- Format: Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
- Language: English
- Region: (US and Canada This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Number of discs: 1
- MPAA Rating:
- Studio: Fox Video
- Release Date: April 19 2005
- Run Time: 123 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00003CX8U
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#12,677 in DVD (See Top 100 in DVD)
- #62 in DVD > Musicals & Performing Arts > Musicals > Drama
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Product Description
From Amazon.com
Choreographer-turned-director Bob Fosse (Cabaret, Lenny) turns the camera on himself in this nervy, sometimes unnerving 1979 feature, a nakedly autobiographical piece that veers from gritty drama to razzle-dazzle musical, allegory to satire. It's an indication of his bravura, and possibly his self-absorption, that Fosse (who also cowrote the script) literally opens alter ego Joe Gideon's heart in a key scene--an unflinching glimpse of cardiac surgery, shot during an actual open-heart procedure.
Roy Scheider makes a brave and largely successful leap out of his usual romantic lead roles to step into Gideon's dancing pumps, and supplies a plausible sketch of an extravagant, self-destructive, self-loathing creative dynamo, while Jessica Lange serves as a largely allegorical Muse, one of the various women that the philandering Gideon pursues (and usually abandons). Gideon's other romantic partners include Fosse's own protégé (and a major keeper of his choreographic style since his death), Ann Reinking, whose leggy grace is seductive both "onstage" and off.
Fosse/Gideon's collision course with mortality, as well as his priapic obsession with the opposite sex, may offer clues into the libidinal core of the choreographer's dynamic, sexualized style of dance, but musical aficionados will be forgiven for fast-forwarding to cut out the self-analysis and focus on the music, period. At its best--as in the knockout opening, scored to George Benson's strutting version of "On Broadway," which fuses music, dance, and dazzling camera work into a paean to Fosse's hoofer nation--All That Jazz offers a sequence of classic Fosse numbers, hard-edged, caustic, and joyously physical. --Sam Sutherland
Additional Features
The features on the All That Jazz DVD are for gourmets rather than gourmands--they don't last for hours, but they're extremely valuable. For example, Roy Scheider's 2001 commentary is scene-specific rather than running the length of the film, but he does comment on 23 different scenes, in segments ranging from 20 seconds to five minutes (about 40 minutes total), offering us a behind-the-scenes look at the film and at Fosse himself (Scheider mentions he made Ann Reinking audition to play the part based on herself). There are also three brief interviews (less than three minutes total) that Scheider recorded on the set during filming, and five clips (7.5 minutes) of Fosse directing the opening "On Broadway" number; picture and sound aren't great, but it's a fascinating look at Fosse in action. --David Horiuchi
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
"Bye-Bye life. Bye-Bye happiness. Hello loneliness. I think I'm going to die."
Mar 14 2011
Format:DVD
XXXXX
"To be on the wire is life. The rest is waiting."
The above is said by the main character, Joe Gideon (Roy Scheider), in this movie.
This movie is a semi-autobiographical fantasy based on the life and career of dance man, Bob Fosse (he was also a choreographer, director, screenwriter, and actor). Fosse directed, co-wrote, and was choreographer for this movie.
We follow Gideon's (Fosse's alter ego) life where at this point in his life he starts each day with Vivaldi, Visine, Alka-Seltzer, and Dexedrine (a prescription upper). Gideon has to start each day like this because he is a chain-smoker, a womanizer who cheats on his wife, drinker, takes drugs, and is a workaholic on the road to self-destruction.
This is a movie you either love or hate. For me, I found the dancing frenzied, the dialogue piercing, the photography superb, and the acting first-rate. (Actor Roy Scheider gives a brilliant performance.) This is a great-looking film with some humorous parts that sometimes is not easy to watch.
There are ten song and dance numbers in this movie. Don't worry!! These pieces are integral to the movie, are short and sweet, and in a word are...fantastic. I especially enjoyed these songs (accompanied by dance):
"On Broadway," "Everything Old is New Again," and "Bye-Bye Life" (part of the lyrics is given in this review's title).
In 2001, the U.S. Library of Congress deemed this film "culturally significant" and thus selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.
As well, this movie won four Academy Awards.
Finally, the DVD itself (the one released in 2007) is perfect in picture and sound quality. It has eight extras including a "Musical Machine" (that's why this DVD is called the "Special Music Edition").
In conclusion, this is a movie like no other movie I've seen and proves that "there's no business like show business!!"
(1979; 2 hr; wide screen; 20 scenes)
<<Stephen Pletko, London, Ontario, Canada>>
XXXXX
"To be on the wire is life. The rest is waiting."
The above is said by the main character, Joe Gideon (Roy Scheider), in this movie.
This movie is a semi-autobiographical fantasy based on the life and career of dance man, Bob Fosse (he was also a choreographer, director, screenwriter, and actor). Fosse directed, co-wrote, and was choreographer for this movie.
We follow Gideon's (Fosse's alter ego) life where at this point in his life he starts each day with Vivaldi, Visine, Alka-Seltzer, and Dexedrine (a prescription upper). Gideon has to start each day like this because he is a chain-smoker, a womanizer who cheats on his wife, drinker, takes drugs, and is a workaholic on the road to self-destruction.
