Sweet Charity

“There ain’t no use flappin’ your wings, ’cause we are stuck in the flypaper of life!”

This musical comedy-drama stars the great Shirley MacLaine alongside an all-star ensemble cast including Sammy Davis Jr (performing ‘Rhythm of Life’ in a brilliant musical scene) and Ricardo Montalbán and is based on the script of Fellini’s Nights of Cabiria.

Charity Hope Valentine 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, she falls for actor Vittorio Vidal , but their romance is short-lived. However, when she finds herself stuck in an elevator with the reserved Oscar Lindquist, it seems she may have finally met her match.

Boasting amazing costumes (by Edith Head), fantastic songs (such as ‘Hey, Big Spender’) and dance sequences (including ‘Rich Man’s Frug’), the heart of the film nevertheless belongs to the Golden Globe-nominated MacLaine, who is splendidly charming, funny and forthright as the ever optimistic Charity Hope Valentine.