Roxie Hart

Stuart Chapman begins his first big assignment as a newspaper reporter in Chicago, eager but new to the beat. He is quickly pulled into a murder investigation alongside veteran Homer Howard, forcing him to prove himself.

Over drinks at a bar, Homer recounts a case from 1927 involving Roxie Hart. The tale hints at glamour, danger, and the social machinery that surrounds sensational crimes.

In 1927, theater booking agent Fred Casely is murdered and his body is found in Roxie Hart's apartment. Police begin questioning Roxie and her husband Amos, turning a private life into a public scandal. The case becomes a catalyst for Roxie's rise to fame.

Amos Hart is questioned by the police as part of the initial investigation. Tensions rise in the Hart household as suspicion falls on the husband.

Reporters Jake Callahan and E. Clay Benham persuade Roxie to let herself be arrested for the murder, arguing that a woman's trial would bring fame and revitalize her fading career. Roxie agrees, hoping public sympathy will carry her through.

While in jail, Roxie talks to reporters about the case, including Homer. The publicity machine begins shaping her image as a wronged but sympathetic figure.

Homer learns from janitor Michael Finnegan that Amos is the real killer and decides to help Roxie, going against the newsroom's expectations. He becomes a quiet ally in her defense.

Public sentiment shifts as Roxie pretends to be pregnant to garner sympathy and keep the case in the public eye. The ruse feeds the media frenzy and courtroom theater surrounding her trial.

Billy Flynn moves Roxie's trial further into the future to buy time and maintain public sympathy. He also engineers Amos's divorce to remove a potential obstacle to Roxie's case.

Roxie asks Flynn to summon Finnegan to testify, but the written statement he left behind is ruled inadmissible. The defense loses a key piece of potential evidence.

Roxie's dramatic fainting in front of the jury sways public opinion and the courtroom drama culminates in a not guilty verdict for Roxie. In the aftermath, Amos is arrested, stealing the spotlight from Roxie.

With the case behind her, Roxie faces a personal crossroads, choosing between marrying the poor reporter Homer or the wealthy stockbroker O'Malley. The decision marks the end of her ascent in the spotlight and hints at her future.

In present-day 1942, Homer finishes telling the story and the bartender reveals himself as O'Malley, the former stockbroker who figures into Roxie's past. The twist ties the flashback to the bar's current owner.

Moments later, Roxie arrives with their six children and announces she is pregnant with another. Homer is reunited with his wife, bringing the long tale to a close as their family expands.