It was not a Nazi event. That is what is so chilling about this scene. It is so idylic, people enjoying a Sunday afternoon, drinking coffee, eating pastries, just regular people, housewifes, workers, children. Then the Hitler Jugend, who just happened to be there, and wanted to make a statement, gets up and sings "Tomorrow belongs to me", and little by little they all join in, sans the old guy, who knows better. That is what was so insidious about the rise of the Nazi movement, just regular people getting caught up in movement that overtook the country and soon most of Europe, when Hitler starting to invade country after country.
It's a brilliant song and tells perfectly how Nazism rose from an obscure idea to taking over the country. I've never seen history done so brilliantly.
Dont think those were regular people, they were all nazi supporters that decided to join in on the song. The song just shows how much nazism have seeped into society you thought they were regular people but they were all nazis.
It only creeps up when you arent paying attention, when you are it is blatantly obvious it is going to happen. The main issue is with this movie is that is the takeaway people have it this idea nazism just creeped up on people and they caught in it.
No one who watched this in 1972 was at all confused about what was going on in the movie. It was really interesting to watch a Millennial/Gen Z take on it and realise just how far removed from the events of the movie current generations are - perhaps far enough removed to prove the truth of the saying “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” There is some comfort in the fact that these reactors are smart enough to see the parallels between the past and the present day.
Polly parrot absolutely right. As a child of the 70s I knew exactly what it was as soon as I saw it.. the sense of doom escalated quickly in this film. It’s bitter sweet romance was going to inevitably fail and everyone in that Cabaret including Sally Bowles were never going survive Nazi Germany. The beatings were just around the corner, the prison was looming and then the camps.
You are absolutely correct. I was born in Spain only 15 years after the end of WWII. When the movie became available I watched it and understood the context perfectly. I find quite upsetting how younger generations in the USA (where I live) are so unaware of History and everything that took place less than a century ago…. sad.
"And those societies which burn books will eventually burn people" I have paraphrased this; I don't remember who said it. My little 14 year old cousin was incinerated in Auschwitz. Never again!
Boys if you look closer at Cabaret the songs are actually commentary on what was happening in Germany and in the story. The song Tomorrow Belongs to Me is absolutely terrifying.
Thank you! As a Black woman who got chased by the Indiana Klan as a child, I thank you for seeing the current, alarming, prejudicial anti-Semitic dangers in this wonderful film.
how traumatic. I get so angry when I hear things like that. I think the best scene showing the propaganda is when they're in the lobby room of where they live, and the others are listening to propaganda on the radio and then talking about how Jews are the cause..... It's exactly what's happening now, except now is on a larger scale, with social media. Note: I didn't mean it was the best scene of the film, just that depicts how brainwashing/ indoctrination happens.
And sadly it seems in america minorities r becoming what Jewish ppl were in Germany. Ppl forget the whole nazi movement was a conservative one, to preserve the country. That's why I fear things like ppl yelling to get rid of the immigrants and constantly saying that ppl of color commit all the crime. That's exactly how it started for Jewish ppl. "If we want to conserve our society and way of thinking/living". And ppl wonder why we are afraid when we hear things like this. Ppl have forgotten that thr holocaust actually happened and isn't just a story in a book
Cabaret ranks very high on the list of films you should deliberately watch twice. On first viewing, it's difficult to see how it all goes together. You're confused by the various forces (social mores, poverty, etc.) that are impacting the storyline's main characters. The cabaret sequences are a hallucinogenic mixture of funny, alien and weirdly menacing. The second time through, knowing who the characters really are, the main storyline is much more coherent, and you have the distance to see that the cabaret sequences each are directly paralleling it. It's an astonishing work of screenwriting and editing, used to describe how an enlightened people collapses, through inattention, personal ambitions, and hubris. And kudos to both of you for actually paying more attention to the important story, the political story. You would be amazed how many people watch this and think "it's a racy romance with great songs". Scary.
Nah you can just watch it once unless cabaret is the only film you have seen. It doesnt do anything groundbreaking, it is very predictable and in your face about it no sudtlety. People can only praise by copy and pasting reddit post with a barrage of meaningless buzzwords that can be applied to any movie you like. The reason why people think that about cabaret is cause of the failure of the movie glossing over the rise of the third reich with preference of the racy romance and songs typical broadway afterall, catchy songs and romance are better for audiences than meaningful introspective storylines about societal spread of evil. The way the cabaret musical sequences are used in the storyline is generic musical theater its amazing how you put nazis in a musical and people think its groundbreaking.
@@lampad4549 Obviously, I disagree. You're dismissing the point of Cabaret as a failure of a Third Reich docudrama that distracts with entertainment. That's not a failure, it's the primary point. They're not interested in documenting the process of the rise of Nazism. They're interested in demonstrating how people miss what's happening around them when distracted by entertainment. You might not find that of value, but others have, and do. Finally, I don't use Reddit or meaningless buzzwords, and songs equating love for jews with gorilla bestiality are certainly not "generic musical theater", especially considering the time period when Cabaret was created.
@@lampad4549 What you just said is utter crap. There's a reason you'll find almost everyone disagreeing with your hot take, and it's not because you're right.
RE Tomorrow Belongs to Me. The whole point is that it's taking place at a regular beer garden with regular people on a regular day, and they all (most) start to sing along. That's the chilling part. If it was a Nazi event filled with Nazis, it would be meaningless if everyone sang along.
The shots of audience members in the Cabaret (at the beginning and end of the film) were based from artworks of the time, especially by German artists who were labeled as “degenerate artists” and had much of their work confiscated by the Nazis or destroyed. The art was reviled by the Nazis for its modern style and deliberate intention of the artist to make viewers feel uncomfortable, as well as controversial subject matter which often included ambiguous sexuality, and inferences about power, money, violence, alcoholism, drug use and interracial relationships which were forbidden.
They didn’t go to a Nazi rally. They were in a Biergarten and a Nazi rally broke out. The story is based on reality and so is what we’re experiencing here today, as you noted. This is the first video of yours I’ve seen and I want to watch others especially if they’re classics.
The origin of this was a book written by an English author who did go to live in Berlin at that time. It was then turned into a play, and then a non-musical film. Finally it became a musical and then the great Bob Fosse directed this film and won the Oscar. Try watching again and pay close attention to the script (maybe with subtitles) to get the subtle subtexts and gradual social change. It won a total of 8 Oscars and is considered a great American masterpiece.
I always thought the mirror at the begining and end had two purposes. One - it shows that the movie is a reflection of the society at that time, and two - the audience at the beginning were not primarily Nazi's where at the end of the movie the mirror reflected that there are mostly Natzi's in the audience. It reflects the change that happened during the events of the movie.
Max was part of the German aristocracy and was not aligned with the Nazis. He was representative of the decadence/decay of the moral decline of the 1920s and 30s. Also he represented the monied elite who could what they wanted when they wanted.
The songs here, by the way, aren't just entertainment in the cabaret: each song is a comment on what's happening, an exploration of character, or a jab at the characters and at us. Liza Minnelli is the daughter of Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli. He was one of the greatest movie directors of his generation. And if you don't yet know who Judy Garland is, you have a fantastic treat in store, because she was simply one of the greats, and also one of the most damaged victims of the Hollywood system. Its effects led to her lifelong battle with addiction, which she lost at the age of 47. You owe it to yourself to get to know how Liza Minnelli inherited the gifts she has expanded on. "Cabaret" needs several re-watches: there is a lot going on with all the people we focus on, and the slow, frightening build-up of the Nazi threat. It's a careful, intelligent and scary structure.
When I was a teenager, my parents would give me money for the bus and a movie. This came out when I was 13, and I saw it twice. It's one of two movies that changed the way I think about art and the world; the other was _2001: A Space Odyssey_ which my cousin took me to when I was nine. Brian was the first gay character I'd ever seen-which, as a 13 year old gay kid, meant a lot.
