The Success of Chicago

2002 American musical film Chicago was adapted from a satirical stage musical of the same name. In the film celebrity, scandal, and corruption in Jazz age Chicago are dealt with in a creative format.

Chicago was directed and choreographed by Rob Marshall while screenwriter Bill Condon did the screenplay. The film was a massive success and won six Academy Awards including Best Picture, making it the first musical film to win the award since Oliver! in 1968.

The film which is based on a musical of the same name was slated to be choreographed by Bob Fosse who was a well-known stage and film choreographer as well as director. Fosse was the one who had directed and choreographed the original Broadway production of Chicago. Unfortunately he passed away before the film was made. But he very much left his mark on the film as the style of dance is distinctive to his jazz choreography style. He made Cabaret in 1972, and the Chicago’s resemblance to that film is very noticeable.

The story of Chicago is about Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart, two women criminals who had committed murder in the throes of passion. They are awaiting trial for murder in a jail in 1920s Chicago. While Velma is a vaudeville player Roxie is a housewife who wants to be a star. Both are in a cat-fight to get fame that will save them from being hung. That fame and being saved can only come through one person, a hot shot criminal lawyer who is extremely money-minded. In reality the film was inspired by the stories of two Jazz-era killers Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner.