Films and INDICATOR have come together to present you this brilliant Blu-ray release with a brand new 4K restoration that really enhances the stunning 1080p Technicolor image presentation and even more enhanced with the awesome Panavision 2.35:1 aspect ratio that really shows off this film as it should be seen in very natural beautiful colours. The presentation manages to hold up here surprisingly well on this Blu-ray disc, where again the skin tones look very natural. The picture image is very clean and with a polished presentation, especially for the age of the film. Universal Pictures, Powerhouse Films and INDICATOR have done an absolutely fantastic job in delivering this 1969 released film ‘SWEET CHARITY’ and especially for all the fans of this film will be more than pleased with the result, so a brilliant job all round.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Universal Pictures, Powerhouse Films and INDICATOR have come together to bring us this brilliant Bly-ray release with two audio presentations that consist of either 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo or 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio Surround Sound experience, and one of the few early films to be given a stereo post production. The first thing that knocks you out is the playing of the overture which is the startling power and clarity of the orchestral sound. It really does sound that either it was recorded yesterday in the best recording studio in the world. I love how overture and intermissions make the film really stand out as a cultural event. It was never that common but if a studio wanted to say “This is something special!” that’s how it was done. With the film ‘SWEET CHARITY’ it has a totally brilliant film score orchestrated by Ralph Burns that really gives the film a very dynamic and very melodic film score to the point you want to get and dance, that gives a sound experience that is very crisp and clear, and the dynamic activity of the film’s audio presentation is very good, with some subtle orchestral nuances to add to the atmosphere of this brilliant film. So all in all, well done Universal Pictures, Powerhouse Films and INDICATOR for giving us a really professional job with this brilliant and outstanding Blu-ray disc. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Audio Commentary with Lee Gambin, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Cara Mitchell [Audio only] [2020] [1080p] [2.35:1] [00:00] With this featurette, we get to hear this audio commentary with Author and Film Historian Lee Gambin, Film Critic and Author Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Dance Scholar Cara Mitchell and are all here to talk about the film ‘SWEET CHARITY.’ Now get ready and please take a deep breath folks! WOW! Because listening to the machine gunman delivery of Lee Gambin is a bit very exhausting hearing his personal audio comments and I am fairly sure he is operating from notes and it’s like “How much information can I get out before the next commentator takes over at the Big Spender number,” well you will have to find out with this audio commentary. We also get some nice informative titbits; great historical background where the studio poured money into the female led in the musical which of course was the wonderful Shirley MacLaine; and also interesting is that writer Paddy Chayefsky was one of Bob Fosse’s best friends. Writer Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and dance scholar Cara Mitchell’s audio commentary is also very informative as digging deep into Bob Fosse’s psyche and the past to uncover the catalogue of his work. I won’t credit who brought up the following subject, but I will say that each authoritative commentator earns their case of beer for this one. Here are some of the other highlights of the audio commentary, like there are several quotes from Judith Crist’s film review quoted at the time by Lee Gambin, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Cara Mitchell, the sort of words that can send creators into a massive tailspin. We get to hear that Shirley MacLaine was given her first break by Bob Fosse she used her enthusiasm to have him at the helm of the film of ‘SWEET CHARITY.’ Universal Pictures chief at the time, the infamous Lew Wasserman was suitably moved and said “OK, kid. Let’s get him.” Author William Peter Blatty was friends with actress Shirley MacLaine and went off to write a novel after staying with her. Some little thing called ‘The Exorcist.’ Shirley MacLaine confirms how much William Peter Blatty borrowed from the actress’s life. William Peter Blatty actress heroine’s name is MacNeil. Shirley MacLaine’s two home helpers were suitably added and a photo of Shirley MacLaine’s daughter, taken by William Peter Blatty, the actress claims that it was used on the first edition cover of the novel and its fame of an evil sort of spirit. Speaking of evil, I was stunned and upset to find out that Bob Fosse was offered the film ‘Burnt Offerings’ to direct and that he didn’t and to think that a Bob Fosse horror movie, the mind boggles. There is a temporal disconnect that I can’t square. It’s reported that Fosse was offered to direct the horror film while he was shooting ‘SWEET CHARITY’ in 1968/1969. The novel the horror film was based on wasn’t published until 1973 and yet it was earmarked to be shot in the summer of 1970. There’s lots of biographical info on the two principal dancers Paula Kelly and Chita Riviera and there’s something very satisfying that Bob Fosse was well ahead of the game when it came to diversity. A great dancer is a great dancer. There are several notable Steven Sondheim connections in the Fosse story. Apparently Bob Fosse was overwhelmed by choices offered by cinema techniques and he made good use of quite a few. I would love to have heard more about him losing his temper with Editor Alan Heim on ‘All That Jazz’ apparently throwing a bin at him saying he was a better editor before he had a baby! Now that’s a taunt. And the role of ‘Taxi dancers’ is explained which cleared things up just a small amount. Still couldn’t figure out if they were prostitutes or not. As we come to the end of this audio commentary Lee Gambin hopes you have enjoyed listing to this audio commentary and also thanks Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Cara Mitchell got their insightful contributions.