Bob Fosse is The Goat! His movements inspired most of Michael Jackson's (and many many others, his style is so distinctive!). Liza showing she wasnt only the daugther of two Hollywood legends, but a legend on her own. I also saw the play in London...wow!
Fosse's choreography gives this film such a unique style. I know little about music and nothing about dance but watching this makes me want to see more.
LOVE this film. Its sad that one of the best songs is a nazi anthem...but amazing performances by all. I've seen the play many times, both on Broadway as well as in local small theaters and its just devastating. Based on Christopher isherwood's "Goodbye to Belin" and Sally was based on a friend of his, a Cabaret singer, Jean Ross. Glad you got to see this. It's creepy how relevant it still is.
That song was written for the show and, contrary to the beliefs of the White Supremacists who refuse to believe they've been singing along with the words of a gay Jewish librettist, was not based on any earlier work. That it managed to convey exactly the right type of idealised nationalism shows how well it was done.
One of the frightening things about the "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" scene is that it wasn't at a nazi event. They were at a regular beer garden, which slowly turned into a nazi event as the song progressed.
What a great reaction! Actually, Christopher Isherwood's novel "Goodbye to Berlin" was first published in 1939, then John Van Druten adapted it into a play "I Am a Camera" (1951), then Kander & Ebb (music) and Masteroff (book) adapted it into the musical "Caberet" which premiered on Broadway in 1966. Bob Fosse's 1972 film adaptation draws on its many iterations but, being a choreographer, he definitely put his stamp on it. It's been revived as a show countless times both on Broadway and the West End (London), most recently in 2021 and is coming back to Broadway next year, with Eddie Redmayne as the Emcee.
@@nellgwenn Did you notice Patrick McGoohan as the, Swedish Water Therapist? "Beware of pretty faces that you find/a pretty face may hide an evil mind..."
@@nellgwenn McGoohan was the star of "Danger Man" (aired in the U.S. as "Secret Agent") and the title character in the cult TV series "The Prisoner," which takes the "they've given you a number and taken away your name" theme as far as it can go. In addition, he appeared four times on "Columbo" as a killer
@@charlessperling7031 Secret Agent Man Johnny Rivers 1966. I've never watched those shows. I probably watched the Columbo episodes though. I binged watched the entire series at one point.
All That Jazz....THAT is THE dazzling Bob Fosse movie of all time. I like Cabaret, but I'm DYING to see a reaction to "All That Jazz". With all due respect to Cabaret, All That Jazz is his greatest achievment. There are some movies I can't believe there aren't reactions for and "All That Jazz" is definitely on that list. (His last movie, "Star 80" would make a helluva reaction as well.) DEFINITELY seconding your "strongly urging" for "All That Jazz"
@@erinesque1889 That is terrible to hear! Maybe that's why there are no reactions for it, that's a crime. That's a movie that should ALWAYS be available. I believe the Criterion Channel has it, actually, their website which has an incredible archive. They rotate stuff but it's worth checking out if you're looking for a place to stream it in a pinch.
It's often said that men don't like musicals...except for Cabaret. That's certainly true of me. I think it's because of the politics, but also because pretty much every song is a performance on stage (unlike most musicals, where people are weirdly bursting into song at any moment). Also, very clever how every song is a commentary on the action at that point in the film. Truly a great work of art.
you guys seem smart, but this is a great movie, you're commenting way too much without it playing out. You're half focused. Nice observations at the very end. But missed the power of it, by only half watching
This was set in the later years of the Weimar Republic of Germany, in which what became the Nazi party was ascendent. It is a dramatic glimpse of those years prior to a take over of the society, and a taking of power of the country and much of Europe. It is entertaining yes, but also foreboding. A great film. One of a kind.
I just watched this film a few days ago and I was blown away by how great it is. It's dark, it's funny, it's campy and conveys so many messages that I think are so relevant today. Liza Minnelli as Sally Bowles was phenomenal. It's sad that her legendary mother Judy Garland had died 3 years prior to this films release and never got to see her win the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Liza is the daughter of iconic singer Judy Garland and A-list director Vincente Minnelli. She won the Oscar for Cabaret and has performed in many films, won other awards and had sold-out musical performances over the decades.
The songs were more than “fun”. They were either commentary or foreshadowing of action on the screen,tho you’re right being set in a cabaret kept the songs from interrupting the story
There really are two kinds of movie musicals. The complete fantasy type where people randomly break out in song at the drop of a hat and no one finds it odd in the least. Then there are the ones like Cabaret which could be classed as performative films where the musical numbers fall into the plot of the story and typically on a stage. Many of those center around the life of a singer or musician. For instance the 1955 film "Love Me or Leave Me" starring Doris Day and James Cagney chronicles 20's torch singer Ruth Etting's climb to fame while she was involved in an deeply troubled and abusive relationship with her manager/eventual husband mobster Marty "the Gimp" Snyder. There is also "I'll Cry Tomorrow" starring Susan Hayward which looks at Broadway musical star Lillian Roth's descent into blackout alcoholism and her slow crawl back to sobriety. In both case the character's are shown in performance and it gives the audience a chance to catch their breath as the heavy duty dramatics unfold. Actually one of the best of the films in the genre starred Liza's mother Judy Garland (if you aren't familiar with her she played Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz". The 1954 picture "A Star is Born" was the first musical adaptation of the story which had been made as a straight drama in 1937 and crafted excellent songs onto an already solid story with the main character now an aspiring singer.
This was based on Christopher Isherwood's semi-autobiographical collection of short stores, BERLIN STORIES. (Michael York's hair is brushed so he looks vaguely like Isherwood.) Isherwood was one of the first openly gay writers I ever knew of. I've heard he disliked this version of CABARET because he objected to Minnelli's depiction of Sally Bowles -- who was based on a real friend of his from his Berlin days.
He said that nobody at the real-life club was anywhere near as talented and that none of them could have afforded to be let in the door of that place. I love Isherwood, but I think he was being a bit of a prig about the movie.
I was kind of blown away by her performance of "Mein Herr." The voice, of course; the echoes of her mother, yes; but also how flexible she was physically, and just to stay in those positions for as long as she did. Remarkable. I wouldn't reduce it to just looking at a beautiful woman.
Ironically, Sally Bowles in Christopher Isherwood's novel, -Goodbye to Berlin,_ was based on a woman he knew who went on to become a political activist, and it was difficult because people associated her with this rather politically clueless character.
Liza’s presence in Arrested Development is 100% Ron Howard….as a kid actor, he worked with her father, director Vincente Minnell in The Courtship of Eddie’s Father.
Another great older film judgement at nuremberg (1961) Nominated 11 oscars, won 3 Staring Spencer Tracy (oscar nom), Maximilian Schell (oscar won), Burt Lancaster, Marlene Dietrich, Montgomery Clift (oscar nom), Richard Widmark, Judy Garland (oscar nom), William Shatner and Werner Klemperer
You guys, you have to listen to the movie! Every word in a classic like this one matters. It’s the reason screenwriters get Oscars and the big bucks. Fewer interruptions would help your understanding.
This movie WAS certainly a '70s take' on the 1930s. The 'Brian Roberts' character in the original Christopher Isherwood source books, was out-and-out gay. He went to 1930s Berlin precisely _because_ he could enjoy being openly homosexual there, which he couldn't in democratic, nazi-free Britain. That aspect of Brian's character, just wouldn't wash in a 70s movie, so he was watered down into a sexually naive character, going any which way the wind blows.
Terrific reaction... as a musical theater buff, CABARET has always been one of the most interesting movie adaptations to me. The movie is significantly different from the play... The play was a mix of commentative numbers (as in the film) with non-diegetic "plot" songs. The non-diegetic numbers were dropped; they switched out the subplot from the stage musical (involving a love affair between the gentile landlady and a Jewish fruit seller) for the Natalia/Fritz story that was used in an earlier non-musical stage adaptation of Isherwood's stories (I AM A CAMERA); and they reversed the nationalities of the two leads: on stage, Sally is British and Brian (called Cliff in the play) is American. In reality their real life counterparts (Christopher Isherwood and Jean Ross) were both British. It's a great -- if somewhat flawed -- stage musical; and a brilliant -- nearly flawless -- movie musical.
