Chicago is a 1927 American comedy-drama silent film produced by Cecil B. DeMille and directed by Frank Urson.
| Chicago | |
|---|---|
 Lobby card | |
| Directed by | Frank Urson |
| Written by | Lenore J. Coffee |
| Based on | Chicago by Maurine Dallas Watkins |
| Produced by | Cecil B. DeMille |
| Starring | Phyllis Haver Julia Faye Victor Varconi May Robson |
| Cinematography | J. Peverell Marley |
| Edited by | Anne Bauchens |
| Distributed by | Pathé Exchange |
Release date |
|
Running time | 118 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
| Budget | $303,306[1] |
| Box office | $483,165[1] |
Plot
The plot of the film is drawn from the 1926 play Chicago by Maurine Dallas Watkins which was in turn based on the true story of Beulah Annan, fictionalized as Roxie Hart (Phyllis Haver), and her spectacular murder of her boyfriend.
The silent film adds considerably to the material in Watkins' play, some additions based on the original murder, and some for Hollywood considerations. The murder, which occurs in a very brief vignette before the play begins, is fleshed out considerably. Also, Roxie's husband Amos Hart has a much more sympathetic and active role in the film than he does either in the play or in the subsequent musical. The original ending is altered to have Roxie punished for her crime, in keeping with Hollywood values of not allowing criminals to profit too much from their crimes.
Cast
- Phyllis Haver as Roxie Hart
- Victor Varconi as Amos Hart
- Virginia Bradford as Katie
- Robert Edeson as Billy Flynn
- Eugene Pallette as Fred Casely
- Warner Richmond as Asst. District Attorney
- T. Roy Barnes as Reporter
- Clarence Burton as Police sergeant
- Julia Faye as Velma Kelly
- May Robson as Matron Mama Morton
- Viola Louie as Two Gun Rosie
Preservation status
The film was long difficult to see, but a recent print was made available from the UCLA Film and Television Archive, enabling the film to play at festivals and historic theaters around the country. This has greatly improved the reputation of the film.[2] Flicker Alley released the film on Blu-ray on October 6, 2020.[3]
A print of Chicago also survives at the Gosfilmofond Russian State Archives.
See also
- Roxie Hart (1942)
- Chicago (musical)
- Chicago (2002)
References
- ^ a b Birchard, Robert S. (2009). Cecil B. DeMille's Hollywood. University Press of Kentucky. Appendix A. ISBN 978-0-8131-2324-0.
- ^ "Progressive Silent Film List: Chicago". silentera.com.
- ^ https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Chicago-Blu-ray/277731/
External links
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