Really terrific silent film about Roxie Hart (played by Phyllis Haver), blonde bombshell married to a handsome, devoted, sensitive husband who does stuff like serve her breakfast in bed - he loves "every curl on her head". Wishing she had more "gold" she is busy having an affair with Eugene Palette, but when he comes around and accuses her of running after him for his money (which is true, of course, as she says something like "what else have you got I'd want?"), he dumps her and, well, she shoots him dead. But soon Roxie is arrested and loving it as she laps up the publicity she receives as a public figure dubbed the "Jazz Slayer"; she's soon put on trial for murder under the tutelage of a high-priced defense lawyer who teaches her all the tricks to help steer the jury her way!
An excellent film with intriguing plot line and funny too, there are quite a few laughs in this. There is a very amusing scene in women's prison featuring an ensemble of lady prisoners apparently allowed to wear their "street" attire in jail, not limited to sequins, garters, and black lace teddies - Roxie gets into a big cat fight with one of these ladies, featuring lots of hair pulling and both of them rolling around on the floor all tangled up in an exercise belt. The film features a truly great and memorable performance by Phyllis Haver, absolutely perfect in this part. And I must say, the actor who plays her husband, Victor Varconi, is truly a very handsome man! The screening I saw of this featured an absolutely gorgeous black and white print - I long to see this film released on DVD. Really great.
An excellent film with intriguing plot line and funny too, there are quite a few laughs in this. There is a very amusing scene in women's prison featuring an ensemble of lady prisoners apparently allowed to wear their "street" attire in jail, not limited to sequins, garters, and black lace teddies - Roxie gets into a big cat fight with one of these ladies, featuring lots of hair pulling and both of them rolling around on the floor all tangled up in an exercise belt. The film features a truly great and memorable performance by Phyllis Haver, absolutely perfect in this part. And I must say, the actor who plays her husband, Victor Varconi, is truly a very handsome man! The screening I saw of this featured an absolutely gorgeous black and white print - I long to see this film released on DVD. Really great.