Mar 25, 2003 its a retirement farm for race horses run by jake cotter graham greene. With a tuneful, groovy, mid1960s score by cy coleman, sparkling lyrics by dorothy fields, and a hilarious book by neil simon, sweet charity captures all the energy, humor, and heartbreak of life in the big city for an unfortunate but irrepressible optimist. The scrappy barrington stage company has come a long way since launching itself with lady day at the emerson cafe, an intimate little cabaret show. Sweet charity showstopper big spender is recreated here by chita rivera, bebe neuwirth and cast members of cy colemans the life at this one night only concert at. Baretroupe performing big spender from sweet charity in baretroupes fall 2019 showcase. The debut film from bob fosse, the legendary director of cabaret and all that jazz hollywood royalty shirley maclaine gives one of her greatest performances in this spectacular musical based on neil simons broadway hit inspired by federico fellinis nights of cabiria. Big spender from sweet charity by bob fosse youtube.
Taxi dancer charity continues to have faith despite endless disappointments at its. The minute you walked in the joint i could see you were a man of distinction a real big spender good lookin so refined say, wouldnt you like to know whats goin on in my mind. What animal crackers in my soup is to some, hey, big spender. Although it was expected that this very expensive film version of the. Shirley maclaine in sweet charity 1969 shirley maclaine and bob fosse in sweet.
Jun 06, 2019 the making of one of filmmaker bob fosses early triumphs, the sizzling big spender sequence from the 1969 musical sweet charity, kicks off the opening moments of the first episode. Charity is a downonher luck dimeadance girl, or dance hall hostess, at the fandango ballroom in new york city. Maclaine plays a dance hostess who is very unlucky in love. The sad thing is i should have stopped at lenny because sweet charity, fosses first film and first box office bomb, has every right to be. Musical numbers include big spender, theres gotta be something better than this and im a brass band. I thought fosse did a great job, unfortunately the public passed on it as did all those who were so deeply offended at the big screening.
Today we send heartfelt happy birthday wishes to sweet charity taxi dancer star and academy award winning film actress friend shirley. Sweet charity is a muchloved musical comedy based on fellinis nights of cabiria 1957. Sweet charity walter gloor mainstage series events. Based on the stage musical of the same name which he also directed, itself inspired by federico fellinis nights of cabiria, sweet charity s got a dark edge, a groovy score by cy coleman, and a hilarious book by neil simon. Most of the musical numbers are exceptionally staged especially rhythm of life and hey big spender and its good that they got to keep the bitter sweet ending of the stage show. Based on the stage musical of the same name which he also directed, itself inspired by federico fellinis nights of cabiria, sweet charitys got a dark edge, a groovy score by cy coleman, and a hilarious book by neil simon. The making of one of filmmaker bob fosses early triumphs, the sizzling big spender sequence from the 1969 musical sweet charity, kicks off the opening moments of the first episode of fxs biolimited series fosseverdon in the same sultry style for which the legendary directorchoreographer was known. Tamswitmark proudly licenses the original 1966 broadway version of sweet charity. Sweet charity is a musical with music by cy coleman, lyrics by dorothy fields and book by neil simon. How dare all those girls sing hey big spender to boot. Sweet charity synopsis broadway musical young woman named charity is working as a dance partner in the fandango ballroom.
With a book by neil simon and choreography by bob fosse, the original broadway production garnered nine. Sweet charity, ed 1968 but released in 1969, was one of the big expensive musicals of that era that ended up killing the genre as audiences had seemingly lost interest in them. The superstar, whose experience with musicals includes her golden globe winning turn as the title role in the film adaptation of evita, took to twitter to post a video of herself singing big. When charity started to admire his appearance, the man grabbed a womans purse, pushed her into the lake, and fled. Shirley maclaine is of course brilliant as the luckless sweet charity, though i also loved the character of oscar, who was equally brilliantly played by john mcmartin. Sweet charity, the film adaptation of the broadway musical, has been so. The adventures of a girl who wanted to be loved is a 1969 american musical comedydrama film directed and choreographed by bob fosse in his feature directorial debut, written by peter stone, and featuring music by cy coleman and dorothy fields.
Big spender was adapted from sweet charity for the revue fosse. Passingby spaniard helped the victim to get to the shore. Big spender is a song written by cy coleman and dorothy fields for the musical sweet charity, first performed in 1966 by cilla black. Shirley maclaine plays charity hope valentine, a dancer for hire working in a rundown dance hall. Sweet charity showcases classic broadway tunes, fosse dance. Glad my final fix of classic cinema on the big screen for the time being was. Big spender from sweet charity rivera, chita kelly, paula chorus 1969 universal pictures film music. Peggy lee was the first artist to record the song for her album of the same name also that year. Her luck with men may change when she meets insurance actuary oscar lindquist, who mistakenly believes charity is a respectable girl who works in a bank. Anyhoo, vhs comes along and a few years later i rent sweet charity with maclaine and i just recall being profoundly let down in the same way that i was by camelot. His choreographies followed the golden era of the hollywood musical genre and transformed it into new spheres.
I liked the musical numbers, particularly hey big spender, if my friends could see me now, and the very fosse dance numbers in the fancy nightclub. She remains charmingly optimistic, despite a string of disastrous romances. Big spender helen gallagher thelma oliver sweet charity ensemble original broadway cast of sweet charity sweet charity. Chita rivera and paula kelly were delightful as tough broads with hearts of gold, a stereotype but fine with me.
