Giulietta Masina, Fellini's wife, had her most famous role as Cabiria, the Roman streetwalker who, despite being knocked down by life more than once, never gives up on her dreams of love and happiness. Sweet Charity follows most of the episodes depicted in the film: the opening scene of Cabaria being shoved into the drink by a treacherous boyfriend; her fleeting, glamorous encounter with an Italian movie star; a bizarre religious pilgrimage (converted in the musical to a trip to the groovy "Rhythm of Life" church); and her seemingly hopeful romance with a nice accountant. The 1957 flick is presented in a new 35mm print. The movie won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film.
Christina Applegate stars as Charity in the new Broadway production, which is directed by Walter Bobbie, and plays the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.
