The Cast & Crew

Catherine Zeta-Jones Renée Zellweger Richard Gere John C Reilly Queen Latifah Christine Baranski Taye Diggs Dominic West Lucy Liu Deirdre Goodwin Denise Faye Mya Susan Misner Colm Feore Sebastian Lacause Marc Calamia Patrick Salvagna Joseph Scoren Mike Haddad Chita Rivera Mary Ann Lamb Tara Schwartz Edgar Godineaux Bill Corsair Gerry Fiorini

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Velma Kelly Roxie Hart Billy Flynn Amos Hart 'Mama' Morton Mary Sunshine The Band Leader Fred Casely Go-To-Hell Kitty June Annie Mona Liz Martin Harrison Wilbur Hunyank's Husband Newsboy Harry Alvin Lipschitz The Judge Ensemble Ensemble Ensemble Movietone Announcer Sailor

Insight "I’m amazed by how enduring this little story has turned out to be," screenwriter Bill Condon says of Chicago’s enduring cultural relevance. "Maurine Dallas Watkins’s original play ushered in a generation of cynical, wise-cracking newspaper comedies. It actually opened a few months before 'The Front Page.' In 1975, Bob Fosse cast a darker light on the material. The corruption of the legal system became a metaphor for the hollowness of all American institutions. Like so much popular art of the time, it was informed by the twin traumas of Vietnam and Watergate. Then 'Chicago' was revived in 1996, on the heels of the O.J. Simpson case, and the show business metaphor really came into focus. People connected to it in a completely new way. As for the movie, I suspect that the blurring of the line between notoriety and celebrity will make a lot of sense in our post-Monica age." "It’s fun and it’s a great ride, but what it says is rather dark," director Rob Marshall agrees. "It’s about the perversity of celebrity, and who we choose to celebrate." Inspired by the highly sensationalized trials of Cook County, Chicago Tribune court reporter Maurine Watkins penned the first incarnation of "Chicago". The play, originally titled "The Brave Little Woman", opened to rave reviews when it was produced in 1926. Two film adaptations followed: "Chicago", a silent film released in 1927, and "Roxie Hart", starring Ginger Rogers, which was released in 1942 by Twentieth Century Fox. Though the satire was specific to a certain time and place, Watkins’s tale of murder and media manipulation would prove both prophetic and timeless. In 1975, Broadway veterans John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse adapted "Chicago" as an acclaimed Broadway musical. Stage legends Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera originated the roles of Roxie and Velma, respectively. The production was a great success, once again punctuating the consistent popularity of seduction and murder. But "Chicago’s" story isn’t its only timeless element. The lyrics and melodies provided by Kander and Ebb enhanced the universality of Watkins’s clever play. The choreography by Fosse added a trademark sensuality. "John Kander and Fred Ebb are American heroes when it comes to the theater," executive producer Neil Meron explains of the importance of the trio’s contribution to "Chicago"."A good song, a good lyric, a good melody withstands the test of time. I think that’s really true of the words and music of "Chicago". They’re fun, they’re sharp, they’re sarcastic, they’re sexy, they’re biting. They hold up now, they’ll hold up in the future, they’ll hold up when we’re long gone, and they’ll hold up in interplanetary video distribution." Miramax Films optioned the rights to the Kander, Ebb and Fosse musical in 1994 from producer Marty Richards and began the arduous process of transforming the lauded stage production into a film. Despite the popularity and success of the adapting and casting the musical proved more difficult than anticipated. "The whole stage production was created as a vaudeville. That was one of the hardest things about bringing it to film, because no one sings to each other," Marshall explained. "In most musicals, you see people sing songs to each other. They don’t sing to an audience. There is no audience. There’s the fourth wall." But Marshall thought of a way to obliterate the fourth wall. No stranger to musicals, Marshall had collaborated with Chicago’s executive producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan on their highly acclaimed, award winning television productions of "Cinderella" and "Annie", for which Marshall won an Emmy. Marshall also co-directed and choreographed the Tony Award winning Broadway revival of Kander and Ebb’s "Cabaret" with "American Beauty" director Sam Mendes. Following this string of achievements, Marshall met Meryl Poster, Miramax’s co-president of production, to discuss the possibility of working with the studio on a proposed screen adaptation of "Rent". But the bold director/choreographer took the opportunity to express his ideas about "Chicago". Poster remembers, "He was confident in our first meeting; he was just so engaging." After hearing his concept for the film, Poster whisked Marshall into Harvey Weinstein’s office for what became a two-hour meeting. Poster says, "I thought he had cracked it. We’d met with so many writers and directors, but