All That Jazz (film) "an essentially funny movie that seeks to operate on too many levels at the same time... some of it makes you wince, but a lot of it is great fun... A key to the success of the production is the performance of Roy Scheider as Joe Gideon... With an actor of less weight and intensity, "All That Jazz" might have evaporated as we watched it. Mr. Scheider's is a presence to reckon with." "Variety" described it as "a self-important, egomaniacal, wonderfully choreographed, often compelling film" and added, "Roy Scheider gives a superb performance as Gideon, creating a character filled with
All That Jazz (film) that of Fosse's wife, the dancer and actress Gwen Verdon, who continued to work with him on projects including "Chicago" and "All That Jazz" itself. Gideon's rough handling of chorus girl Victoria Porter closely resembles Bob Fosse's own treatment of Jennifer Nairn-Smith during rehearsals for "Pippin". Nairn-Smith herself appears in the film as Jennifer, one of the "NY/LA" dancers. Ann Reinking was one of Fosse's sexual partners at the time and was more or less playing herself in the film, but nonetheless she was required to audition for the role as Gideon's girlfriend, Kate Jagger. Cliff Gorman was cast in