Isherwood's friend Stephen Spender complained that the performances at the Kit Kat Klub in the stage version were unrealistically good and that neither he nor Isherwood could have afforded to go there. Jean Ross, who had a hell of a life, hated that she was Isherwood's model for Sally Bowles, in part because Sally in the original stories made antisemitic statements that she, a committed socialist, found highly offensive.
The key word here is DECADENCE. Especially between Sally, Brian, and Max. And Joel Grey as the MC is the epitome of decadence. He's my favorite character. I love watching this movie for the wonderful musical numbers. Even Tomorrow Belongs to Me, which is actually frightening if you think about it.
Yes! I was just thinking as I watched this reaction that it's so amazing that the movie still draws a strong response from me. Even having watched countless times over the years, "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" is still scary and unnerving, and I still gasp in horror at that last line of "If You Could See Her". Definitely a sign of a brilliant movie.
This movie was made during the late sixties when the civi rights movement was going on and the sexual revolution so they were drawing parallels between that time and the Weimar Republic in Germany. Based on a book of short stories by Christopher Irsherwood, who was there.
In my opinion one of the best movies ever. A wonderful musical, every number on stage is perfectly linked to the developing story; great actors and dialogue; a dramatic portrait of nazism rising almost quietly, but like a mortal illness that destroys hearts and minds. A masterpiece.
The screen play /musical was based on a novel by Christopher Isherwood who was a novelist, playwright, screen-writer, autobiographer, and diarist. who spent time in berlin in the 1030s He was homosexual and made this a theme of some of his writing Including Cabaret.
The wealthy man was simply playing with Sally and Brian, seeing them as easy targets for his playboy lifestyle and the opportunity to enjoy a sexual relationship with both of them. He left for Africa as a way to get away from the political turmoil which he suspected was coming, especially after seeing what happened at the beer garden, and protect his wealth and also to get himself out of any possible complications with Sally and Brian.
I highly recommend the theater version of Cabaret done with Alan Cumming! There's a pro shot on youtube that is great (unfortunately they cut some songs for tv but it's still brilliant). There are great boots out there as well. It's different from the movie, and you may find it less confusing. It's much more, how shall I put this... In your face lol.
Not only was this a lot of people's introduction to Liza Minelli, this was also general to actor Joel Grey at the time. He played the Emcee in the original Broadway production of Cabaret and of course reprised his role for this film. Most modern audiences of musical stage and screen recognize him as the original Wizard of Oz in _Wicked._ Brian -originally known as Clifford Bradshaw in the musical- and Sally actually swapped nationalities in the movie. In the stage production, Clifford was American, while Sally was from Britain. The musical (and subsequent film adaptation) were both widely praised for portraying taboo themes of identity, homosexuality and prejudice in a very thought-provoking way.
Your suggestion that the jewish characters were the most aware of what was going on - I think the reason for that is fairly obvious. The nazi movement was the backdrop of the movie, not meant to be in the foreground. That scene at the country fair, it wasn't a nazi event, when the aryan youth stands up and starts singing and slowing those in the crowd start joining in singing is pivotal - representing the rise of nazism that was sweeping across germany...it's a brilliant depiction of how people were being drawn in to the movement, and how tomorrow belongs, tomorrow belongs to me. Liza and the movie won an oscar.
Watch "All That Jazz". It's essentially Bob Fosse's autobiography, to include foreshadowing his death from a heart attack. Roy Sscheider proves he could sing and dance. Ben Vereen costars. Or the mini series Fosse /Verdon, which was produced by Lin Manuel Miranda. Michelle Williams won an Emmy for playing his wife, Broadway legend Gwen Verdon. 44:08
If you'd like to see 180 degree reversal from Michael York, he plays Tybalt, Prince of Cats in Zefferelli's Romeo and Juliet, a seething, macho dude always on the verge of exploding in anger. And, of course, it's also an utterly exquisite movie. It was very interesting to watch your reaction to Cabaret. It's my favorite musical because it isn't trying for sweetness and light. I felt sad for you hoping everything would work out knowing it all goes to hell in its own complex fascinating fashion.
12:55 no there are basically no silent letters in German. The only real exceptions are "h" in words like "Ruhm" and "Höhle" where they (unnecessarily, as words like "Gen" and "malen" show) mark long vowels, and then words that are borrowed from French and keep the original pronunciation so Engagement is pronounced "on-gazh-MON" very roughly.
In the musical play, the emcee and the show girls come out for the encore. They bow. They all have tear away costumes, and when they rip off their costumes, underneath are concentration camp pajamas. 1930's Berlin was notoriously hedonistic with most rules of decorum abandoned, so this is actually a fairly realistic depiction of the scene. This aristocracy was notorious for being indolent and hedonistic, and they were later in part blamed by the Nazis for Germany's moral decline. This movie has been upheld as a celebration of alternative lifestyles. But, i dont think its so much a celebration as a cautionary tale. Most of the people are harmless, but their lifestyles don't make them happy, either. They worship pleasure and find no meaning in their lives. But, the ultimate danger is the escapism of the Kit Kat Club. "Leave your troubles behind!" But, leaving them behind leaves them unaddressed, and eventually they come for you. Ultimately, the only person in this movie that addresses his issues and makes good decisions is Brian. He's the only person stands up to evil and defends the Jews, who stands up for the baby, who commits to raise the child and form a family, and conducts business honestly. He's not penalized for living an alternative lifestyle, or at least experimenting. But, he remains based in morality. He is also the only person in the movie who is likely to live the next 15 years.
Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, the original, (Judy Garland) is her mother, both ultimate super stars. Thay movie is also highly recommended. I watched until the end. For those who never saw this, the final song has a strong impact, so wished the editors had shown the full song. Talked that part over some.
You asked if German has silent letters. The answer is no, they don't...borrowed words not withstanding. And this musical is based off a book written by Michael York's character about his time in Berlin during the beginnings of the Nazi regime. And he was gay.
Not a musical, but another take on the nazis vs regular life, as seen from the eyes of a 10yr old boy, watch JoJo Rabbit. Fantastic film that surprises you constantly.
I made it all the way to the end! I love your reactions, but I think I get even more out of the post-reaction discussions. You guys always have such interesting insights, I gotta stay til the end!
Great reaction, guys! When you gasped at the end of that gorilla tableau I actually got the chills. Btw, you were right that the young man singing the nazi hymn was dubbed. Guess whose voice it was? Joel Grey, the crazy MC sang that as well. He was such a mammothly talented performer and actor.
There were pretty strict laws about public displays of pro nazi stuff in Germany still in effect in the 70s. The song may have been a step too far and was censored. Maybe?
Half of my family is German and they all speak both English and German. Both languages are very similar in structure and they share alot of words and pronunciations. I read somewhere that they are 60% similar lexically.
Hey guys! Greetings from Midtown. 😁☺️😘 For the last couple days I've been thinking I should watch Cabaret again. It affected me strongly the first time and I've seen it 3 or 4 times more over the years. Couldn't have better dudes with which to watch it again! I think you might have some problems with context which made some points in the movie confusing. If you want, checking out the Wikipedia articles on the Weimar Republic and Christopher Isherwood will probably clear that up. Enjoyed your reactions very much! 👏👏👏
"The correct number of Nazis and white supremacists to have in your country is zero." Exactly. What makes "Cabaret" so powerful is, like you said, while it's about the rise of Nazis, that central story follows everyday people just trying to live their lives in the context of that time period. It's the perfect illustration of how evil can creep up on you without notice and, by the time you DO realize what's going on, it could be too late.
Autobiographical story by Christopher Isherwood. The real Sally Bowles was seen in the back row of a Berlin movie theater when the movie was released. She was still living in Berlin and did not comment.