This is a movie you either love or hate. For me, I found the dancing frenzied, the dialogue piercing, the photography superb, and the acting first-rate. (Actor Roy Scheider gives a brilliant performance.) This is a great-looking film with some humorous parts that sometimes is not easy to watch.
There are ten song and dance numbers in this movie. Don't worry!! These pieces are integral to the movie, are short and sweet, and in a word are...fantastic. I especially enjoyed these songs (accompanied by dance):
"On Broadway," "Everything Old is New Again," and "Bye-Bye Life" (part of the lyrics is given in this review's title).
In 2001, the U.S. Library of Congress deemed this film "culturally significant" and thus selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.
As well, this movie won four Academy Awards.
Finally, the DVD itself (the one released in 2007) is perfect in picture and sound quality. It has eight extras including a "Musical Machine" (that's why this DVD is called the "Special Music Edition").
In conclusion, this is a movie like no other movie I've seen and proves that "there's no business like show business!!"
(1979; 2 hr; wide screen; 20 scenes)
<<Stephen Pletko, London, Ontario, Canada>>
XXXXX
A Celebration of Dancing Bodies
Mar 24 2012
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
ALL THAT JAZZ is a phastasmagoria of memories passing through Bob Fosse's mind as he dies of heart failure. Most of his memories are of his choreography, simply the most spectacular showcase of sexy modern dance on film. Like no other choreographer, Fosse composes his frames for the camera instead of the stage. A must-see for lovers of Terpsechore, graphic design, and photography.
After her plodding performance as a warrior maiden alongside CONAN, 6-foot, statuesque Sendahl Bergman bring life to her stage in her proper profession as a stellar dancer.
A producer remarks at the celebration of body beauty, "There goes the family audience." Definitely not your usual Busby musical comedy.
After her plodding performance as a warrior maiden alongside CONAN, 6-foot, statuesque Sendahl Bergman bring life to her stage in her proper profession as a stellar dancer.
A producer remarks at the celebration of body beauty, "There goes the family audience." Definitely not your usual Busby musical comedy.
Jazz hands!
Jun 5 2009
Format:DVD
Broadway choreographer Bob Fosse wrote and directed this movie based on his own life. Fosse is represented by the character Joe Gideon (Roy Scheider) and the film is a series of surreal, kaleidoscopic, frenzied vignettes which show Joe's obsession with and love for his work, his womanizing, and his drug use.
Scheider gives a dazzling performance and is a talented dancer. Nominated for nine Oscars and winner of four, the movie features non-stop dancing in the energetic, sensual Fosse style, but sadly, no music from his Broadway musicals. It would be of particular interest to dancers and Broadway show fans.
Scheider gives a dazzling performance and is a talented dancer. Nominated for nine Oscars and winner of four, the movie features non-stop dancing in the energetic, sensual Fosse style, but sadly, no music from his Broadway musicals. It would be of particular interest to dancers and Broadway show fans.
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Most recent customer reviews
very slow to get here
The delivery was very slow. Came about a week later (maybe more) than stuff ordered the same day from the States. It's a shame! Read more
Published on Jan 29 2010 by mike alberto
THE JAZZY, SNAZZY, MORBID UNDERBELLY OF SHOWBIZ
What a dazzlingly engaging experimentation with the medium of film as we take an evocative peep into the life of a showbiz-obsessed director Fosse -- the hedonistic man behind the... Read more
Published on July 18 2004 by Shashank Tripathi
Narcissism On Center Stage
The whole point of the movie is Fosse is a narcissistic (...)and freely admits it. He revels in it. Read more
Published on Jun 28 2004 by J
An Incandescent Entertainment
This is vintage Bob Fosse at the height of his game. Roy Scheider portrays Joe Gideon, a pill-popping womanizing workaholic who is literally unable to stop his compulsive bad... Read more
Published on Jun 8 2004 by Stephen B. Selbst
still getting over the film...and I saw it four years ago...
This film sounded really intriguing because I had heard about the legendary Bob Fosse and had also caught him as one of the dancers in KISS ME KATE. Read more
Published on Jun 5 2004 by D. Pawl
has one of the most drawn out death scenes ever !
The good news about this film... some phenomenal choreography, and very strong performances by the ensemble... The bad news... Read more
Published on May 2 2004 by Eddie Landsberg
It's show time!
Hard to believe this great movie has so few reviews.
I was impressed from the opening scene of dancers leaping across the stage to the final zipper at the end of the movie the... Read more
Published on April 11 2004 by K. Gittins
Waste of my money
I loved Chicago and thought from the other posted ratings that this would be just as great - or better. It was NOT. I haven't been able to watch the full movie YET!!!!
Published on April 3 2004
Richard Dreyfuss was Joe Gideon First!
First of all, let me just say that this is one of my top ten movies ever! Fosse was a true genius and this is a great film. Read more
Published on Mar 29 2004 by Elise Godfrey
Not perfect but in a class by itself. A must see for adults
1979 was one heck of a year for American cinema ("Apocalypse Now","Kramer Vs. Kramer", "Starting Over", "The China Syndrome") and leading male performances (Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino,... Read more
Published on Mar 7 2004 by guillermoj
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