The movie offers some interesting dances and a solid performance by maclaine. Apr 07, 2017 sweet charity showstopper big spender is recreated here by chita rivera, bebe neuwirth and cast members of cy colemans the life at this one night only concert at lincoln center in 1997. This animal planet film is sincere but lacks any drama or tension. Fosse was quite simply a genius, and the great showcase numbers such as hey big spender and rich mans frug are as brilliant as any dance numbers ever put on film. It is sung, in the musical, by the dance hostess girls. He saves the abused horse from being euthanize with the same candy that its former jockey mel tennant tara spencernairn used to give it. As its fosses first serious attempt at a movie, some things are a little sloppy but for the most part its enjoyably weird. Madonna, the powerhouse music legend who dabbled in musicals in the film version. I have known about the film sweet charity for many years. But after eight years in the business, charity comes to the realization that she cannot meet decent men in her job, which she tries to change despite her lack of skills for respectable jobs. The debut film from bob fosse, the legendary director of cabaret and all that jazz. It began life as a stage show directed by bob fosse, as a film it was a flop on release but now has almost cult status.
Now bob ruggiero, who cleverly staged it in a site specific setting a bar in housatonic is back to launch the companys 10th anniversary season with his snap, crackle and pop direction of the 1960s broadway hit, sweet charity. The making of one of filmmaker bob fosses early triumphs, the sizzling big spender sequence from the 1969 musical sweet charity, kicks off the opening moments of the first episode of fxs biolimited series fosseverdon in the same sultry style. Big spender is a song written by cy coleman and dorothy fields for the musical sweet charity, first performed. Based on a broadway play this one is entertaining but very very dated.
Montalban, ben vereen, and stubby kaye in belting out thirteen vibrant cy colemandorothy fields numbers including big spender, the rhythm of life, theres gotta be something better than. The musical explores the turbulent love life of charity hope valentine, a hopelessly romantic but comically unfortunate dance hall hostess. Charity has a number of situations where she is involved with a man whom she thinks is in love with her and will marry her. Sweet charity had what all good musicals must have good music. Mar 26, 2020 while putting on stockings, madonna began to sing cy coleman and dorothy fields big spender from sweet charity, offering up a homage to the musicals original directorchoreographer.
Conceived, directed, and choreographed by fosse and starring verdon as the titular charity hope valentine, the show won him another choreography tony. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free. Today, sweet charity would be considered oh so tame and innocent. It is based on the screenplay for the italian film nights of cabiria. He befriends newlyarrived, abandoned horse named big spender. Jun 19, 2016 provided to youtube by sony music entertainment sweet charity. So let me get right to the point i dont pop my cork for every man i see hey big spender, spend a little time with me wouldnt you like to have fun, fun, fun hows about a few laughs, laughs i could show you a good. It was directed and choreographed for broadway by bob fosse starring his wife and muse gwen verdon alongside john mcmartin. Paula kelly third from right and chita rivera second from right as dance hostess girls performing big spender. Her fortunes suddenly rise when she meets a famous italian film star and invites. Hey big spender is a solid fosse number but i have seen better and it is. Alyssa austin, anna duchi, audrey eytchison, alyssa junious, olivia pence, roma watkins, eden young. Musical about charity hope valentine, a hostess in a sleazy new york dance hall, who dreams of meeting prince charming.
While putting on stockings, madonna began to sing cy coleman and dorothy fields big spender from sweet charity, offering up a homage to the. The making of one of filmmaker bob fosses early triumphs, the sizzling big spender sequence from the 1969 musical sweet charity, kicks off the opening moments of the first episode. The minute you walked in the joint i could see you were a man of dist. Big spender is a song written by cy coleman and dorothy fields for the musical sweet charity.
Taxi dancer charity continues to have faith in the human race despite apparently endless disappointments at its hands, and hope that she will finally meet the nice young man to romance her away from her sleazy life. It is set to the beat of a striptease as the girls taunt the customers. In the manner of so many adaptations of hit shows, it recalls the stage production with a certain. Sweet charity twodisc special edition bluray directed by bob fosse. Sweet charity general discussions tcm message boards. Sweet charity video links oceanside theatre company. Chita rivera, bebe neuwirth big spender sweet charity. After being robbed in central park, she bumps into a famous italian film star and has an interesting evening at his home, much of which she spends in his walkin wardrobe.
This version is featured in the 2004 film the life and death of peter sellers, and in the 2005 film nynne. It juxtaposes the films dancers in a sinuous, sexy leadup to the memorable. The best part about being an ensemble member in a production of sweet charity. All i remember is that i loved it and i have known the lyrics to hey, big spender. The dull nonmusical scenes are a chore to sit through, but when one of fosses amazing production numbers begins, sweet charity soars into the sublime. Maybe, just maybe, handsome oscar will be the one to do it. The film has big music numbers including big spender, if they could see me now and rhythm of life, which has a. Oct 24, 2010 big spender is a song written by cy coleman and dorothy fields for the musical sweet charity.
Jan 06, 2009 big spender was adapted from sweet charity for the revue fosse. Sweet charity, the film adaptation of the broadway musical, has been so enlarged and so inflated that it has become another maximal movie. Sweet charity 1969 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The musical numbers including big spender, if my friends could see me now, and theres gotta be. Sweet charity besides has a great cast that have shirley maclaine, chita rivera or sammy davis jr.