It wasn’t a Nazi event.. The scene represents the changing nationalistic attitude of the public at large at that time.. Starting of course in rural areas.. The Nazis couldn’t come to power on their own.. They needed political power first, and to do that they had to bring in others, especially those with connections in various industries and communities who had clout..
All right fellas I've got to tell you that I read the musical play at least 3 times while in high school...it was available in the library and I attended a Catholic high school! I'm sure it would be banned in the public schools of many states today. Bob Fosse (director) transferred Cabaret from Broadway(1966) to film brilliantly by keeping all the musical numbers performed within the cabaret except for the young Nazi singing at the outdoor beer garden (not necessarily a Nazi event, it shows how they ingratiated themselves to the public with nationalism.) Every musical number coincides or comments with /on what is going on outside in the "real" world. Also, the songs that were dropped from the Broadway show for the movie were incorporated as background music in many of the scenes outside of the cabaret in the "real" world. On Broadway, Sally was British and Brian was an American named Cliff.
Sally Bowles was based from a real person, the short story is in Isherwood's collected stories. Isherwood was a friend of WH Auden who spent the interwar years in Germany because of its somewhat liberal attitude around homosexuality. His writings of the interwar years in Germany are very interesting.
There's a lot going on in the movie, particularly the musical numbers, which expresses the political complexity of Germany in the early thirties. A couple of the shots of motionless audience members are based on German expressionist paintings - the kind which Hitler would later outlaw as degenerate. The Emcee, Joel Grey, becomes increasingly more menacing as the film progresses, like Berlin itself. The original Broadway show was written in the 1960s with the relevance of the story to modern American politics in mind.
Joel Grey (the MC) is the son of a famous Yiddish entertainer, Mickey Katz (I'm certain no-one here - or most places - would know who he was). I also believe that Marisa Berenson's father was Jewish. I wonder how they felt playing their roles in this movie. Of course, at that time the undercurrent of antisemitism was tamped down. The history of WWII was still pretty fresh in most people's memory .
About Liza Minelli's pipes... She's the daughter of Judy Garland. Not sure if you've mentioned it, and I haven't seen any comment about that particular thing... so I'll just put it out here. Not that a kid usually get the talent from the parent, but she kinda did. At least to some degree. Otherwise I love your take of this movie, that I actually saw at least twice back then. (When I was a teenager)
"Don't fall in the fire." A metaphor for what was about to happen in Europe? "Tomorrow Belongs to Me," is one of the most frightening things I have seen in a movie, particularly as a Jew. It can happen anywhere. And has.
My take: It was a very entertaining dissection of the movie. The two guys were very entertaining, and it was evident they were enjoying themselves. However, they perhaps concentrated a bit too much on entertaining and talked through and over the salient points of the film. I wonder if they later watched it again. I'm 67 years old, and my older sister had to lie to sneak me into the theater to watch this movie, which has become one of my all-time favorites. We knew exactly what it was trying to say at the time. I never dreamed that I would actually live through this plot occurring again. It's terrifying.
@catch-uppackets2664 Thank you for your kind words. I think you two do a remarkable job, and I do very much enjoy your posts. Really, it's always a refreshing point of view, especially coming from obviously intelligent and open-minded young men such as yourselves. Keep up the good work!
"I hope nothing bad happens" !?! plus you saying, "oh is this movie about the rise of Nazism" made me realize that you literally know NOTHING about Cabaret. 🤣😭 I imagine it's what I'd feel sitting down to watch Titanic with someone who'd never heard of it. 🤣 That's great. I've never actually watched the movie version in full, but I'm obsessed with the theater production.
At the beginning, Brian tells you he is a student of philosophy at Cambridge. Dadaism developed in Germany during and after World War I. It argued that you never have to make moral choices. Tra-tra-tra-ta-tra-thrah, Live for Today. We may die tomorrow. This story is about what happens to people who refuse to make moral choices. Other people make them for you. You will sure as Hell not like them.
The Hitler youth voice was dubbed and the actual singer was Mark Sargent, who was memorable in an episode of Sharpe ( with Sean Bean) in the 1990s. The episode was called Sharpe's Regiment and Sargent played the snivelling Girdwood.😊😊😊
It was not a Nazi event. That is what is so chilling about this scene. It is so idylic, people enjoying a Sunday afternoon, drinking coffee, eating pastries, just regular people, housewifes, workers, children. Then the Hitler Jugend, who just happened to be there, and wanted to make a statement, gets up and sings "Tomorrow belongs to me", and little by little they all join in, sans the old guy, who knows better. That is what was so insidious about the rise of the Nazi movement, just regular people getting caught up in movement that overtook the country and soon most of Europe, when Hitler starting to invade country after country.
It's a brilliant song and tells perfectly how Nazism rose from an obscure idea to taking over the country. I've never seen history done so brilliantly.
@@laurellane1721 ever seen downfall an infinitely better movie also the damned
Dont think those were regular people, they were all nazi supporters that decided to join in on the song. The song just shows how much nazism have seeped into society you thought they were regular people but they were all nazis.
@@lampad4549 No, I have not seen either. I will have to give them a try. Thanks for suggesting.
@@lampad4549I've seen them, and they're good, but nowhere near the level of this masterpiece
This movie is so creepy. It perfectly shows how it happens. Evil creeps up around you and it's too late when you realize it.
Thank the stars someone who paid attention. The very ending of the audience is powerful.
It only creeps up when you arent paying attention, when you are it is blatantly obvious it is going to happen. The main issue is with this movie is that is the takeaway people have it this idea nazism just creeped up on people and they caught in it.
Exactly! And it’s happening again today, as so many are falling for the illogical, the lies and the false science!
Don't forget, Bob Fosse won the Academy Award for Best Director, beating out, among others, Frances Ford Coppola, for The Godfather.
And actually won eight Oscars including best actress for Liza Minnelli and best supporting actor for Joel Grey.
No one who watched this in 1972 was at all confused about what was going on in the movie. It was really interesting to watch a Millennial/Gen Z take on it and realise just how far removed from the events of the movie current generations are - perhaps far enough removed to prove the truth of the saying “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” There is some comfort in the fact that these reactors are smart enough to see the parallels between the past and the present day.
Not true every one loved it
Polly parrot absolutely right. As a child of the 70s I knew exactly what it was as soon as I saw it.. the sense of doom escalated quickly in this film. It’s bitter sweet romance was going to inevitably fail and everyone in that Cabaret including Sally Bowles were never going survive Nazi Germany. The beatings were just around the corner, the prison was looming and then the camps.
You are absolutely correct. I was born in Spain only 15 years after the end of WWII. When the movie became available I watched it and understood the context perfectly. I find quite upsetting how younger generations in the USA (where I live) are so unaware of History and everything that took place less than a century ago…. sad.
@@dianeshelton9592I think in the play, the MC comes out at the end for his bows in a concentration camp uniform with a pink triangle on it
"And those societies which burn books will eventually burn people" I have paraphrased this; I don't remember who said it. My little 14 year old cousin was incinerated in Auschwitz. Never again!
How sad to hear Michael York reduced to 'that guy from Austin Powers' ...
Not nearly as sad as Liza reduced to that old woman in Arrested Development.
Boys if you look closer at Cabaret the songs are actually commentary on what was happening in Germany and in the story. The song Tomorrow Belongs to Me is absolutely terrifying.
Yes, written by a couple of Jewish dudes but sometimes sung by neo-nazis. I wish I were joking.😢
Thank you - saves me from having to say it. I mean Berlin 1931 should give them a itsy bitsy clue.
You dont have to look closer it is pretty blatantly in your face what is happening. These people are having fun while nazism is here.
Today it is trumpys. Watch out. We are in danger. To many have forgotten.
@@chrisester2910 The issue with satire is that sometimes, the group being satirized will take it seriously.
Thank you! As a Black woman who got chased by the Indiana Klan as a child, I thank you for seeing the current, alarming, prejudicial anti-Semitic dangers in this wonderful film.
