This scene from All That Jazz is the simplest and sweetest dance scene Bob Fosse ever put on film, expressing the joy of song, dance, and family with unforced precision. Fosse can be seen as a fairly cool, if not cold, filmaker and choreographer. But that coolness conceals depths of sadness and joy, and you can see them both here — and, for once, the emphasis is on the joy.

….And, yes, this is a reminder that the Fossethon stilll starts this November 10th, lingering on through that weekend.

Speaking of Bob Fosse, there’s a great Fosse-related post up at a blog called Reading is My Superpower in which speed-reader and film buff Annie Frisbie discusses just what it is that makes musicals special. In her discusion, she links to an amazing scene I’d almost forgotten from Cabaret (featuring the song “Maybe This Time”, a great tune that hasn’t been covered nearly enough for my taste) and has some pithy comments on Fosse’s directorial choices. She also has something to say about the heavily-stylized, Ann Margaret-centric opening of Bye Bye Birdie and a scene from Curtis Hanson’s 8 Mile, which I’d really like to see again, I think. 

The well-read Ms. Frisbie’s post is part of the Close Up Blogathon happening over at The House Next Door. With a little luck I’ll have an entry up there myself within a few days.