What good is sitting alone in your room (Cabaret (DVD))

Member Name: salgirl

Product:	Cabaret (DVD)
Date:	29/05/01 (636 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A timeless masterpiece

Disadvantages: NONE

Saying Cabaret is a good film, is like saying the Taj Mahal is a nice building, or that Ayres Rock is pretty for a lump of rock. It's misses the point somewhat.

This isn't a musical as such, at least, that's not the impression you are left with when you have travelled such a magnificently torturous journey through the story. It strikes you that this is one mother of a film that co-incidentally has some of the best show music around. Even now. This film was made in 1972, and hasn't even got the tiniest of wrinkles or a hint of grey in the passing years.

The main characters are Liza Minelli and Michael York, and whilst it's adapted from Christopher Isherwood's book on his life in Berlin during the pre-WWII years, the stories are intrinsically different. Minelli plays American, Sally Bowles, the daughter of "a very important man, darling. He's incredibly busy." This is Sally's way of coping with a father who sees little of her and seems to care even less. So, here she is in divinely decadent Berlin, living the life of a nightclub singer in a seedy joint, surrounded by prostitutes and transvestites, which is steeped in an invasive and threatening mood due to the emergence of the Nazi party.

The compare of the joint is played by Joel Gray, and in his role of weird and scary MC, he presides over the club and helps provide some of the musical entertainment. He performs the classic track, Money (Makes The World Go Around), alongside Liza on stage and the atmosphere is electric. The dancing throughout is choreographed by the amazing Bob Fosse, and blends in superbly with the corrupt and dirty feel to the film. He's also scarily amusing during his song "Two Ladies", another in the great catalogue of songs that the film produced. (Mein Leiber Herr, Cabaret, Maybe This Time to name but a few)

Michael York plays a very proper young Englishman, (basically the young Isherwood) who encounter
s Sally when the end up sharing the same boarding house. He's there working as a teacher of English, and the scenes were Sally gate crashes on of his lessons and generally disgraces herself with tales of being on a casting couch all afternoon with some old guy in an effort to get work, is hilarious. It's played out in front of a prim and proper young Jewess (played by Marisa Berenson) and the contrast in personality, manners and upbringing is a wonderfully observed piece of comedy.

The plot basically follows the lives of Minelli and York through their time together in Berlin before the outbreak of war. Through their lives and experiences you are witness to the increasing and increasingly violent attacks on Jews in the society, and the way that the country responded to the upsurge in national pride following the rise of Adolf Hitler.

This film is many things. Funny, moving, astute, atmospheric, overwhelming, artistic, intelligent and compelling. Bob Fosse excelled himself with the choreography, Liza excelled in her acting, singing and dancing (a rightly winning an oscar in recognition of her work), Michael York plays the sensitive Isherwood to a T, and Joel Schumacher's presence is omnipresent throughout.

If you look for the symbolism in the characters portraying the mood and times of a country descending into it's own hell, then they are there a plenty. Some influences are subconciously picked up on, with others slap you hard in the face. Either way, once watched, this is a film that will stay with you forever.

A classic. An absolute classic that should be compulsory viewing for schools. The music is sophisticated and top-notch, the dancing is strangely erotic, and the whole mood is just one long shiver down the spine.

WHATEVER ELSE YOU DO WITH YOUR LIFE, DO NOT MISS THIS FILM.

DVD Extras.

There are a couple of interviews included with the film, centering mainly on Minelli and York as the
y talk about their time together, and a documentary about the making of the film itself. Not amazingly brilliant value for money on their own, but the film is the real pride and joy so what the heck.


** I've rated the special effects as outstanding, not because there were any in the actual film as such, but if creating such a fantastic atmosphere for the film is a special effect, then it seriously is outstanding. Okay? So don't go rushing off thinking that it's packed with your Hollywood style effects. Just so's we're clear on the point.

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