It is more relevant today than when it came out.
how traumatic. I get so angry when I hear things like that. I think the best scene showing the propaganda is when they're in the lobby room of where they live, and the others are listening to propaganda on the radio and then talking about how Jews are the cause..... It's exactly what's happening now, except now is on a larger scale, with social media.
Note: I didn't mean it was the best scene of the film, just that depicts how brainwashing/ indoctrination happens.
@@robertshows5100it's still relevant. I don't know how more or less.
And sadly it seems in america minorities r becoming what Jewish ppl were in Germany. Ppl forget the whole nazi movement was a conservative one, to preserve the country. That's why I fear things like ppl yelling to get rid of the immigrants and constantly saying that ppl of color commit all the crime. That's exactly how it started for Jewish ppl. "If we want to conserve our society and way of thinking/living". And ppl wonder why we are afraid when we hear things like this. Ppl have forgotten that thr holocaust actually happened and isn't just a story in a book
I'm sorry you went through that. Very happy you escaped. Will always do what I can to support 100%.
How did they not realize the two guys were bisexual even though Brian explicitly said they were screwing is beyond me
Cabaret ranks very high on the list of films you should deliberately watch twice. On first viewing, it's difficult to see how it all goes together. You're confused by the various forces (social mores, poverty, etc.) that are impacting the storyline's main characters. The cabaret sequences are a hallucinogenic mixture of funny, alien and weirdly menacing. The second time through, knowing who the characters really are, the main storyline is much more coherent, and you have the distance to see that the cabaret sequences each are directly paralleling it. It's an astonishing work of screenwriting and editing, used to describe how an enlightened people collapses, through inattention, personal ambitions, and hubris. And kudos to both of you for actually paying more attention to the important story, the political story. You would be amazed how many people watch this and think "it's a racy romance with great songs". Scary.
Nah you can just watch it once unless cabaret is the only film you have seen. It doesnt do anything groundbreaking, it is very predictable and in your face about it no sudtlety. People can only praise by copy and pasting reddit post with a barrage of meaningless buzzwords that can be applied to any movie you like. The reason why people think that about cabaret is cause of the failure of the movie glossing over the rise of the third reich with preference of the racy romance and songs typical broadway afterall, catchy songs and romance are better for audiences than meaningful introspective storylines about societal spread of evil. The way the cabaret musical sequences are used in the storyline is generic musical theater its amazing how you put nazis in a musical and people think its groundbreaking.
@@lampad4549 Obviously, I disagree. You're dismissing the point of Cabaret as a failure of a Third Reich docudrama that distracts with entertainment. That's not a failure, it's the primary point. They're not interested in documenting the process of the rise of Nazism. They're interested in demonstrating how people miss what's happening around them when distracted by entertainment. You might not find that of value, but others have, and do. Finally, I don't use Reddit or meaningless buzzwords, and songs equating love for jews with gorilla bestiality are certainly not "generic musical theater", especially considering the time period when Cabaret was created.
@@lampad4549 What you just said is utter crap. There's a reason you'll find almost everyone disagreeing with your hot take, and it's not because you're right.
Not dude watching Liza leaving it all on the stage and saying “Is this entertaining to people?”
She was amazing.
I guess they're just not a fan of Fosse-style choreography.
RE Tomorrow Belongs to Me. The whole point is that it's taking place at a regular beer garden with regular people on a regular day, and they all (most) start to sing along. That's the chilling part. If it was a Nazi event filled with Nazis, it would be meaningless if everyone sang along.
The shots of audience members in the Cabaret (at the beginning and end of the film) were based from artworks of the time, especially by German artists who were labeled as “degenerate artists” and had much of their work confiscated by the Nazis or destroyed. The art was reviled by the Nazis for its modern style and deliberate intention of the artist to make viewers feel uncomfortable, as well as controversial subject matter which often included ambiguous sexuality, and inferences about power, money, violence, alcoholism, drug use and interracial relationships which were forbidden.
Exactly
They didn’t go to a Nazi rally. They were in a Biergarten and a Nazi rally broke out.
The story is based on reality and so is what we’re experiencing here today, as you noted. This is the first video of yours I’ve seen and I want to watch others especially if they’re classics.
The origin of this was a book written by an English author who did go to live in Berlin at that time. It was then turned into a play, and then a non-musical film. Finally it became a musical and then the great Bob Fosse directed this film and won the Oscar. Try watching again and pay close attention to the script (maybe with subtitles) to get the subtle subtexts and gradual social change. It won a total of 8 Oscars and is considered a great American masterpiece.
The book is Goodbye to Berlin by Christoper Isherwood.
Indeed!
I always thought the mirror at the begining and end had two purposes. One - it shows that the movie is a reflection of the society at that time, and two - the audience at the beginning were not primarily Nazi's where at the end of the movie the mirror reflected that there are mostly Natzi's in the audience. It reflects the change that happened during the events of the movie.
The mirror also is a distorting mirror reflecting the audience watching the film.
Liza Minelli is Judy Garland's daughter, the emcee Joel Grey is the father of Dirty Dancing's Jennifer Grey.
Joel Grey is also the son of a band member of Spike Jones. His name was Mickey Katz.
@@erinesque1889And Joel Grey is made out of butter.
Max was part of the German aristocracy and was not aligned with the Nazis. He was representative of the decadence/decay of the moral decline of the 1920s and 30s. Also he represented the monied elite who could what they wanted when they wanted.
It seems like you missed the line, he says screw Maximillian, and she say 'I do', and He says 'so do I'.
The songs here, by the way, aren't just entertainment in the cabaret: each song is a comment on what's happening, an exploration of character, or a jab at the characters and at us.
Liza Minnelli is the daughter of Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli. He was one of the greatest movie directors of his generation. And if you don't yet know who Judy Garland is, you have a fantastic treat in store, because she was simply one of the greats, and also one of the most damaged victims of the Hollywood system. Its effects led to her lifelong battle with addiction, which she lost at the age of 47. You owe it to yourself to get to know how Liza Minnelli inherited the gifts she has expanded on.
"Cabaret" needs several re-watches: there is a lot going on with all the people we focus on, and the slow, frightening build-up of the Nazi threat. It's a careful, intelligent and scary structure.
When I was a teenager, my parents would give me money for the bus and a movie. This came out when I was 13, and I saw it twice. It's one of two movies that changed the way I think about art and the world; the other was _2001: A Space Odyssey_ which my cousin took me to when I was nine. Brian was the first gay character I'd ever seen-which, as a 13 year old gay kid, meant a lot.
I lost some of my Berlin relatives in Auschwitz. "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" makes me cry every time!
"Cabaret" is an outstanding movie that won Oscars for Liza Minelli, Joel Grey, among others. Great review and commentary.
It held its own against "The Godfather" during awards season and holds up just as well 50 years later.
Bob Fosse is The Goat! His movements inspired most of Michael Jackson's (and many many others, his style is so distinctive!). Liza showing she wasnt only the daugther of two Hollywood legends, but a legend on her own. I also saw the play in London...wow!
Fosse's choreography gives this film such a unique style. I know little about music and nothing about dance but watching this makes me want to see more.
@@championskyeterrier Fosse/Verdon is an amazing tv show about their lives with an stellar cast. Give it a try!
LOVE this film. Its sad that one of the best songs is a nazi anthem...but amazing performances by all. I've seen the play many times, both on Broadway as well as in local small theaters and its just devastating. Based on Christopher isherwood's "Goodbye to Belin" and Sally was based on a friend of his, a Cabaret singer, Jean Ross. Glad you got to see this. It's creepy how relevant it still is.
Oliver Collignon as Hitler Youth (singing voice by Mark Lambert[7])
Bob Fosse, who directed this movie and beat The Godfather for best direction, said that Nazis hymn nearly stopped the show.
In the 1980s, the UK satirical show 'Spitting Image' had Mrs Thatcher singing part of this after she won a general election.
