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Actors: Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey, Michael York
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Cabaret |
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In the decadent 1930s era of Weimar Republic Berlin, American singer and dancer Sally Bowles (Minelli) headlines at the Kit-Kat club and dreams of being a star, but her life is fueled not only by dreams but alcohol, drugs, and one-night stands. When she meets the staid Englishman Brian Roberts (York) who lives in her boardinghouse and teaches English, she automatically tries to seduce him but they become friends instead. Both, however, are taken by wealthy German playboy Max (Helmut Griem), and when Sally becomes pregnant, Brian offers to marry her. Bigger problems face them, however, as the Nazis are coming to power. This 1972 film version of the Broadway musical (based on John Van Druten's play "I Am a Camera," in turn inspired by Christopher Isherwood's autobiographical novel _Berlin Stories) was directed by Bob Fosse and won 8 Oscars, but not Best Picture.
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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This musical adaptation set in pre-World War II Germany is about Sally Bowles, an American jazz singer at the Kit-Kat Klub. When an English teacher named Brian arrives at her door, she invites him into her home, and they fall in love. Sally takes him to the Klub, where he meets Max, who begins to teach English. Max then falls in love with another of Brian's students, and the two couples start going on picnics, and walks toghether in the park. It is then when the Nazis invade Berlin. Throughout the film, the Master of Ceremonies, and Sally perform acts in the Klub, including "The Money Song", "Wilkommen", and "Mein Herr".
--Estefan Ellison, Resident Scholar
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Everyone is welcome to The Cabaret--but be forewarned. Things are never as they seem! Based upon Christopher Isherwood's “I Am a Camera,” “Cabaret” comes vividly alive on film (after much success on stage) and it is Liza Minnelli who provides the electricity as Sally
Bowles. It's 1931 Berlin, a city swimming in madness of all kinds, not the least of which is political. Sally is a cabaret dancer at the famed Kit Kat Klub who becomes involved with a down-and-out Englishman who is trying to make a living as a writer (Michael York). Heavy with social significance, the film, however, is able to carry this responibility without being didactic. Joel Grey plays the master of ceremonies in true Oscar-winning style (he'd
also starred in this role on stage). Director Bob Fosse's eight Academy Awards was one of the year's biggest cinematic triumphs.
--Bill Hobbs, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Cabaret |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1930's-1950's
War impact on civilians/veterans
Yes
Job/Profession/Poverty Story?
Yes
Job:
- singer
Poverty story?
Yes
Kind of conflict:
- war (general)
- war, WW II
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- actor
Age:
- 20's-30's
Hair color?
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn wavey
Body type
- (woman) skinny
Events of movie makes character more...
- sensitive
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- healthy but a geeky weakling
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- blonde
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average build
How much in movie?
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
Main Adversary
Identity:
- general circumstances
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- Germany
Misc setting
- bar
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
If lots of song/dance...
- lot of singing and dancing
If soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Broadway musical
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Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 David Loftus
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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