Special Feature: The John Player Lecture with Shirley MacLaine [Audio only] [1971] [1080] [2.35:1] [80:55] With this featurette, we get to hear a rare archival audio recording of the celebrated actress Shirley MacLaine in conversation at London's National Film Theatre was conducted with Interviewer Sheridan Morley on the 28th March, 1971. We are informed that the following audio presentation was recorded for archival purpose, rather than commercial distribution, and may exhibit a range of technical problems as a consequence. It also has importance as a unique archival document that makes its inclusion here essential and Powerhouse Films and INDICATOR hope you agree. While hearing the audio interview we get to view scenes from the film ‘SWEET CHARITY.’ With this rare archival audio recording, Shirley MacLaine comes across as a very deeply charming and rather wickedly flirtatious person. One thing that stands out with Shirley MacLaine is very serious about politics and takes her acting career very seriously. Sheridan Morley asks Shirley MacLaine if she felt American, and replies very strikingly, “If democracy fails there, it’ll fail everywhere.” Shirley MacLaine also talks about the invasion of television against celluloid’s range and she has some interesting opinions on the key psychological differences between both mediums. We find out an interesting fact that Shirley MacLaine lived in Japan when she was 20 years old and her insight into the Japanese outlook and life in general insights about Japan may offer some pushback, particularly in these über-woke times. Shirley MacLaine’s artistic side is strong and she advocates some very positive political ideas that are still potent today. The film ‘Love Story’ comes up very often as a fantasy experience that Shirley MacLaine decries for taking people away from the truth in their own lives. All in all this is a very interesting and intelligent interview I have heard in a very long time, so enjoy it folks. On top of that, listening to the actress Shirley MacLaine, I would have loved to have met this wonderful professional actress.
Special Feature: From Stage to Screen: A Director's Dilemma [1969] [1080i] [1.37:1] [8:59] With this featurette, we get to view the original promotional film featuring interview material with Bob Fosse and we also get to view rare behind-the-scene footage relating to the film ‘SWEET CHARITY,’ but we also get to view scenes from the film ‘SWEET CHARITY.’ “Bob Fosse had never directed a motion picture before and informs us that it was an awesome assignment” says the voiceover. We also get to see Bob Fosse at work. You also get to a real sense of how nervous Bob Fosse was substituting his stage personality for fame. Apart from the fact that Bob Fosse succeeded marvellously, and you still feel that weight on his shoulders. We also get to see Bob Fosse on stage directing and having some fun being wheeled around with his viewfinder checking things out for the best shot. The final quote is telling because its truth is undeniable in almost all creative endeavours and of course was attributed to Oscar Wilde and the line is “The anxiety is unbearable. I hope it lasts forever.” Nice one, Bob Fosse.
Special Feature: The Art of Exaggeration [1969] [480i] [1.37:1] [7:27] With this featurette, we get to see an original promotional film profiling the work of the famed costume designer Edith Head and we get to see Costume Test Footage for Shirley MacLaine, Chita Rivera, Paula Kelly and Suzanne Charny. Finally, in Edith Head’s second and final on camera shot, there are Seven Oscars behind her and Edith Head won another in an illustrious career after 35 Oscar nominations. The footage of the wardrobe rehearsals is totally fascinating behind-the-scenes stuff. We also get to view rare behind-the-scene footage for the film ‘SWEET CHARITY,’ but on top of all that, we also get to view scenes from the film ‘SWEET CHARITY.’
