Chicago | 1927 | Crime, Comedy-Drama

Title: Chicago | 1927 | Crime, Comedy-Drama Director: Frank Urson Studio: De Mille Pictures Corp. Starring: Phyllis Haver, Victor Varconi, Robert Edeson, Eugene Pallette, May Robson, Julia Faye Based on: Chicago by Maurine Dallas Watkins Release Date: December 27, 1927 Runtime: 103 minutes Format: Silent, black-and-white; 10 reels ; English intertitles Country: United States Language: Silent Genres: Crime, Comedy-Drama --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Opening: Roxie and Amos 00:16:00 The shooting 00:33:00 Arrest and headlines 00:52:00 Defense counsel engaged 01:12:00 Trial spectacle 01:32:00 Verdict and aftermath --- Summary: Roxie Hart, a vain and fame-seeking housewife, kills her lover and attempts to persuade her devoted husband, Amos, to take the blame. The ensuing investigation, press frenzy, and courtroom maneuvering elevate Roxie into a celebrity cause, guided by slick defense attorney Billy Flynn. The film satirizes media sensationalism and the commodification of crime, contrasting Amos’s loyalty with Roxie’s opportunism. Unlike later adaptations, this version imposes consequences on its antiheroine, underscoring 1920s studio-era morality. --- Background: Produced by Cecil B. DeMille’s De Mille Pictures Corp. and released by Pathé Exchange, Chicago was filmed in fall 1927 and directed by Frank Urson, with uncredited direction by DeMille reported during production. It is the first screen adaptation of Maurine Dallas Watkins’s 1926 hit play, itself inspired by real Chicago murder cases. The film was restored by the UCLA Film & Television Archive in 2006 from DeMille’s personal nitrate print, aiding its modern revival. --- Trivia: The film premiered in New York on December 23, 1927, with general U.S. release following in early 1928. Cinematography was by J. Peverell Marley, editing by Anne Bauchens, with settings by Mitchell Leisen and costumes by Adrian. Julia Faye appears as Velma and May Robson as Matron Mrs. Morton, character names echoed in the later stage musical and its 2002 film adaptation. The AFI Catalog lists the running length as 10 reels , corresponding to approximately 102–108 minutes depending on projection speed. A restored edition was later issued on home video, including a Blu-ray release in 2020. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: December 27, 1927 Original Studio / Distributor: De Mille Pictures Corp. / Pathé Exchange, Inc. Copyright Status: Public Domain --- Hashtags: Chicago1927 SilentFilm PublicDomain PhyllisHaver FrankUrson CecilBDeMille CrimeDrama ClassicFilm 1920sCinema RestoredCinema Source page: https: //commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chicago_(1927).webm Direct media URL: https: //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Chicago_%281927%29.webm