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Sweet Charity

Play trailer Poster for Sweet Charity G 1969 2h 34m Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Charity Hope Valentine (Shirley MacLaine) always tries to look on the bright side of life, despite working in a rundown dance hall and contending with a seemingly endless run of bad dates. Determined to find love, Charity falls for suave actor Vittorio Vidal (Ricardo Montalban), but their romance is all too brief. However, when Charity finds herself stuck in an elevator with the reserved Oscar Lindquist (John McMartin), it turns out that she may have finally met her match.
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Sweet Charity

Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide The Times (UK) Jul 20, 2023
While it is no match for Cabaret, the inimitable Fosse flourish adorns a handful of first-rate musical numbers. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety Jun 30, 2008
MacLaine’s unique talents as a comic tragedienne are set off to maximum impact. Go to Full Review Vincent Canby New York Times May 9, 2005
In the manner of so many adaptations of hit shows, it recalls the stage production with a certain affection, but without any sense of what made it a hit and potentially valuable movie material. Go to Full Review Rachel Wagner rachelsreviews.net May 28, 2026
overall I liked it- particularly for the Bob Fosse dance numbers. Go to Full Review Brian Viner Daily Mail (UK) Jul 14, 2023
It’s thoroughly dated, but that’s part of its enduring charm — as is Shirley MacLaine! Go to Full Review Chase Burns The Stranger (Seattle, WA) Jan 5, 2022
While the film can drag, the musical numbers are still so sweet and bold and genre-defining that I found myself tearing up during this rewatch. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Gerard Alessandrini Sep 13, 2026 It's great to see an old time "Road Show" movie musical from the sixties. Bob Fosse's screen debut as director is stunning for his first time out. It's easy to see why his next film "Cabaret" is a complete triumph. The musical numbers in "Sweet Charity" are astounding and spectacular. So spectacular, in fact. that they don't quite go with the rest of the charming and "small' personal story of Charity. I felt this caused the film to be unbalanced. it was almost like seeing two films. The tones didn't quite match. But it's an important movie musical, not only for the great music and lyrics so well scored, but for the innovative photographic techniques it introduced to film audiences. It's a marvel to think the photography was by Robert Surtees who also photographed the likes of "Ben-Hur" and the Todd-A-O "Oklahoma!'" Also, I must say Shirley's performance is super-great and perfect for her talents. Please, screen more classic road-show film musicals like "Funny Girl', "Camelot", and even Julie Andrews in "Star!' See more Robert P @Superbad Sep 18, 2026 Sweet Charity = a *4* star movie! See more Eye C @ECinc Sep 14, 2025 This became, immediatly one of my favorite musicals, the psychodelic atmosphere and the 60s all over the movie rushes my body to higher places. The ending it's not encouraging by far, but it's a harsh and important message. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 5, 2025 Success in 2 hours and 34 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Alec B @Alec97 Dec 14, 2023 As it's Fosse's first serious attempt at a movie, some things are a little sloppy but for the most part it's enjoyably weird. Most of the musical numbers are exceptionally staged (Especially "Rhythm of Life" and "Hey Big Spender") and it's good that they got to keep the bitter sweet ending of the stage show. See more Jan 30, 2022 What is this movie about? Waited 3 years to finally see it. YAWN!!! See more Read all reviews
Sweet Charity

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Cast & Crew

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Bob Fosse

Director

Shirley MacLaine

Charity Hope Valentine

John McMartin

Oscar

Ricardo Montalban

Vittorio

Sammy Davis Jr.

Big Daddy Brubeck

Chita Rivera

Nickie

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Sweet Charity

Sweet Charity (1969) Sweet Charity (1969) Sweet Charity (1969) Sweet Charity (1969) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Charity Hope Valentine (Shirley MacLaine) always tries to look on the bright side of life, despite working in a rundown dance hall and contending with a seemingly endless run of bad dates. Determined to find love, Charity falls for suave actor Vittorio Vidal (Ricardo Montalban), but their romance is all too brief. However, when Charity finds herself stuck in an elevator with the reserved Oscar Lindquist (John McMartin), it turns out that she may have finally met her match.
Director
Bob Fosse
Producer
Robert Arthur
Screenwriter
Federico Fellini, Ennio Flaiano, Tullio Pinelli, Neil Simon, Peter Stone
Distributor
Universal Pictures, MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
Production Co
Universal Pictures
Rating
G
Genre
Musical
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 1, 1969, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 4, 2021
Runtime
2h 34m
Sound Mix
Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Mono
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