'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#0'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/10/05 at 2:36pm
Which is better? Chicago: the movie, the original production, or the still-running 1996 revival? (I dont think there was another revival of it but if there was let me know)
I vote for the movie with the revival VERY VERY VERY close behind.
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#1re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/10/05 at 2:38pm
I prefer the revival to the film. I unfortunately missed the OBC.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Updated On: 7/10/05 at 02:38 PM
VIETgrlTerifa
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/18/04
#2re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/10/05 at 2:40pmI think most people here would say the revival. I think the majority of people here couldn't say a bad thing about the revival when it first came out. It's funny though, listening to old Forbidden Broadway clips, they seemed to not like the revival as much. I know they spoof everything, but they were very harsh on it.
"I've got to get me out of here
This place is full of dirty old men
And the navigators and their mappy maps
And moldy heads and pissing on sugar cubes
While you stare at your books."
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#3re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/10/05 at 2:44pm
I loved the revival and loved how they took the theme of it being a dark, vaudeville-like, comedy and played and emphasized on that idea with the idea of no sets, costume changes, props (besides chairs) etc etc and, yes it is one of the best revivals Ive ever seen but I thought the film version did an excellent job of keeping the quirky/dark balance but making sure they kept it a bit glitzy where needed. I enjoyed both greatly but give the edge to the film for its EXCELLENT leading performances from Richard Gere, Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones (and amazingly well deserved Oscar win), John C. Reilly, and of course, my favorite performance of the entire movie, Queen Latifah who was mesmerizing and shockingly excellent.
Updated On: 7/10/05 at 02:44 PM
VIETgrlTerifa
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/18/04
#4re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/10/05 at 2:46pmI never understood what was so great about Queen Latifah's performance. I mean she was compentent, but I never understood all the raves she got.
"I've got to get me out of here
This place is full of dirty old men
And the navigators and their mappy maps
And moldy heads and pissing on sugar cubes
While you stare at your books."
#5re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/10/05 at 2:54pm
It's funny how discussions like this ome up when 98% of the folks who post here are too young to have seen the original.
If I had seen the original production, I can't imagine that I'd find any room for improvement. Chita, Gwen and Jerry Orbach? In a production directed by Fosse? I think the revival is exceptional, and perhaps still the greatest show on the boards right now. But I'll trust my older friends that the original was impossible to beat and just ahead of its time.
BTW, I think the movie ended up much better than I expected. Knowing how impossible it is to successfully translate musicals to the big screen in our cynical era, Rob Marshall did an amazing job. I think it's the best film musical since Cabaret, some 30 years earlier. Still, it lacks the punch of seeing the show on stage.
#6re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/10/05 at 3:11pm
The revival is SOO much better. There is so much magic and audience interaction in the stage show - that the movie obviously dosen't have.
The movie fails in comparison to the revival. Renee has nothing on the stage Roxies. Gere has nothing on the stage Billys. Catherine was a great Velma - Latifah a great Mama - both I think could handle the role in the revival. Though the Weissler's are too cheap to get them.
The movie definitely deserved all the Oscars, and all the success. But it has nothing on the stage show. As I said - seeing Chicago live is magical, and so interactive - the movie dosen't have any of that.
Sant
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/12/04
#7re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/10/05 at 3:22pmEven though the movie was great - brilliant concept, not trying to transfer the stage production to the screen but they found a clever way to incorporate the musical numbers into the story, I still prefer the stage version. The revival, that is. For some reason I felt that a lot of the irony and the sarcasm was lost in the movie version. And I think the stage orchestrations are far better than the movie orchestrations, especially "All That Jazz" and "Cell Block Tango". Renee was the only performer in the movie who I think was a miscast, all the others did a great job at it, especially Catherine Z-J!
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#8re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/10/05 at 3:23pm
It's apples and orangutans-- you can't compare a movie to the experience of a stage show. Both do a great job with the material, but the two experiences are dissimilar. Why try to quantify it?
It's like saying "Which is better, listening to Mozart or eating cheesecake?" Who cares, you can do both and they are both wonderful!
