According to the true murder trial of Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner, Chicago Tells the story of two women accused of murder in 1924, one of history’s first sensational media stories. Although the musical premiered on Broadway in 19725, its 2002 film adaptation made it even more popular with audiences, even winning the Academy Award for Best Picture. .
The show’s remarkable amount of dancing and the comparison to the variety throughout makes it quite unique compared to many other musical dramas out there, and the songs created to tell the story are timeless. .
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practice dancing
Talented lawyer Billy Flynn (Richard Gere) joins defendant Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) in court to “eavesdrop” on the truth about the murder.
While this scene subtly shows a traditional case and how the truth is revealed, it’s not really a musical song, like the other scenes in the film.
I love funny
It is revealed that Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger)’s devoted husband Amos (John C. Reilly) covered up her crimes when he murdered the man with whom she had an affair.
The song starts out as a sweet ballad for Amos, but as he slowly puts the pieces together, the song heats up and turns into a marital war. It’s fun for the audience, but often forgotten.
Bright
Flynn prepares his client Hart for her big trial in the “Razzle Dazzle” scene. As this is going to be a massive media and media coverage event, Hart needs to go ahead and keep the media entertained during her trial.
It’s a visually compelling scene, as it makes the courtroom a circus-lover’s dream, but it can go on too long for the context of the scene.
NOW/Hot Honey Rags
The finale saw Hart and Kelly agree to perform as a supporting duet, just like Kelly had always dreamed of. The song is more about a dance with a white hat and a simple colorful background, while the girls show off their talents in front of the audience.
They even poked fun at their criminal records with fake guns, shooting in the background to spell their names under the lights.
all i care about
Billy Flynn’s referral number is a great example of how well this blockbuster lawyer gets the job done and delights his clients. The song is a real-life performance, with back-up dancers, costumes, and dancing, as Flynn shows the audience that he’s “normal” before realizing he’s the top lawyer in the market. town.
Gere easily portrays Flynn’s iconic role, which makes it a great adaptation of the Broadway version of many who sang the song before him.
I can’t do it alone
In this picture, Kelly and Hart are friends and foes, discussing their future in variety, and Kelly tries to convince Hart to join her duo in a gig after they get out of prison.
Hart listens nonchalantly as Kelly demonstrates how iconic their act can be, showing her the ingenuity they can achieve and the stardom they can achieve together.
cellophane man
Amos’s sarcastic solo, often overlooked, reveals how Amos feels when people, especially the media, ignore him.
Viewers get to see the more vulnerable side of the character, as an unaffected guy, rolling around with his wife’s punches and mistakes. The song that many people haven’t seen in the musical before the movie, is the one that put Reilly to sleep because of his brilliant performance.
we all reach for our guns
“We Both Reached For The Gun” presents the typical attention-grabbing press conference, featuring the puppet Hart and her owner Flynn.
The scenes showcase the creative ways in which stories can be manipulated for sensational effect, and how clients rehearse what they’ll say before they see the puppet-like medium. themselves are typical musical numbers.
when you’re nice to your mom
After Hart is arrested and held in the Women’s County Jail, she meets Morton (Queen Latifah), the mother in charge of the operation.
The character delivers an incredibly powerful solo performance through a fun song, while still cementing his status as the prison’s number one dog. As the numbers continued, an important message came out: With your mom’s help, you could become famous overnight.
Overture/All Jazz Music
Even people who don’t love music have heard this song at least once in their life.
The film’s intro shows Kelly proving her star status in a solo variety show Hart participated in, while also setting the tone for what audiences will see in the 1920s film. Zeta-Jones’s interpretation of numbers and choreography will stay in your mind for a long time.
rose
Hart dreams of one day becoming a solo vaudeville performer, and dreams of putting her in a montage with her own backup dancer, a room with a mirror and her name under the lights.
This number really highlights her talent and passion for stardom, and its simple production makes it a memorable song in the movie (alongside her excellent performance). Zellweger).
Tango mobile block
One of the most iconic dance tracks in music history, “Cell Block Tango” is a song that never goes out of style.
From the choreography to the storytelling throughout the verses, the film presents this scene as a highlight of the show, making it a real stop. The female empowerment songs are also very catchy compared to other numbers in the film.