| Product: |
Cabaret (DVD) |
| Date: |
21/02/06 (106 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: A star - studded cast.
Disadvantages: ?
My copy of the DVD came free as part of the presentation of the Times Film Festival. The film released in 1972 by the ABC Pictures Corp has been deemed fit for viewing by the Censors Office for persons aged 15 years or over. A hit musical film of decadent, pre - war Berlin based on the Kander - Ebb musical from John van Druten’s play “I am camera”, and book by Joe Masteroff.
The major players of the cast are:
LIZA MINNELLI as Sally Bowles.
MICHAEL YORK as Brian Roberts.
HELMUT GRIEM as Maximilian von Heume.
JOEL GREY as Master of Ceremonies.
FRITZ WEPPER as Fritz Wendel.
The film won 8 Oscars. Dances and musical numbers by Bob Fosse, screenplay by Jay Presson Allen. Produced by Cy Fever, directed by Bob Fosse.
***THE STORY***
Cabaret brings 1931 Berlin (The Weimer Republic era) to life inside and outside the
Kit Kat club ( A female girlie club). Starry eyed American Sally Bowles romances 2 men while the Nazi party rises to in power to become a brutal force in the streets outside. Whilst inside impish “emcee” (Joel Grey) and Sally sound the call for decadent fun. Into this world comes British language teacher (Michael York) who falls for Sally’s charm and soon, the 2 of them find themselves embroiled in the turmoil and decadence of the era.
***CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE***
The film is a burlesque nightmare, amazingly directed and photographed, filled with great songs. Liza Minnelli is the centre piece of the film a multifaceted portrayal of a hedonistic and increasingly dangerous society. The film opens in the Kit Kat club with a live show of girlie performers. The cinematic experience in terms of technicolour and style appears a little dated by today's standards and is in my mind reminiscent of A Clockwork Orange. The songs are great and Liza Minnelli certainly knows how to belt out the numbers. Now classics songs such as “Money makes the world go round” and “If You Could See Her”. The picture often cuts between action in the Kit Kat club and the outside world, sometimes the brutal street life of rising Nazi Germany and the more intimate life of Sally Bowles.
***MY OPINION***
Cabaret is more than a musical, it is a tough, satirical, acrid and provoking show, I found it racy and very sexy. As a background to the entertainment some insights into life in pre Nazi Germany as the Nazi party rise to power. An eerie, glowing tinderbox full of grinning souls and desperate laughter. I really enjoyed it and will probably watch the DVD again. The central characters are well played by York, Minnelli and Grey. York and Minnelli who went onto better and bigger things. As a trivia point in the original Broadway version, the main characters are an American writer and English singer. In the film version they are an English writer and an American singer.
Summary: Decadent pre war Berlin and the brutality of early Nazi Germany.
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