Saturday Brunch & Classic Film in Arlington: Roxie Hart (1942)

Roxie Hart (1942) starring Ginger Rogers and Adolphe Menjou Roxie Hart was based on the play Chicago, which later became the basis for the Bob Fosse musical with Gwen Verdon (and then Ann Reinking in the 1997 revival) in the Rogers role. You may know about the 2002 Academy Award Winning Musical "Chicago", starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere and Renée Zellweger, but did you know that this story had been filmed before as plain comedy in 1942 or that the story was filmed as a silent in 1927, as "Chicago", with Phyllis Haver as Roxie Hart. Most people these days will want to see this film in order to compare it to the musical CHICAGO. It would be a shame if that was the only reason people watched this. Ginger Rogers turned in one of the half dozen best performances of her career in the title role. Those who only know her from her musicals paired with Fred Astaire, this film could be a surprise. Ginger had actually managed by 1942 a number of excellent non-musical comedic roles. It is ironic to compare this film with the 2002 musical version, and realize that the nonmusical version starred a musical star, while the musical starred a nonmusical actress (though Renee Zellweger acquitted herself very well indeed). George Montgomery is good as a young reporter who falls for Roxie, and the rest of the cast is filled with great character actors like Lynne Overman, Nigel Bruce, Spring Byington, William Frawley, Sara Allgood, Phil Silvers,...all of whom give expert and flawless performances. Order brunch at noon, then at 1 p.m. find a good viewing seat. Parking is available for Tallula and EatBar customers in the lot to the left of the building, as well as in the Country Club Cleaners parking lot on Pershing. Street parking is also available on Pershing and Washington Boulevard. Please take notice of any zone 6 permit restriction signs when parking on the street. For directions and parking go to: From Clarendon Metro (Orange Line) Take the Clarenden Metro. At top of escalator, turn right onto N. Highland Street. At Washington Blvd., turn left Walk down on left-hand side of Washington Boulevard for about 5 minutes. We are on the left side of the road just before Pershing. http://tallularestaur...