we kept running into the same problems. In an instant, Ron cracked it." Simultaneously, Marshall met with producer Mary Richards who had been a strong supporter of his throughout his theatrical career and pitched his concept. Marshall’s solution involved transforming the musical numbers into imaginary projections of the protagonist, Roxie Hart. The film would exist on two planes: the reality of Prohibition-era Chicago, and what Marshall calls the 'surreality' of Roxie Hart’s interpretation of that world. "We had to figure out a way to involve the audience in a similar way without breaking the fourth wall, the way one can on stage. Roxie is the dreamer in the movie. She’s the 'wannabe'. She desperately wants to be on stage. She sees her life in these musical sequences. It becomes one linear story that jumps back and forth between these two realities. It embraces the fact that all these numbers take place on stage instead of trying to disguise it," Marshall says. Impressed with his ingenuity, Weinstein and Richards gave him the go-ahead. Miramax and Marshall began the difficult search for the best writer to reenvision "Chicago". "We met with many people from theater, television and film." Marshall says. "The second I met Bill Condon, I knew I’d met a kindred spirit who loves musical theater. He loved "Chicago" and knew instinctively how to make it work as a film." "Ultimately, it was very clear that Bill was the writer for Chicago," says Meryl Poster, "He really enhanced Rob’s idea while making it his own. The concept was so inventive. This isn’t your old fashioned, traditional musical." "It was appealing in every way, and the most fun I’ve ever had writing a script," Condon recalls of the experience. "Not only to write a movie musical, but also to work with Rob, who has had an incredibly successful career in the theater. He’s worked with giants like Jerome Robbins and Harold Prince. You learn so much on every script, and this was a chance to learn from someone who had learned from the masters, and become a master himself." "CHICAGO" is directed by [debut], and stars Renée Zellweger ["Reality Bites", "Nurse Betty", "Jerry Maguire", "White Oleander"], Catherine Zeta-Jones ["The Phantom", "The Haunting","Entrapment", "Traffic"], Richard Gere ["Unfaithful", "The Mothman Prophecies", "Intersection","American Gigolo"], John C Reilly ["The Hours", "The Good Girl", "Gangs Of New York", "The Thin Red Line"], Lucy Liu ["Shanghai Noon", "Jerry Maguire", "Love Kills"], and Queen Latifah ["The Bone Collector", "Sphere", "House Party 2",Hoodlum"]. The Story Velma Kelley [Catherine Zeta-Jones] is on death row and awaiting trial. Her case is in the capable hands of high profile lawyer Billy Flynn [Richard Gere] who has never lost a case. Velma stands accused of murdering her husband and her sister. Roxie Hart [Renée Zellweger] aspires to be on the stage. Roxy is having an affair with a furniture salesman who has convinced her that he has connections which will help realize her dream. Freddie [Dominic West] is about to come to a sticky end and Roxie will join Velma on deathrow. That is until Billy Flynn takes up her case and turns it into a media circus. If Billy has his way, it will be a happy ending for all, even if he has to fabricate the truth. Can the man who has never lost a case pull of the impossible again? The Verdict "What a sensation this is. Yes folks, everything you've heard about "Chicago" is true. The songs, those fabulous dance routines, the big bold numbers, the cast and the glorious music will razzle and dazzle their way into your hearts. This is a big production number full of jazz, glitter and glamour that is rivalled only by the performances of three fabulous stars, Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere. And yes, even the support cast shines with a bevy of great performances from some very talented women headed by a glorious Queen Latifah ['Mama' Morton] and the familiar face of Christine Baranski [Mary Sunshine]. Not to be outdone the men fare just as well when it comes to heaping praise on the cast. John C Reilly [Amos Hart], Dominic West [Fred Casely] and Taye Diggs [The Band Leader] who narrates the story. It really is a rousing film and one that opens with a bang and finishes the same way. It's stylish, highly entertaining in the grand, grand style of those big musicals which Hollywood was once famed for. "Chicago" is the sort of film that has you wanting to clap every song and gives the feel of real theatre. With Zeta-Jones, Zellweger and Gere belting out some wonderful songs "Chicago" should provide a wonderfully entertaining experience that will live on in your heart long after the credits have finished rolling. A grand and exhilirating experience that will have your toes tapping and your fingers snapping. Hell, you may even feel like standing and applauding. "Chicago" is a film for everyone. Chicago has won a raft of awards this year including Catherine Zeta Jones's Oscar & BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress. Best role I've seen Richard Gere in for a while now. "Chicago is a gem!" What The Critics Are Saying