That song was written for the show and, contrary to the beliefs of the White Supremacists who refuse to believe they've been singing along with the words of a gay Jewish librettist, was not based on any earlier work. That it managed to convey exactly the right type of idealised nationalism shows how well it was done.
Jean Ross became an activist.
Yes, this film is still so relavant... sadly. The series "Babylon Berlin" is worth the look to great more context to this period.
One of the frightening things about the "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" scene is that it wasn't at a nazi event. They were at a regular beer garden, which slowly turned into a nazi event as the song progressed.
This needs to be remade with contemporary costume, proud boys and such.
you spoke over the bit when he said screw Maximillian and she said I do and then he says so did I.. a great scandalous scene
they're not at a Nazi event just at a beer garden
True. The nationalistic song whipped up the emotions of ordinary citizens. The Nazis used this sort of propaganda to great, horrible effect.
Right! And that’s what makes that seem so scary.
What a great reaction! Actually, Christopher Isherwood's novel "Goodbye to Berlin" was first published in 1939, then John Van Druten adapted it into a play "I Am a Camera" (1951), then Kander & Ebb (music) and Masteroff (book) adapted it into the musical "Caberet" which premiered on Broadway in 1966.
Bob Fosse's 1972 film adaptation draws on its many iterations but, being a choreographer, he definitely put his stamp on it.
It's been revived as a show countless times both on Broadway and the West End (London), most recently in 2021 and is coming back to Broadway next year, with Eddie Redmayne as the Emcee.
I watched I Am A Camera free on RUclips several years ago. It might still be available.
@@nellgwenn Did you notice Patrick McGoohan as the, Swedish Water Therapist?
"Beware of pretty faces that you find/a pretty face may hide an evil mind..."
@@charlessperling7031 I did not notice Patrick McGoohan unfortunately. I guess it's because I don't know who Patrick McGoohan is.
@@nellgwenn McGoohan was the star of "Danger Man" (aired in the U.S. as "Secret Agent") and the title character in the cult TV series "The Prisoner," which takes the "they've given you a number and taken away your name" theme as far as it can go.
In addition, he appeared four times on "Columbo" as a killer
@@charlessperling7031 Secret Agent Man Johnny Rivers 1966. I've never watched those shows. I probably watched the Columbo episodes though. I binged watched the entire series at one point.
I saw this film for the first time very recently and could not help but think of what is happening in my country, the U.S., right now.
strongly urge: "All That Jazz" - a 1979 American musical drama film directed by Bob Fosse.
I also do not like musicals but I like these two.
All That Jazz....THAT is THE dazzling Bob Fosse movie of all time. I like Cabaret, but I'm DYING to see a reaction to "All That Jazz". With all due respect to Cabaret, All That Jazz is his greatest achievment. There are some movies I can't believe there aren't reactions for and "All That Jazz" is definitely on that list. (His last movie, "Star 80" would make a helluva reaction as well.) DEFINITELY seconding your "strongly urging" for "All That Jazz"
@@TTM9691 💯
I love All That Jazz; it’s one that I have on DVD since I cannot find it anywhere streaming.
@@erinesque1889 That is terrible to hear! Maybe that's why there are no reactions for it, that's a crime. That's a movie that should ALWAYS be available. I believe the Criterion Channel has it, actually, their website which has an incredible archive. They rotate stuff but it's worth checking out if you're looking for a place to stream it in a pinch.
It's often said that men don't like musicals...except for Cabaret. That's certainly true of me. I think it's because of the politics, but also because pretty much every song is a performance on stage (unlike most musicals, where people are weirdly bursting into song at any moment). Also, very clever how every song is a commentary on the action at that point in the film. Truly a great work of art.
you guys seem smart, but this is a great movie, you're commenting way too much without it playing out. You're half focused.
Nice observations at the very end. But missed the power of it, by only half watching
This was set in the later years of the Weimar Republic of Germany, in which what became the Nazi party was ascendent.
It is a dramatic glimpse of those years prior to a take over of the society, and a taking of power of the country and much of Europe. It is entertaining yes, but also foreboding.
A great film. One of a kind.
I just watched this film a few days ago and I was blown away by how great it is. It's dark, it's funny, it's campy and conveys so many messages that I think are so relevant today. Liza Minnelli as Sally Bowles was phenomenal. It's sad that her legendary mother Judy Garland had died 3 years prior to this films release and never got to see her win the Academy Award for Best Actress.
I think you’d both REALLY enjoy Victor Victoria. It has Julie Andrews in it and is an excellent classic.
Liza is the daughter of iconic singer Judy Garland and A-list director Vincente Minnelli. She won the Oscar for Cabaret and has performed in many films, won other awards and had sold-out musical performances over the decades.
Oh, there you are, the commenter mentioning this... I didn't find you until I wrote my own comment about this.
The songs were more than “fun”. They were either commentary or foreshadowing of action on the screen,tho you’re right being set in a cabaret kept the songs from interrupting the story
There really are two kinds of movie musicals. The complete fantasy type where people randomly break out in song at the drop of a hat and no one finds it odd in the least.
Then there are the ones like Cabaret which could be classed as performative films where the musical numbers fall into the plot of the story and typically on a stage.
Many of those center around the life of a singer or musician. For instance the 1955 film "Love Me or Leave Me" starring Doris Day and James Cagney chronicles 20's torch singer Ruth Etting's climb to fame while she was involved in an deeply troubled and abusive relationship with her manager/eventual husband mobster Marty "the Gimp" Snyder. There is also "I'll Cry Tomorrow" starring Susan Hayward which looks at Broadway musical star Lillian Roth's descent into blackout alcoholism and her slow crawl back to sobriety. In both case the character's are shown in performance and it gives the audience a chance to catch their breath as the heavy duty dramatics unfold.
Actually one of the best of the films in the genre starred Liza's mother Judy Garland (if you aren't familiar with her she played Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz". The 1954 picture "A Star is Born" was the first musical adaptation of the story which had been made as a straight drama in 1937 and crafted excellent songs onto an already solid story with the main character now an aspiring singer.
This was based on Christopher Isherwood's semi-autobiographical collection of short stores, BERLIN STORIES. (Michael York's hair is brushed so he looks vaguely like Isherwood.) Isherwood was one of the first openly gay writers I ever knew of. I've heard he disliked this version of CABARET because he objected to Minnelli's depiction of Sally Bowles -- who was based on a real friend of his from his Berlin days.
A picture of a young Isherwood is included in this link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Isherwood
He said that nobody at the real-life club was anywhere near as talented and that none of them could have afforded to be let in the door of that place. I love Isherwood, but I think he was being a bit of a prig about the movie.
I was kind of blown away by her performance of "Mein Herr." The voice, of course; the echoes of her mother, yes; but also how flexible she was physically, and just to stay in those positions for as long as she did. Remarkable. I wouldn't reduce it to just looking at a beautiful woman.
Ironically, Sally Bowles in Christopher Isherwood's novel, -Goodbye to Berlin,_ was based on a woman he knew who went on to become a political activist, and it was difficult because people associated her with this rather politically clueless character.
Liza’s presence in Arrested Development is 100% Ron Howard….as a kid actor, he worked with her father, director Vincente Minnell in The Courtship of Eddie’s Father.
Also, Liza Minnelli babysat Ron Howard.
Another great older film
judgement at nuremberg (1961) Nominated 11 oscars, won 3
Staring Spencer Tracy (oscar nom), Maximilian Schell (oscar won), Burt Lancaster, Marlene Dietrich, Montgomery Clift (oscar nom), Richard Widmark, Judy Garland (oscar nom), William Shatner and Werner Klemperer
You guys, you have to listen to the movie! Every word in a classic like this one matters. It’s the reason screenwriters get Oscars and the big bucks.
Fewer interruptions would help your understanding.
This movie WAS certainly a '70s take' on the 1930s.
The 'Brian Roberts' character in the original Christopher Isherwood source books, was out-and-out gay. He went to 1930s Berlin precisely _because_ he could enjoy being openly homosexual there, which he couldn't in democratic, nazi-free Britain.
