Chicago

Chicago is definitely on my list of favorite musicals.  The first time I seen Chicago would probably be when I was about fifteen or so. I had no idea what it was going to be about but I had seen the cover of the DVD case and it didn't appeal to me at all. One day my dad, who owns a party store in which they rent movies there, brought me home a movie to watch and it just so happened to be Chicago.  On a whim my cousin Garit and I sat down in my small living room and watched it. We had nothing better to do on a Saturday afternoon.

The movie is set in the mid 1920's and opens up with Renee Zellwegers character, Roxie Hart, at night club watching a show, by the very famous Velma Kelly.  Later in the night, she goes home with Fred Casely, the man she is sleeping with in hopes that he will get her a vaudeville act.  Fred makes it known to Roxie that he doesn't actually have connections and cant get her an act. He only said he did so he could "get in her pants".  A pissed off Roxie, shoots him dead after a full out brawl between the two.

Roxie's ever so faithful husband comes home to a dead man in their bedroom and of course the police are involved.  She convinces Amos, her husband, to take the blame and say that he was an intruder and it was self defense.  That all seemed find and dandy until evidence that Roxie and Mr. Casely were fooling around and that he was married with children.  The truth of Roxie's crime of passion is revealed and she is sent to Cook County Jail.

Upon her arrival she is sent to "Murderess Row" and is cared for the corrupt "Mama" Morton.  While in the joint Roxie meets Velma Kelly, her idol, who is there for murdering her boyfriend and her sister whom she had a vaudeville act with. Roxie has Amos hire Velma's lawyer, Billy Flynn, to cover her case and get her out of jail.  Billy Makes Roxie a star and a household name.  The press go wild for her and her story. Eventually Velma and Roxie become locked in a rivalry and try to outshine each other. 

Roxie's trial becomes a media spectacle and she is eventually let off and found not guilty. Amos leaves her and she is left with nothing, so she sets off to find herself on the big stage yet again.  After no luck in finding a job, Velma Kelly, who also was found not guilty, approaches her with a proposition. Two is better than one and the girls face there differences and open a vaudeville act together and become very famous. 

The musical focuses on the corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of a "celebrity criminal", which was popular in this time era. 

I find this musical very fascinating and historical considering its based on actual crimes that took place in the 1920's.  Its crazy to think that actual criminals could buy themselves out of jail and into fame.