I don't understand why most people don't like the film or even find it boring! It is one of my favorite films! I admit I don't know much about the true case, but I can tell you about the film as a fictional story: It is one of the most atmosperic films I know. The pictures are great. London's empty streets at night in wartime... the art directing really gives you the feeling of the time and place. The music, often pieces by Benny Goodman are brilliantly used to support situations and also of course is historically very well fitting. The dance scene is the most intense swing dance scene I have ever seen on film and I have seen all the Fred Astaire movies! The directing is very interesting and a bit experimental. It gives you a brilliant view into the inside of the characters. Georgina dreaming about fame and adventure likes to see "Ricky" as a really cool gangster, and herself with him as his stylish girl in his elegant car, -so we suddenly see them like that. It's an interessting and thrilling effect, not at last because especially Kiefer plays beautyfull with his charakter and the different ways he can be seen by Georgy, his actual girlfriend or the viewer. Also you get a really strong connection to Kiefer's character. I really started to feel sick and associated with him, feeling the nightmare, that he was in. Georgy is well played too, you get her childish curiosity and passion for danger, adventure and power, which is kind of charming at first, but then you also see her through "Ricky's" eyes as a demonic, dangerous killer, that is disgusting and terrifying in the same way as seductive. Even I, as being a woman can totally understand his conflict and the nightmare he is going through. I can not understand how this film can bore someone, I think it is a real treasure!
Review of Chicago Joe and the Showgirl