That aspect of Brian's character, just wouldn't wash in a 70s movie, so he was watered down into a sexually naive character, going any which way the wind blows.
Terrific reaction... as a musical theater buff, CABARET has always been one of the most interesting movie adaptations to me. The movie is significantly different from the play... The play was a mix of commentative numbers (as in the film) with non-diegetic "plot" songs. The non-diegetic numbers were dropped; they switched out the subplot from the stage musical (involving a love affair between the gentile landlady and a Jewish fruit seller) for the Natalia/Fritz story that was used in an earlier non-musical stage adaptation of Isherwood's stories (I AM A CAMERA); and they reversed the nationalities of the two leads: on stage, Sally is British and Brian (called Cliff in the play) is American. In reality their real life counterparts (Christopher Isherwood and Jean Ross) were both British. It's a great -- if somewhat flawed -- stage musical; and a brilliant -- nearly flawless -- movie musical.
Isherwood's friend Stephen Spender complained that the performances at the Kit Kat Klub in the stage version were unrealistically good and that neither he nor Isherwood could have afforded to go there. Jean Ross, who had a hell of a life, hated that she was Isherwood's model for Sally Bowles, in part because Sally in the original stories made antisemitic statements that she, a committed socialist, found highly offensive.
The key word here is DECADENCE. Especially between Sally, Brian, and Max. And Joel Grey as the MC is the epitome of decadence. He's my favorite character. I love watching this movie for the wonderful musical numbers. Even Tomorrow Belongs to Me, which is actually frightening if you think about it.
Devine Decadence, just like Sally says when presenting her hand.
And it is important to remember that the root word of decadence is DECAY.😮
A chilling movie! The "Future Belongs to Me" scene scares the crap out of me.
Yes! I was just thinking as I watched this reaction that it's so amazing that the movie still draws a strong response from me. Even having watched countless times over the years, "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" is still scary and unnerving, and I still gasp in horror at that last line of "If You Could See Her". Definitely a sign of a brilliant movie.
This movie was made during the late sixties when the civi rights movement was going on and the sexual revolution so they were drawing parallels between that time and the Weimar Republic in Germany. Based on a book of short stories by Christopher Irsherwood, who was there.
In my opinion one of the best movies ever. A wonderful musical, every number on stage is perfectly linked to the developing story; great actors and dialogue; a dramatic portrait of nazism rising almost quietly, but like a mortal illness that destroys hearts and minds. A masterpiece.
The screen play /musical was based on a novel by Christopher Isherwood who was a novelist, playwright, screen-writer, autobiographer, and diarist. who spent time in berlin in the 1030s He was homosexual and made this a theme of some of his writing Including Cabaret.
A later Isherwood work, *A Single Man,* became a movie in 2009.
The play was by John Van Druten, based on Isherwood's novel, _Goodbye to Berlin._
The wealthy man was simply playing with Sally and Brian, seeing them as easy targets for his playboy lifestyle and the opportunity to enjoy a sexual relationship with both of them. He left for Africa as a way to get away from the political turmoil which he suspected was coming, especially after seeing what happened at the beer garden, and protect his wealth and also to get himself out of any possible complications with Sally and Brian.
I highly recommend the theater version of Cabaret done with Alan Cumming! There's a pro shot on youtube that is great (unfortunately they cut some songs for tv but it's still brilliant). There are great boots out there as well. It's different from the movie, and you may find it less confusing. It's much more, how shall I put this... In your face lol.
Not only was this a lot of people's introduction to Liza Minelli, this was also general to actor Joel Grey at the time. He played the Emcee in the original Broadway production of Cabaret and of course reprised his role for this film. Most modern audiences of musical stage and screen recognize him as the original Wizard of Oz in _Wicked._
Brian -originally known as Clifford Bradshaw in the musical- and Sally actually swapped nationalities in the movie. In the stage production, Clifford was American, while Sally was from Britain.
The musical (and subsequent film adaptation) were both widely praised for portraying taboo themes of identity, homosexuality and prejudice in a very thought-provoking way.
Your suggestion that the jewish characters were the most aware of what was going on - I think the reason for that is fairly obvious. The nazi movement was the backdrop of the movie, not meant to be in the foreground. That scene at the country fair, it wasn't a nazi event, when the aryan youth stands up and starts singing and slowing those in the crowd start joining in singing is pivotal - representing the rise of nazism that was sweeping across germany...it's a brilliant depiction of how people were being drawn in to the movement, and how tomorrow belongs, tomorrow belongs to me. Liza and the movie won an oscar.
Watch "All That Jazz". It's essentially Bob Fosse's autobiography, to include foreshadowing his death from a heart attack. Roy Sscheider proves he could sing and dance. Ben Vereen costars. Or the mini series Fosse /Verdon, which was produced by Lin Manuel Miranda. Michelle Williams won an Emmy for playing his wife, Broadway legend Gwen Verdon. 44:08
If you'd like to see 180 degree reversal from Michael York, he plays Tybalt, Prince of Cats in Zefferelli's Romeo and Juliet, a seething, macho dude always on the verge of exploding in anger. And, of course, it's also an utterly exquisite movie. It was very interesting to watch your reaction to Cabaret. It's my favorite musical because it isn't trying for sweetness and light. I felt sad for you hoping everything would work out knowing it all goes to hell in its own complex fascinating fashion.
And he's d"Artagnan in the 1970s version of "The Three Musketeers", and Logan in the sci fi movie "Logan's Run".
And he's the boss in Austin Powers.
@@melenatorr One of my favorite movies of all time. Directed by the great Richard Lester.
This film won multiple Oscars (8) multiple Golden Globes including best picture and multiple BAFTA awards including best film.
12:55 no there are basically no silent letters in German. The only real exceptions are "h" in words like "Ruhm" and "Höhle" where they (unnecessarily, as words like "Gen" and "malen" show) mark long vowels, and then words that are borrowed from French and keep the original pronunciation so Engagement is pronounced "on-gazh-MON" very roughly.
Singing and dancing, just theater in general, is in Liza Minnelli’s blood. Her mother is Judy Garland who played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.
41:32, problem is, if you're not rich/famous, what country would accept you?
This musical is based on Christopher Isherwood's autobiographical book "Goodbye to Berlin"
In the musical play, the emcee and the show girls come out for the encore. They bow. They all have tear away costumes, and when they rip off their costumes, underneath are concentration camp pajamas.
1930's Berlin was notoriously hedonistic with most rules of decorum abandoned, so this is actually a fairly realistic depiction of the scene.
This aristocracy was notorious for being indolent and hedonistic, and they were later in part blamed by the Nazis for Germany's moral decline.
This movie has been upheld as a celebration of alternative lifestyles. But, i dont think its so much a celebration as a cautionary tale. Most of the people are harmless, but their lifestyles don't make them happy, either. They worship pleasure and find no meaning in their lives.
But, the ultimate danger is the escapism of the Kit Kat Club. "Leave your troubles behind!" But, leaving them behind leaves them unaddressed, and eventually they come for you.
Ultimately, the only person in this movie that addresses his issues and makes good decisions is Brian. He's the only person stands up to evil and defends the Jews, who stands up for the baby, who commits to raise the child and form a family, and conducts business honestly.
He's not penalized for living an alternative lifestyle, or at least experimenting. But, he remains based in morality.
He is also the only person in the movie who is likely to live the next 15 years.
Cabaret was a fantastic musical. Lizza Minnelli was perfect in this part as she was saucy but vunerable.
Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, the original, (Judy Garland) is her mother, both ultimate super stars. Thay movie is also highly recommended. I watched until the end. For those who never saw this, the final song has a strong impact, so wished the editors had shown the full song. Talked that part over some.
You asked if German has silent letters. The answer is no, they don't...borrowed words not withstanding.
And this musical is based off a book written by Michael York's character about his time in Berlin during the beginnings of the Nazi regime. And he was gay.
