You know the Chicago story best in musical form but this is the original narrative film about murderous vixon Roxie Hart…with a live musical score by GUIZOT!

For a long time, audiences were unable to see this 1927 classic comedy-drama silent film by Frank Urson (produced by legendary director Cecil B. DeMille) but thanks to the UCLA Film and Television Archive, whose recent print we’ll be screening, that has all changed. Chicago is drawn from material in a play by Maurine Dallas Watkis’ based on the true life story of Beulah Annan, fictionalized as Roxie Hart, and the high-profile murder of her boyfriend. With Hollywood in mind, the ending in Chicago is more cruel (criminals must pay!) but the journey there is full of misplaced celebrity, feminine wiles, jazz, booze, and retribution.

Guizot: Clifton Hyde (Guitars, Mandolin, & Composer), Chris Komer (French Horn), Grant Zubritsky (Bass), and Rich Stein (Percussion).

A Live Sound Cinema part of our Chicago: second city on film series