NOTE (ADDED 11/10/07):  THE FOSSETHON HAS HAPPENED! NOW SEE THIS! 

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Since this is essentially a much belated RIP type post, I should start by acknowledging the passing of two other important talents this weekend. You can read about master mime Marceau Marceau via Greencine, and Cinephile at Bubblegum Aesthetics has an extensive appreciation of comedienne Alice Ghostley that’s well worth reading. (H/t to Ed Copeland’s comments.)

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I’m taking a bit of a break between the ongoing William Wyler blogathon and tomorrow’s Buñuel-a-thon kick-off to mark the twentieth anniversary of the death of one of the key figures of late twentieth century entertainment: performer, choreographer, and director Bob Fosse.

Though he directed only five films and a television special (Liza with a “Z”, finally available on DVD), his impact on the film world is at least as important as the powerful effect he had on popular theater and dance. Certainly, as the first director to make full use of editing in dance and musical sequences, his impact on the MTV generation and beyond can’t be understated. He made three great musicals and two of them, Cabaret and All That Jazz, effectively retrofitted the musical for a generation skeptical of artifice, incorporating techniques from the European New Wave and even neorealism.

He didn’t only do it first. He did it better than just about anyone, and, despite his fame, Bob Fosse remains under-appreciated as a filmmaker. And that is why I’m taking the opportunity to announce Forward to Yesterday’s first ever blogathon, the Fossethon. (Calling it the “Bobathon” would likely only lead to mass carnage and confusion.).

Anything at all Fosse-connected will be fair game. I’d love to read about his work as a choreographer on films he didn’t direct, as well as his early and later appearances as an on-screen actor and dancer. You musical haters out there who are still reading this are more than welcome to write about his pair of unusual non-musicals, Lenny and Star 80. There’s plenty there to work with. And, hey, if you strongly dislike or object politically or otherwise to Fosse and want to write about that, I’m cool. Contrarians welcome.

I’d also love to read some discussions of his impact on other films, filmmakers, or fields of entertainment. If any theater or dance buffs want to deal with him strictly in those terms, that would be a great learning opportunity (especially for me). And feel free to bring in Fosse-related projects made after his death. Rob Marshall and Bill Condon’s oft-derided, heavily praised and awarded Fosse adaptation, Chicago, pro-and-con, is one obvious but interesting example. There are others.

Unless one of you dissuades me, the Fossethon will be the weekend of Saturday, November 10, 2007, the twenty-fourth anniversary of the release date of Fosse’s final film, the controversial biopic, Star 80. That’s one day after the Film and Faith Blogathon ends and five days before the kick-off of the sure-to-be-popular week long Kurosaw-a-thon. November should be big enough for all three.

Updates and occasional YouTube links to follow, like the one below to a too-little known number from Fosse’s under-seen, under-respected directorial film debut for your post-Yom Kippur, semi-spiritual viewing pleasure.