Cabaret (1972)
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A young American woman and a British academic navigate their lives and desires in the decadent, crumbling atmosphere of 1931 Berlin.
The story
In 1931 Berlin, a young, openly promiscuous American, Sally Bowles, performs at the Kit Kat Klub. A new British arrival in the city, Brian Roberts, moves into the boarding house where Sally lives. A reserved academic and writer, Brian must give English lessons to earn a living while completing his doctorate. Sally tries to seduce Brian, but he tells her that on three previous occasions he has tried to have sexual relationships with women, all of which failed. They become friends, and Brian witnesses Sally's bohemian life in the last days of the Weimar Republic. As the political climate shifts, the two navigate a complex relationship amidst the rising tensions of the era.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1931 Berlin, Sally Bowles, an American performer at the Kit Kat Klub, meets Brian Roberts, a British academic. They become lovers while witnessing the decadence of the Weimar Republic. They also encounter Maximilian von Heune, a wealthy playboy. As the rise of Nazism becomes an ever-present undercurrent, the characters' lives are shaped by the changing political landscape. Sally becomes pregnant and, after a period of uncertainty and a failed attempt to start a new life with Brian, she undergoes an abortion and remains in Berlin. Meanwhile, a Jewish man named Fritz Wendel wins the love of a wealthy heiress, Natalia Landauer, and they marry. The film culminates in a series of scenes illustrating the growing power of the Nazi party, including a chilling performance of 'Tomorrow Belongs to Me' in a rural beer garden and the final appearance of uniformed members in the Kit Kat Klub.
- First release year
- 1972
- Runtime (minutes)
- 124
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Bob Fosse
- Writers
- Jay Presson Allen · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Liza Minnelli · Sally Bowles; Michael York · Brian Roberts; Helmut Griem; Marisa Berenson; Joel Grey
- Genres
- musical; drama
- Themes
- Rise of Nazism; Decadence; Sexual ambiguity; Identity
- Tone and mood
- cynical; sensual; bleak
- Setting
- Berlin, 1931
- Premise and plot tags
- historical drama; musical; period piece
- Content notes
- profanity; anti-Semitism
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim and was praised for its sophisticated and provocative portrayal of the era.
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Director · Win; Academy Award · Best Actress · Win; Academy Award · Best Supporting Actor · Win; Academy Award · Best Score · Win
- Production trivia
- It was the first musical ever to be given an X certificate.; The original camera negative is lost.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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