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Sweet Charity Photos

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Movie Info

Charity Hope Valentine (Shirley MacLaine) always tries to look on the bright side of life, despite working in a rundown dance hall and contending with a seemingly endless run of bad dates. Determined to find love, Charity falls for suave actor Vittorio Vidal (Ricardo Montalban), but their romance is all too brief. However, when Charity finds herself stuck in an elevator with the reserved Oscar Lindquist (John McMartin), it turns out that she may have finally met her match.

Rating:

G
Genre:

musical
Original Language:

English
Director:

Bob Fosse
Producer:

Robert Arthur
Writer:

Peter Stone
Release Date (Theaters):

Apr 1, 1969 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Mar 4, 2003
Runtime:

2h 34m
Production Co:

Universal Pictures
Sound Mix:

Mono, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track

Cast & Crew

Shirley MacLaine
Charity Hope Valentine

John McMartin
Oscar

Ricardo Montalban
Vittorio

Sammy Davis Jr.
Big Daddy Brubeck

Chita Rivera
Nickie

Paula Kelly
Helene

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Sweet Charity

All Critics (6) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (1)

If Charity, played by Shirley MacLaine in her sharpest innocent-at-large style, really wants to escape, it's hard to see what is bolding her back.

July 12, 2018 | Full Review…

Penelope Houston
The Spectator
There's nothing per se "bad" about this, though it's awfully musty, and in no hurry to move along.

September 12, 2017 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Tim Brayton
Alternate Ending
Bob Fosse's first film, a musical based on Felini's Nights of Cabiria, shows a lot of promise, which he will fulfill with the 1972 Cabaret. It was nominated for 3 Oscars, including Best Score.

July 21, 2012 | Rating: B- | Full Review…

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Quote not available.

June 12, 2005 | Rating: B-

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Quote not available.

October 17, 2003 | Rating: 4/5

Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Quote not available.

May 23, 2003 | Rating: 3/5

Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

View All Critic Reviews (6)

Audience Reviews for Sweet Charity

Jun 27, 2016

As it's Fosse's first serious attempt at a movie, some things are a little sloppy but for the most part it's enjoyably weird. Most of the musical numbers are exceptionally staged (Especially "Rhythm of Life" and "Hey Big Spender") and it's good that they got to keep the bitter sweet ending of the stage show.

Alec B Super Reviewer
Jun 18, 2011

The music is great, and the dancing is fantastic (whatelse for Bob Fosse!) but the story...meh...I dont I think it was just the ending...Shirley Maclaine isnt bad, But this movie did get pretty long. Buy the soundtrack, watch the dances on YouTube and save a couple of hours.

Morgan S Super Reviewer
Sep 18, 2009

I was looking forward to this and I give it 2 stars for Shirley MacLaine but it didn't come off well as a movie and I hated how badly dubbed the musical numbers were. If they remade this now, I would be very happy. There is a lot of potential here.

Sunil J Super Reviewer
Dec 02, 2008

I dislike most garish musicals and Fosse thrives on them. Sometimes I think Shirley Maclaine is adorable but most of the time I found her really annoying. "Hey Big Spender" is a solid Fosse number but I have seen better and it is really is too long. The entire movie is too long.

Jennifer X Super Reviewer