Special Feature: Interview with Sonja Haney [Audio only] [2020] [1080] [2.35:1] [71:23] With this featurette, we get to hear a passionate audio recording with Author and Film Historian Lee Gambin in the conversation interview with Sonja Haney via the telephone and the clarity is perfectly acceptable and the background information is priceless. Sonja Haney was a stand-in for Shirley MacLaine and had to juggle working on the famous CBS Television series “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” in between auditions. “There were no introductions, we just started dancing.” The story of the incredulous Bob Fosse asking “How do you know my work?” as Sonja Haney just gets the moves and memorises them in one session is a humdinger. And the fact that Sonja Haney learned all Shirley MacLaine’s dances, except for the Brass Band number in three hours Wow! Sonja Haney talks about her precious relationship with Bob Fosse’s wife Gwen Verdon who made “Sweet Charity” famous on stage and how to get a cheetah to interact with one of the dancers. You wouldn’t think a ponytail’s weight would over balance a dancer. “Fix it!” says Bob Fosse. Sonja Haney explains the difference in directing styles between Bob Fosse and John Huston with whom Sonja Haney worked on ‘Annie.’ Sonja Haney ends with how dangerous it was dancing on stage in Steven Sondheim’s “Follies” where dancers were regularly sliding into the orchestra pit because of the rake of the stage. With rare audio interview with Lee Gambin in the conversation with Sonja Haney via the telephone was conducted exclusively on the 26th May, 2020 and at the same time we get to view scenes from the film ‘SWEET CHARITY.’ One negative aspect of this featurette, is when we come to the final end to the film ‘SWEET CHARITY’ the screen goes completely blank, but the interview between Lee Gambin and Sonja Haney carries on and I found that very unprofessional, so why couldn’t they have worked out that the interview would last only 71:23 so why couldn’t they have had the interview end at that precise moment in time and finish up with the end precisely at the end of the film? On top of all that, I felt the interview went on far too long and most of the time they talked a right load of old rubbish and total verbal Diarrhoea.
Special Feature: Sammy Davis Jr: Now and Then [1968] [1080i] [1.37:1] [21:24] With this featurette, we get to view a very rare archival interview featuring the actor and singer in conversation with broadcaster Bernard Braden. This is less of a publicity piece for the film and more of a snapshot of a period. It was conducted on the 21st June, 1968 and the television programme was entitled “Now and Then” and was conceived in 1967, and was the brainchild of the Canadian broadcaster Bernard Braden. The idea of the programme was to capture leading personalities of the day talking about their lives and hopes for the future and later on to revisit each subject to access how things turned out. Although never completed, Bernard Braden conducted more than 300 interviews that were broadcast between September 1967 through to June 1988, and with amazing almost 110 hours of historical valuable footage. But with this actual Bernard Braden interview is just after the assassination of Bobby Kennedy, who was a friend of Sammy Davis Jnr., a man he calls “the last bastion of hope…” As a companion piece to the Shirley MacLaine interview, the snapshot of then mirroring what we are going through today is astounding. Sammy Davis Jr. speaks intelligently and eloquently about the importance of peace between races. He also reveals a distinctly left leaning political stance, which is refreshing in anyone who is concerned about other people, let alone a world-fêted entertainer. And he seems to be well informed (from Bobby Kennedy) about how much the three black men were paid (with money originating from Texas $30,000) to kill Malcolm X. I can’t corroborate this information from a cursory Wikipedia page read on Malcolm X, but Sammy Davis Jr. calls it “common knowledge.” Sammy Davis Jnr. opinion on what may have happened in the UK is also frighteningly prescient.
