Nick Dawson
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- September 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780813125381
- eISBN:
- 9780813135267
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Kentucky
- DOI:
- 10.5810/kentucky/9780813125381.003.0024
- Subject:
- Film, Television and Radio, Film
This chapter examines Hal Ashby's directorial job for the film The Slugger's Wife. This film was produced by Ray Stark, written by Neil Simon and starred Michael O'Keefe, Rebecca De Mornay and Randy ...
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This chapter examines Hal Ashby's directorial job for the film The Slugger's Wife. This film was produced by Ray Stark, written by Neil Simon and starred Michael O'Keefe, Rebecca De Mornay and Randy Quaid. The film received so much criticism that negatively affected its box-office performance. Though it was a high-profile, mega-budget movie made by highly respected individuals, it was a huge flop, taking only $1.8 million in receipts, less than 10 percent of what it had cost.Less
This chapter examines Hal Ashby's directorial job for the film The Slugger's Wife. This film was produced by Ray Stark, written by Neil Simon and starred Michael O'Keefe, Rebecca De Mornay and Randy Quaid. The film received so much criticism that negatively affected its box-office performance. Though it was a high-profile, mega-budget movie made by highly respected individuals, it was a huge flop, taking only $1.8 million in receipts, less than 10 percent of what it had cost.
Kevin Winkler
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- March 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780199336791
- eISBN:
- 9780190841478
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780199336791.003.0006
- Subject:
- Music, Dance, Performing Practice/Studies
This chapter describes Bob Fosse’s film Sweet Charity, which opened at the top of 1966 and was a compendium of then-current styles and sexual attitudes. Fosse conceived this American adaptation of ...
More
This chapter describes Bob Fosse’s film Sweet Charity, which opened at the top of 1966 and was a compendium of then-current styles and sexual attitudes. Fosse conceived this American adaptation of Federico Fellini’s film Nights of Cabiria (1957) as a vehicle for Gwen Verdon, changing the title character from Roman prostitute to New York City dance hall hostess. He wrote several drafts of the show’s book before relinquishing those duties to Neil Simon. Nonetheless, in Sweet Charity, Fosse’s authorial voice was much in evidence. His staging exhibited a new fluidity, as well as a dark, ambivalent view of sexuality. Sweet Charity was also the vehicle by which Fosse would return to movies, this time as a director. Although full of arresting moments, the film was deemed too busy and full of gimmicky, self-conscious camerawork. Sweet Charity was a commercial and critical failure, but it allowed Fosse to explore the camera’s potential in presenting dance on film.Less
This chapter describes Bob Fosse’s film Sweet Charity, which opened at the top of 1966 and was a compendium of then-current styles and sexual attitudes. Fosse conceived this American adaptation of Federico Fellini’s film Nights of Cabiria (1957) as a vehicle for Gwen Verdon, changing the title character from Roman prostitute to New York City dance hall hostess. He wrote several drafts of the show’s book before relinquishing those duties to Neil Simon. Nonetheless, in Sweet Charity, Fosse’s authorial voice was much in evidence. His staging exhibited a new fluidity, as well as a dark, ambivalent view of sexuality. Sweet Charity was also the vehicle by which Fosse would return to movies, this time as a director. Although full of arresting moments, the film was deemed too busy and full of gimmicky, self-conscious camerawork. Sweet Charity was a commercial and critical failure, but it allowed Fosse to explore the camera’s potential in presenting dance on film.