"Chicago is sophisticated, brash, sardonic, completely joyful in its execution." Stephanie Zacharek SALON.COM "It's fun, splashy and entertainingly nasty." Michael Wilmington CHICAGO TRIBUNE "Delivers the sexy razzle-dazzle that everyone, especially movie musical fans, has been hoping for." Frank Scheck HOLLYWOOD REPORTER "A stylish cast and some clever scripting solutions help Chicago make the transition from stage to screen with considerable appeal intact." David Rooney VARIETY "The real star of this movie is the score, as in the songs translate well to film, and it's really well directed." Richard Roeper EBERT & ROEPER "A piece of stagecraft so thrilling -- and spontaneously combustible -- that audiences at the two screenings of the movie I attended kept erupting into applause." Bruce Newman SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS "The fabulous bones of this oft-told tale have been picked over so often that there's no flesh left on them. But Mr. Marshall and the screenwriter Bill Condon get a terrifically sweet concoction out of this fabled skeleton." Elvis Mitchell NEW YORK TIMES "Zellweger has gone about the business of making her Roxie huggable -- which is as exhausting for us as it is for her." Dennis Lim VILLAGE VOICE "Chicago is everything a musical is supposed to be, with good songs sung by people who sing well, and with lots of sexy dances featuring women who are gorgeous and men who don't get in the way." Mick LaSalle SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE "This Chicago doesn't toddle, it swings, it Lindy Hops, it Charlestons the night away, and probably all your woes along with it." Stephen Hunter WASHINGTON POST "In Marshall's virtuoso hands, this movie version of the 1975 Bob Fosse Broadway musical based on the 1942 Ginger Rogers movie Roxie Hart based on the 1926 play Chicago, the rhinestones shimmer like diamonds and brass glows like solid gold." Carrie Rickey, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER "Zellweger's part seemed the most challenging, both physically and emotionally, and I think she really nailed it - it's one of the year's best performances." Jon Popick PLANET SICK-BOY "Chicago is my kind of town -- and now it's my kind of movie musical." Bruce Kirkland JAM! MOVIES "Big, bright, brassy and almost dangerous to know, Chicago does to sceptics what Al Capone did to stool pigeons." Peter Howell TORONTO STAR "It's not just one of the best movies of the year, but one of the best movies in many a year." Louis B Hobson JAM! MOVIES "The most vibrant movie musical since 'Oklahoma.' That's 'Chicago.'" Harvey S Karten COMPUSERVE "It prances. It struts. It kicks up its heels. It bumps and grinds and gyrates and works up a sweat and has a cigarette afterwards." Roger Moore ORLANDO SENTINEL

Directed by Rob Marshall Screenplay by Bill Condon Production Management Joyce Kozy King Original Music by Danny Elfman & John Kander Non-Original Music by John Kander Cinematography by Dion Beebe Film Editing by Martin Walsh Production Design by John Myhre Art Direction by Andrew M Stearn Set Decoration by Gordon Sim Costume Design by Colleen Atwood Run Time 113 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2003 - Miramax - All Rights Reserved ©2003 - Impact Internet Services & The Movie Pages - All Rights Reserved