Special Feature: ‘SWEET CHARITY’ Super 8 version [1969] [480i] [1.37:1] [17:16] With this featurette, we are informed that in the days before the home video formats, cut-down Super 8 version of popular films were produced for audiences to enjoy in the comfort of their own homes. The following Super 8 presentation, released as part of the “Universal Eight” series, reduces the film ‘SWEET CHARITY’ to an eighth of its original running time, which of course we get to view an original cut-down home-cinema presentation that sadly has been ravaged by time colour wise, this featurette shows extracts as opposed to the narrative of the actual film. We get to view the number “Big Spender” and is followed by some of the leading three dancers’ chat. Then we move straight to the Brass Band number followed by Charity Hope Valentine’s childlike enthusiasm as she is about to get hitched. The last 8 minutes of this Super 8 version are uncut with Bob Fosse’s original ending.
Theatrical Trailer [1969] [480i] [1.37:1] [1:36] With this featurette, we get to view the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film SWEET CHARITY.’ Sadly it is not shown in its original aspect ratio and has a very bad faded print image. It’s interesting to note that there’re very few close ups or mid shots of Shirley MacLaine and mentioned but the accompanying shot is a long one, which she shares with many other cast members. The message seems very clear – come for the music and the dancing.
Special Feature: Image Gallery: With this featurette, we get to view two items related to the 1969 film ‘SWEET CHARITY’ and they are as follows:
Production Stills: Here we get to view 64 wonderful and stunning 1080p black-and-white and colour images from scenes from the film ‘SWEET CHARITY.’
Publicity Material: Here we get to view 40 wonderful and stunning 1080p colour images of all the promotional images relating to all of the extensive publicity material for the film ‘SWEET CHARITY.’
BONUS: Limited edition exclusive 78 page book with lots of new contents that includes ‘SWEET CHARITY’ Cast and Crew. SWEET CHARITY: A Pretty Girl In The Orchestra Pit by Pamela Hutchinson [2020]. SWEET CHARITY: Getting Better With Age by Bill Rosenfield [2020]. Neil Simon And The Creation Of SWEET CHARITY by Jeff Billington [2020]. Movie Musical Praised by Robert Taylor [1968]. Hollywood Gives A Big Bundle To ‘SWEET CHARITY’ by Stanley Eichelbaum [1968]. Hollywood Faces Shortage Of Professional Dancers by Bob Fosse [1968]. You Can’t Tell A Kook By Her Cover: On Set Shirley MacLaine by Gerald Nachman [1968]. Broadway’s Smash Musical Now The Most Exciting Movie In Years! [1968]. Sidney Guilaroff: From Bobs To Carott Tops [1968]. Fellini, Cabiria, Charity, And Musicals [1968]. Critical Response [1968]. About The Presentation; Special Thanks; Acknowledgments and INDICATOR Credits. We also get to view lots of wonderful colour photographs from the film ‘SWEET CHARITY.’
Archival press coverage of the film's release including an interview with Shirley MacLaine, extracts from the press book, Federico Fellini on ‘SWEET CHARITY,’ and an overview of contemporary critical responses, and the film credits.
PLUS: Limited edition exclusive double-sided film poster of the film ‘SWEET CHARITY.’
Finally, with the film ‘SWEET CHARITY’ all in all, it is a film that gets by largely by on the strength of a terrific list of songs and is given snazzy visual embodiment. As a character study or comedy ‘SWEET CHARITY’ is frankly a little stiff in certain scenes in the film and also slightly uncertain of itself. But Bob Fosse learned a lot, and very quickly and three years later, his second film ‘Cabaret,’ would improve on the best parts of ‘SWEET CHARITY,’ but despite this film again being slightly uncertain of itself, it is still worth watching, especially with the standout performance of Shirley MacLaine and ensemble cast. The film has had lots of plaudits and praise, despite other critics giving it the thumbs down, but is some quarters, it has been said, "It's an accepted fact of film history that the most innovative and influential directors of musicals came from choreographic origins,” meaning: Choreography is the art or practice of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies in which motion, form, or both are specified. But despite this Bob Fosse proved this with ‘SWEET CHARITY,’ and joining the ranks of Busby Berkeley, Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, and permanently enshrined Bob Fosse in the halls of film musical history. As a directorial debut, ‘SWEET CHARITY’ is not quite as polished as the film ‘Cabaret,’ but it is more surprising and more exuberant and it absolutely captures the pulse and feel of its release in 1969. Despite what people have said about this film, especially the negative critics, it is a big favourite film of mine and especially with the standout performance of Shirley MacLaine, who shines like a bright shining star. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
