All That Jazz

Guide Note

All That Jazz is a 1979 musical film that is considered to be a semi-autobiographical fantasy movie based loosely on parts of director Bob Fosse's life. The film depicts an overworked director, Joe Gideon, trying to edit one film while simultaneously staging his next big Broadway show. Feeling as though he's about to hit a wall, his girlfriend, ex-wife, and daughter try to pull him back from flirting with the angel of death.

Fast Facts

1. Film Director: [[[Bob Fosse]]]
2. Screenplay: Robert Alan Aurthur and Bob Fosse
3. Starring: Roy Scheider, Jessica Lange, Leland Palmer, Ann Reinking, Ben Vereen
4. Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
5. Release date: December 20, 1979
6. Run time: 123 minutes
7. Won: Four Academy Awards
8. Often compared to the film structure of Fellini's 8 1/2

Cast

• • Joe Gideon - Roy Schneider
  • Angelique - Jessica Lange
  • Audrey Paris - Leland Palmer
  • Kate Jagger - Anne Reinking
  • Davis Newman - Cliff Gorman
  • Lucas Sergeant - John Lithgow

The Reviews

• • Variety described the film as, "a self-important, egomaniacal, wonderfully choreographed, often compelling film" and added, "Roy Scheider gives a superb performance as Gideon, creating a character filled with nervous energy... The film's major flaw lies in its lack of real explanation of what, beyond ego, really motivates [him]."
  • Time Out London commented, "As translated onto screen, [Fosse's] story is wretched: the jokes are relentlessly crass and objectionable; the song'n'dance routines have been created in the cutting-room and have lost any sense of fun; Fellini-esque moments add little but pretension; and scenes of a real open-heart operation, alternating with footage of a symbolic Angel of Death in veil and white gloves, fail even in terms of the surreal."