Chicago: The Movie and Lyrics FROM THE PUBLISHER
A magnificent visual book in full color with over 120 photos about the making of the major feature film Chicago, based on the award-winning musical by John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse.Everyone loves a legend, but in Chicago, there's only room for one. Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) burns in the spotlight as a nightclub sensation. When she shoots her philandering husband, she lands on Chicago's famed murderess row, retains Chicago's slickest lawyer, Billy Flynn (Richard Gere), and is the center of the town's most notorious murder case, only increasing her celebrity. Roxie Hart (Renée Zellweger), seduced by the city's promise of style and adventure, dreams of singing and dancing her way to stardom. When Roxie's abusive lover tries to walk out on her, and she, too, ends up in prison. Billy recognizes a made-for-tabloids story, and postpones Velma's court date to take on Roxie's case. Infamy is Roxie's ticket to stardom. Billy turns her crime of passion into celebrity headlines, and in this town, where murder is a form of entertainment, she becomes a bona fide star—much to Velma's chagrin. As Roxie fashions herself as America's sweetheart, Velma has more than a few surprises in store, and the two women stop at nothing to outdo each other in their pursuit of fame and celebrity. A new interpretation that takes the award-winning Broadway show into fresh and expansive cinematic realms, Chicago shifts adroitly from the reality of intrigue, rivalry and betrayal to spectacular fantasies of music and dance, offering tongue-in-cheek commentary on the cult of celebrity and the scandalous lengths to which people will go to attain it. The lavish volume includes the illustrated story of the history of the musical/play Chicago and fascinating behind-the-scenes photos and sidebars. 120 color photos.
Author Biography: Rob Marshall, director and choreographer, previously directed and choreographed the award-winning Disney/ABC musical Annie and co-directed the Kander/Ebb musical Cabaret. Bill Condon, screenwriter, wrote and directed Gods and Monsters, the Oscar® winner for Best Adapted Screenplay. Martin Richards co-produced the original Broadway productions of Chicago, La Cage Aux Folles, and Sweeney Todd, among other productions.
SYNOPSIS
This colorful book celebrates the movie musical Chicago with complete script and lyrics and some 180 color film stills and behind- the-scenes candid shots, as well as notes on production, costume renderings, production drawings, and special effects photos. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Although this book (which is based on a movie, which is based on a musical) can't sing or dance, it comes darn well close enough to providing the oohs and aahs of going to see Chicago on the big screen. The smash hit movie has paved the way to a stunner of a book that simultaneously pays tribute to and explains the intricacies of Rob Marshall's showstopper. In his introduction, the director explains, "Musical theater is American-born, and it's our form. When musicals are done beautifully... it seems completely organic and convincing that people can sing and dance while telling their stories. When musicals are done right, they lift you in a way that no other form can. And that's why I love them so." The gorgeous photos in the book are uplifting indeed: there's Richard Gere as lawyer Billy Flynn, surrounded by scantily clad vaudeville showgirls in fishnets; there's Chicago's fictitious, sparkling Onyx Theater, balconies aglow; there's the voluptuous Queen Latifa, draped in gold and shimmying across the stage as Mama Morton. The book shares profiles of Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lucy Liu and other stars of the film; historical vignettes of the real-life murderesses who inspired the characters; and essays on the costumes and set design. And then there's the screenplay, containing the movie's song lyrics and spoken lines. It's a marvelous package: flashy, informative and sure to "razzle dazzle 'em." (Apr.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Library Journal
With big stars, big numbers, and, of course, all that jazz, Chicago is fast becoming the big-little film that could. Winner of three Golden Globes-Best Musical, Best Actress: Musical or Comedy (Renee Zellweger), and Best Actor: Musical or Comedy (Richard Gere)-this Rob Marshall vehicle tells the story of two Jazz Age murderesses, Velma Kelley (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Roxie Hart (Zellweger), as they vie for stardom and headlines. Unwilling to settle for anything less than first-rate, the actors, many not trained singers and dancers, strove to learn the required skills to bring this Broadway production (drawn on news stories) to the big screen. Much like 2001's Moulin Rouge, Chicago is sure to bring audiences into the fold, converting them into musical lovers, with soundtrack singalongs and all. In addition to the complete screenplay and lyrics, this companion is filled with photos, interviews, quotes, and insider information on the strenuous production. For all film musical collections. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
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