Cabaret (1972)
Cabaret (1972)
1972’s Cabaret…is not your ordinary musical. The old cliché is that musicals are supposed to make you happy. This particular film, not so much. Director Bob Fosse, who spent lots of time around musicals in Hollywood and on Broadway, did not shoot this film like a musical. It is a dark tale that reeks of desperation. It depicts the Weimar Republic in Germany as Nazism was on a fast rise. It showed the decadent underbelly of Berlin in the early 1930’s. The club, The Kit Kat Klub, is everything that the German Nationalists, later known as the Nazi Party, wanted to destroy. The movie takes some time getting used to, but it is one of those movies where it is completely worth the watch because it stays with you for a long time. Even if you somehow hate it, you’ll remember the imagery and the songs.
Bob Fosse was quite a character, In his movies, he also acts as choreographer and he is an excellent one. He did an amazing job blocking out the dance moves. The subject matter of the film is very interesting. Just like the 1966 play the movie is based upon, it touches on subjects that were controversial back in the day. These subjects include and are not limited to; bisexuality, Nazism, etc. One of the characters, Brian, is a bisexual. The play’s original writer thought this film portrayed it in bad taste, but I am not too sure about that. The movie became a major hit within the gay community. Liza Minnelli became a gay icon with her flamboyant, cheerful personality as seen here. As homosexuality became more popular during this time period, so did Nazism. There was a very powerful scene where the Hitler Youth sing “Tomorrow Belongs to Me.” That was a very scary sequence as it shows how strong nationalism can be.
In 1931, Brian Roberts (Michael York) shows up in Berlin to finish his German studies. With little money, he teaches English to put money in his pockets. He stays at an incredibly cheap boarding house where he befriends one of the tenants, Sally Bowles (Liza Minnelli). Sally works at the Kit Kat Club as a singer and dancer. This club is overseen by the mysterious, creepy emcee The Master of Ceremonies (Joel Grey). Sally wants Brian to become one of her many lovers but learns that Brian is not exactly a straight man. Enter the German baron, Maximilian von Heune (Helmut Griem). Now a love triangle is forming. Their friends and Brian’s students are Fritz Wendel (Fritz Wepper) who falls for the straight-laced Jewish Natalia Landauer (Marisa Berenson). While these friends have their adventures in Berlin, the Nazis are increasing their power. Perhaps the main characters do not notice…or even care.
Liza Minnelli won an Academy Award for her performance. On the outside, Sally is warm and has bounds of energy. On the inside, there is some darkness which she brings out during her song-and-dance routines. My gosh, can she perform! I never was high on her as actress, but my opinion changed after watching her performance. Watch her sing “Mein Herr” or the final Cabaret song. They are some of the best choreographed songs ever seen in a musical. Joel Grey, in the same role as the play, brings a very strange aura to the role of the emcee…and in a good way. I loved his strangeness, his creepiness, and the ability to sing and dance. He apparently did not get along with Fosse because Fosse himself wanted to be the emcee but was overruled by the producers. As for the rest of the cast, two solid thumbs up!
Cabaret was released at a time where people were tired of musicals. The 1950’s and 60’s are no more. The happiness emitted from the musicals is long gone. By 1972, no one wanted to pay top dollar for a musical. Then Bob Fosse came along. He did not shoot the film like a normal musical. Cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth captured the decadence of the Berlin nightlife. He did an amazing job, especially during the musical performances. Along with the lighting, Unsworth has some of the best camerawork you’ll see from any movie this decade (the 1970’s).
This is a strange movie, but I definitely liked it. It is better than I thought it would end up being. There are moments of slowness from time to time. I liked how the film tackled issues that could have been taboo; bisexuality, abortion, etc. Yes, it is a very bold movie. There are scenes that will stick with you. Remember those mud-wrestling girls? Anyhow, give this film a look!
My Grade: B+
1972’s Cabaret…is not your ordinary musical. The old cliché is that musicals are supposed to make you happy. This particular film, not so much. Director Bob Fosse, who spent lots of time around musicals in Hollywood and on Broadway, did not shoot this film like a musical. It is a dark tale that reeks of desperation. It depicts the Weimar Republic in Germany as Nazism was on a fast rise. It showed the decadent underbelly of Berlin in the early 1930’s. The club, The Kit Kat Klub, is everything that the German Nationalists, later known as the Nazi Party, wanted to destroy. The movie takes some time getting used to, but it is one of those movies where it is completely worth the watch because it stays with you for a long time. Even if you somehow hate it, you’ll remember the imagery and the songs.
Bob Fosse was quite a character, In his movies, he also acts as choreographer and he is an excellent one. He did an amazing job blocking out the dance moves. The subject matter of the film is very interesting. Just like the 1966 play the movie is based upon, it touches on subjects that were controversial back in the day. These subjects include and are not limited to; bisexuality, Nazism, etc. One of the characters, Brian, is a bisexual. The play’s original writer thought this film portrayed it in bad taste, but I am not too sure about that. The movie became a major hit within the gay community. Liza Minnelli became a gay icon with her flamboyant, cheerful personality as seen here. As homosexuality became more popular during this time period, so did Nazism. There was a very powerful scene where the Hitler Youth sing “Tomorrow Belongs to Me.” That was a very scary sequence as it shows how strong nationalism can be.
In 1931, Brian Roberts (Michael York) shows up in Berlin to finish his German studies. With little money, he teaches English to put money in his pockets. He stays at an incredibly cheap boarding house where he befriends one of the tenants, Sally Bowles (Liza Minnelli). Sally works at the Kit Kat Club as a singer and dancer. This club is overseen by the mysterious, creepy emcee The Master of Ceremonies (Joel Grey). Sally wants Brian to become one of her many lovers but learns that Brian is not exactly a straight man. Enter the German baron, Maximilian von Heune (Helmut Griem). Now a love triangle is forming. Their friends and Brian’s students are Fritz Wendel (Fritz Wepper) who falls for the straight-laced Jewish Natalia Landauer (Marisa Berenson). While these friends have their adventures in Berlin, the Nazis are increasing their power. Perhaps the main characters do not notice…or even care.
Liza Minnelli won an Academy Award for her performance. On the outside, Sally is warm and has bounds of energy. On the inside, there is some darkness which she brings out during her song-and-dance routines. My gosh, can she perform! I never was high on her as actress, but my opinion changed after watching her performance. Watch her sing “Mein Herr” or the final Cabaret song. They are some of the best choreographed songs ever seen in a musical. Joel Grey, in the same role as the play, brings a very strange aura to the role of the emcee…and in a good way. I loved his strangeness, his creepiness, and the ability to sing and dance. He apparently did not get along with Fosse because Fosse himself wanted to be the emcee but was overruled by the producers. As for the rest of the cast, two solid thumbs up!
Cabaret was released at a time where people were tired of musicals. The 1950’s and 60’s are no more. The happiness emitted from the musicals is long gone. By 1972, no one wanted to pay top dollar for a musical. Then Bob Fosse came along. He did not shoot the film like a normal musical. Cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth captured the decadence of the Berlin nightlife. He did an amazing job, especially during the musical performances. Along with the lighting, Unsworth has some of the best camerawork you’ll see from any movie this decade (the 1970’s).
This is a strange movie, but I definitely liked it. It is better than I thought it would end up being. There are moments of slowness from time to time. I liked how the film tackled issues that could have been taboo; bisexuality, abortion, etc. Yes, it is a very bold movie. There are scenes that will stick with you. Remember those mud-wrestling girls? Anyhow, give this film a look!
My Grade: B+
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