"Chicago" DVD — with Bonus Features — Available Aug. 19

By Andrew Gans
13 Aug 2003

The DVD of this year’s Academy Award-winning Best Picture, “Chicago,” will hit stores Aug. 19.

Available from Miramax Home Entertainment, the DVD of the Kander and Ebb musical will feature the complete Rob Marshall-directed film as well as commentary from Marshall and screenwriter Bill Condon; a behind-the-scenes featurette; and the song "Class" — performed by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Queen Latifah — which was cut from the film. Amazon.com is already accepting pre-orders for the DVD, which is priced at $19.49. A VHS version of the film is also available for pre-order, priced at $20.99.

“Chicago” opened wide Feb. 8, 2003, and became Miramax's top-grossing film. Starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger and Richard Gere, the motion picture garnered six Academy Awards in all, including one for Zeta Jones for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of killer showgirl Velma Kelly. (Zeta Jones was nominated in a category that also included her "Chicago" co- star, Queen Latifah.) Zeta-Jones was the only the actor from the Miramax film who received an Oscar. Renée Zellweger lost the Best Actress prize to Nicole Kidman ("The Hours"), and John C. Reilly lost the Best Supporting Oscar to Chris Cooper ("Adaptation"). Other "Chicago" winners included John Myhre and Gord Sim for Best Art Direction, Colleen Atwood for Best Costume Design, Martin Walsh for Best Film Editing and Michael Minkler, Dominick Tavella and David Lee for Best Sound.

The soundtrack of the film is currently available from Epic Records.