Roxie Hart

Roxie Hart

Year: 1942

Runtime: 72 mins

Language: English

Director: William A. Wellman

ComedyRomanceCrude humor and satireSong and danceCatchy songs and hilarious musical comedy

In a Chicago café in 1942, a rainy night finds veteran reporter Homer Howard addressing a growing crowd. He recounts the sensational case of Roxie Hart, the woman who captured the nation’s imagination, and the 1927 crime for which she was tried and judged.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Roxie Hart (1942)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Roxie Hart (1942). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1927, 1942

The central events unfold in 1927 Chicago, during the Jazz Age and Prohibition. A present-day frame is set in 1942, with a veteran reporter recounting the case from years earlier. The two periods contrast reckless sensationalism in the 1920s with a more reflective perspective in the 1940s.

Location

Chicago

Chicago in the late 1920s is a fast-paced metropolis where theaters, speakeasies, and the press collide. Public figures and the press shape reputations through sensational stories, turning crime into a city-wide spectacle. The environment of corruption and showmanship heightens the drama around Roxie Hart’s case, with barrooms, theaters, and courts as key stages.

🏙️ Chicago 🗞️ Prohibition era 🎶 Jazz Age

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:15

Main Characters – Roxie Hart (1942)

Meet the key characters of Roxie Hart (1942), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Roxie Hart (Ginger Rogers)

A young dancer whose pursuit of fame leads her to let herself be arrested for murder, banking on the idea that a sensational trial will revive her career. She skillfully uses media attention and public perception to her advantage, navigating romantic and legal pressures to stay in the spotlight.

🎭 Drama 🗞️ Media 💃 Dance

Homer Howard (George Montgomery)

A veteran journalist who becomes involved in Roxie’s case and questions the justice system. He evolves from a new voice in reporting to a more principled ally who helps uncover the truths behind the sensational headlines.

🗞️ Journalism 🕵️‍♂️ Investigation

Amos Hart (George Chandler)

Roxie's husband, initially suspected of involvement in the murder. He embodies the personal costs of fame-seeking crime stories and ultimately faces legal peril as the case unfolds, influencing Roxie’s fate and public sympathy.

⚖️ Domestic Drama 💔 Relationship

Billy Flynn (Adolphe Menjou)

A high-profile, flamboyant lawyer hired to defend Roxie. He engineers the courtroom spectacle, using charm and manipulation to shape the narrative and exploit the media circus surrounding the case.

⚖️ Legal Drama 🎭 Showmanship

Jake Callahan (Lynne Overman)

Casely’s partner and a persuasive reporter who helps influence Roxie to surrender to arrest. He embodies the push-and-pull of journalistic ethics and sensational storytelling during the trial era.

🗞️ Journalism 🕵️‍♂️ Influence

Gertie Baxter (Iris Adrian)

A rival 'lady criminal' who competes for publicity, illustrating how the media cycles through different female figures of crime to sustain public interest and sensational coverage.

🎭 Drama 🗞️ Media

Mary Sunshine (Spring Byington)

A public-facing figure in the press orbit who amplifies or moderates the sensational narratives around Roxie and the crime tale, reflecting the era’s flirtation with celebrity journalism.

🗞️ Media 🕊️ Public Image

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:15

Major Themes – Roxie Hart (1942)

Explore the central themes of Roxie Hart (1942), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

📰 Media Manipulation

The story centers on how the press shapes a crime narrative to boost ratings and fame. Journalists chase sensational interviews and staged moments, transforming Roxie Hart into a public spectacle. The coverage influences public perception and even courtroom strategy. This theme shows how media power can override facts in the court of public opinion.

⚖️ Justice and Exploitation

The defense leverages gender stereotypes to win sympathy for Roxie, highlighting how the legal system can be swayed by appearances. Evidence is manipulated or delayed to sustain Roxie's narrative, while real guilt is obscured by publicity. The contrast between Roxie’s acquittal and Amos’s arrest exposes the gap between legal outcomes and public drama. The courtroom becomes a stage where justice and publicity collide.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:15

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Roxie Hart Summary

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Roxie Hart Summary

Roxie Hart Timeline

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Roxie Hart Timeline

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