Not a musical, but another take on the nazis vs regular life, as seen from the eyes of a 10yr old boy, watch JoJo Rabbit.
Fantastic film that surprises you constantly.
I made it all the way to the end! I love your reactions, but I think I get even more out of the post-reaction discussions. You guys always have such interesting insights, I gotta stay til the end!
This movie is too cerebral for young folks today. But I give them credit for even trying.
Great reaction, guys! When you gasped at the end of that gorilla tableau I actually got the chills. Btw, you were right that the young man singing the nazi hymn was dubbed. Guess whose voice it was? Joel Grey, the crazy MC sang that as well. He was such a mammothly talented performer and actor.
Oliver Collignon as Hitler Youth (singing voice by Mark Lambert[7])
That’s so weird! I remember seeing a doc where Joel Grey actually stated that it was his voice! Thanks for the correction.
you used the past tense for Joel Grey, i am not aware he might have passed away or was that a typo (i hope)
Ahhhh, no, I believe he is still alive. I haven’t seen him acting in a while so that’s what I meant by the past tense. Sorry for the confusion!!
@@Fredo_Viola yes i thought so but wasn't sure, thanks for the clarification
I saw this movie in Berlin in 1973. The song Tomorrow Belongs to Me was the only thing that was cut. I can think of reasons.
There were pretty strict laws about public displays of pro nazi stuff in Germany still in effect in the 70s. The song may have been a step too far and was censored. Maybe?
I don't know if you realize this but Liza Minnelli's mother was the late great Judy Garland who played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz
Half of my family is German and they all speak both English and German. Both languages are very similar in structure and they share alot of words and pronunciations. I read somewhere that they are 60% similar lexically.
Hey guys! Greetings from Midtown. 😁☺️😘
For the last couple days I've been thinking I should watch Cabaret again. It affected me strongly the first time and I've seen it 3 or 4 times more over the years. Couldn't have better dudes with which to watch it again!
I think you might have some problems with context which made some points in the movie confusing. If you want, checking out the Wikipedia articles on the Weimar Republic and Christopher Isherwood will probably clear that up.
Enjoyed your reactions very much! 👏👏👏
Sally Bowles was the OG manic pixie dream girl.
Yeah... they had to really tone down the musical/cabaret numbers from the play..... which was a quite toned down for real cabarets at the time.
Sorry but I had to stop watching when one of them asked ''Is this entertaining?' 🧐
"The correct number of Nazis and white supremacists to have in your country is zero."
Exactly. What makes "Cabaret" so powerful is, like you said, while it's about the rise of Nazis, that central story follows everyday people just trying to live their lives in the context of that time period. It's the perfect illustration of how evil can creep up on you without notice and, by the time you DO realize what's going on, it could be too late.
Autobiographical story by Christopher Isherwood. The real Sally Bowles was seen in the back row of a Berlin movie theater when the movie was released. She was still living in Berlin and did not comment.
It wasn’t a Nazi event.. The scene represents the changing nationalistic attitude of the public at large at that time.. Starting of course in rural areas..
The Nazis couldn’t come to power on their own.. They needed political power first, and to do that they had to bring in others, especially those with connections in various industries and communities who had clout..
All right fellas I've got to tell you that I read the musical play at least 3 times while in high school...it was available in the library and I attended a Catholic high school! I'm sure it would be banned in the public schools of many states today. Bob Fosse (director) transferred Cabaret from Broadway(1966) to film brilliantly by keeping all the musical numbers performed within the cabaret except for the young Nazi singing at the outdoor beer garden (not necessarily a Nazi event, it shows how they ingratiated themselves to the public with nationalism.) Every musical number coincides or comments with /on what is going on outside in the "real" world. Also, the songs that were dropped from the Broadway show for the movie were incorporated as background music in many of the scenes outside of the cabaret in the "real" world. On Broadway, Sally was British and Brian was an American named Cliff.
Sally Bowles was based from a real person, the short story is in Isherwood's collected stories. Isherwood was a friend of WH Auden who spent the interwar years in Germany because of its somewhat liberal attitude around homosexuality. His writings of the interwar years in Germany are very interesting.
There's a lot going on in the movie, particularly the musical numbers, which expresses the political complexity of Germany in the early thirties. A couple of the shots of motionless audience members are based on German expressionist paintings - the kind which Hitler would later outlaw as degenerate. The Emcee, Joel Grey, becomes increasingly more menacing as the film progresses, like Berlin itself. The original Broadway show was written in the 1960s with the relevance of the story to modern American politics in mind.
Liza is Judy Garland's daughter.
Joel Grey is Jennifer Grey's father.
Joel Grey (the MC) is the son of a famous Yiddish entertainer, Mickey Katz (I'm certain no-one here - or most places - would know who he was). I also believe that Marisa Berenson's father was Jewish. I wonder how they felt playing their roles in this movie. Of course, at that time the undercurrent of antisemitism was tamped down. The history of WWII was still pretty fresh in most people's memory .
Excellent film and performances. Thanks for your reactions.
About Liza Minelli's pipes... She's the daughter of Judy Garland. Not sure if you've mentioned it, and I haven't seen any comment about that particular thing... so I'll just put it out here. Not that a kid usually get the talent from the parent, but she kinda did. At least to some degree.
Otherwise I love your take of this movie, that I actually saw at least twice back then. (When I was a teenager)
I think the scene with the MC in love with the gorilla is commentary on how the Nazis viewed Jews (and others) as less than human.
The menage a trois with the three characters has nothing to do with nazis. They're in the background as the characters ignore them.
Fun fact, Liza Minnelli is Judy Garland's daughter!
I really appreciate the films you react to! Kudos!
"Don't fall in the fire."
A metaphor for what was about to happen in Europe?
"Tomorrow Belongs to Me," is one of the most frightening things I have seen in a movie, particularly as a Jew. It can happen anywhere. And has.
My take: It was a very entertaining dissection of the movie. The two guys were very entertaining, and it was evident they were enjoying themselves. However, they perhaps concentrated a bit too much on entertaining and talked through and over the salient points of the film. I wonder if they later watched it again. I'm 67 years old, and my older sister had to lie to sneak me into the theater to watch this movie, which has become one of my all-time favorites. We knew exactly what it was trying to say at the time. I never dreamed that I would actually live through this plot occurring again. It's terrifying.
Thank you for watching and for your charitable response to how we watched! Not everyone is so understanding :)
@catch-uppackets2664 Thank you for your kind words. I think you two do a remarkable job, and I do very much enjoy your posts. Really, it's always a refreshing point of view, especially coming from obviously intelligent and open-minded young men such as yourselves. Keep up the good work!
"I hope nothing bad happens" !?! plus you saying, "oh is this movie about the rise of Nazism" made me realize that you literally know NOTHING about Cabaret. 🤣😭 I imagine it's what I'd feel sitting down to watch Titanic with someone who'd never heard of it. 🤣 That's great. I've never actually watched the movie version in full, but I'm obsessed with the theater production.
Love your reactions and commentary!
Okay, so I just finally watched this movie, and I'm old, should have done it before. Let's go.
At the beginning, Brian tells you he is a student of philosophy at Cambridge. Dadaism developed in Germany during and after World War I. It argued that you never have to make moral choices. Tra-tra-tra-ta-tra-thrah, Live for Today. We may die tomorrow.
This story is about what happens to people who refuse to make moral choices. Other people make them for you. You will sure as Hell not like them.
The Hitler youth voice was dubbed and the actual singer was Mark Sargent, who was memorable in an episode of Sharpe ( with Sean Bean) in the 1990s. The episode was called Sharpe's Regiment and Sargent played the snivelling Girdwood.😊😊😊
Holy crap-Girdwood sang that song?!? He was a terrific villain in the Sharpe’s series, a series filled with great baddies.
@kathyastrom1315 quite surprising isn't it 😊😊😊
you asked "where are the robots" then i definitely have a movie for you, The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951)