#9re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/10/05 at 3:36pm
Also - I am dissapointed with the movie because they cut too many great songs! "My Own Best Friend", and "Me and My Baby" could've easily worked in the film - with the concept they used. I can see cutting "A Litt Bit of Good", "I Know A Girl", and "When Velma Takes The Stand" - even "Class." We are lucky they atleast filmed "Class." I wish they filmed "My Own Best Friend", and "Me and My Baby." I do feel the movie choreography is lackluster to the revival's choreography.
I do think though - they transfered the plot quite good. I can understand them changing The Trial - because live The Trial is not something that would really happen in the court. In the movie they mad the trial much more realistic. The whole thing with Roxie's diary was okay - not a bad idea. So they really kept the plot similar to the stage show.
Updated On: 7/10/05 at 03:36 PM
#10re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/10/05 at 4:49pmI wish they would've included "My Own Best Friend" in the film. It's one of my favorite songs in the score.
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#11re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/10/05 at 6:55pmBaranski was also great in her bit role as Mary Sunshine. MUCH smaller compared to the stage version.
Nath
Stand-by Joined: 7/3/05
#12re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/10/05 at 7:50pmI think they are 2 different mediums which both kinda helped each other, of course the stage production si going to be better, because it was written for the stage. But i think how they made this very 'stage' musical into a movie (in an accessable way to non musical people) was fantastic.
RYANWOODS
Leading Actor Joined: 1/10/05
#13re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/10/05 at 7:53pmDont like the staging of CHICAGO - love the film and the music is what makes the stage and film.
One Song Glory
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/12/05
#14re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/10/05 at 9:37pmI love the movie but I've never seen the show.
I'm not a gay stereotype. I'm a coincidence.
jonartdesigns
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/04
#15re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/11/05 at 12:08amit still bothers me that they swiched the long note in "we both reached for the gun" but i think as well done as the movie is the stage version is the better one
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
#16re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/11/05 at 1:27am
WiCkEDrOcKS, I also liked the fact that there were minimal costume changes, along with set and props. For me it gave it a more theatrical (for lack of a better word... what kind of loser decribes the theater as theatrical?) feeling to it. What I mean is it gave it a little bit more of an edge (compared to the movie) about telling you a story adn entertaining you. It was all a show- entertainment- etc.
Also, kyle33nyc your right... I'm too young to have seen the original... but it looks to me like that would have been a one of a kind experience to have.
Mujhse Dosti Karoge?
Parks
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/5/04
#17re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/11/05 at 11:00am
Ah, I can't wait to see it in 13 days!! 
"If it walks like a Parks, if it wobbles like a Parks, then it's definitely fat and nobody loves it." --MA
#18re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/11/05 at 11:43amYou can't compare the original stage version of the show with the revival. Besides Verdon and Rivera it had SETS and great costumes (there was even an elevator on stage). The current show is more a concert version of the original done on the cheap by the Weisslers. Just view Chita's segment on "Broadway's Golden Age" where she hesitates but continues to comment on the subject.
jim coleman
Stand-by Joined: 1/10/05
#19re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/11/05 at 11:58am
I love all three versions, because I love the show itself, and believe that there is more than one right way to do everything. It is called interpretation. I saw the original on opening night, and let me tell you, it was brilliant. Way ahead of it's time, though. It was scenically and technically thrilling, the costumes were spectacular, and Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera at the top of their form. and FOSSE. This was his brainchild, and to see his take on the material, and his brilliant choreography was truly amazing. I think the film is a brilliant representation of the show. I remember dreading going to see it for fear that they would ruin the show, as Hollywood has done to a lot of musicals, but this was not the case with the CHICAGO film. It had a wonderful theatricality to it, and I think the reason for that was Rob Marshall. He, up to that point, was a theatre person exclusively, and was very aware of what would make the film work. I also enjoyed the revival very much. A totally different concept totally works, and has really given the show it's longevity. The original opened the same year as A CHORUS LINE, and was totally overlooked at award time, winning NO Tony's at all. It is one of my favorite shows of all time. I hope it runs forever.
BatonMan
Updated On: 7/11/05 at 11:58 AM
Stand-by Joined: 12/31/69
#20re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/11/05 at 12:19pmThe movie version is so good and sexier. :)
#21re: 'Chicago' (Movie vs Show)
Posted: 7/11/05 at 12:29pmWhoa. The movie is no way sexier than the revival.
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