Cabaret (3. 0th Anniversary Special Edition)“Willkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome!” Welcome indeed to the dark underworld of the musical as realised by legendary Broadway showman Bob Fosse. In the foreground we have the love story of two conflicting characters – Sally Bowles, a flamboyant American singer, and Brian, a stiff- shirt English writer – set against the historical backdrop of the rise of the Third Reich within 1. Berlin. Fosse skilfully integrates his experience of vaudeville decadence into a dark examination of desperate people clinging to their humanity in a politically charged arena of historical significance.
The film is a masterpiece of mood and atmosphere, dynamically drawn into an electrifying whole by Fosse’s inventive direction, and bolstered by the sensational, Oscar- winning performances of Joel Grey as a leering, demonic Emcee, and Liza Minnelli as Sally Bowles, stepping out of her mother’s shadow to project her own unique brand of star power. A timeless classic of any genre! Moviemail on Jun 2. Some would argue that it's the last great musical - - and certainly the cult status acquired over the years by Bob Fosse’s memorable CABARET looks unlikely to be matched by any new film in the genre (although a movie of Chicago is in the works). Those who have only seen it panned and scanned on TV are in for some revelations with this 3. The wonderfully sleazy choreography of such numbers as Mein Herr absolutely demands the full widescreen image (as here) to do justice to those highly influential compositions (how many girls in suspenders and stockings have you seen awkwardly draped over chairs since this film appeared?). The performances are as powerful today as ever: Minnelli is as affecting, and Joel Gray's Emcee remains wonderfully reptilian but curiously likeable. But is the extras on this DVD that make it such a collector's item: a contemporary documentary made at the time of film's release, a new documentary, reminiscences of the film’s stars and creators and 4. It's an invitation you can't refuse. Barry Forshaw on Sep 2. Tell me, where else will you get the immense privilege of viewing Michael York, flexing his muscles and asking 'does my body drive you wild with desire?' Well, if that alone does not attract you like a moth to the flame to this flamboyant, sinister and fantastically extravagant musical; then maybe the fantastic performance by Liza Minelli, or the dynamic choreography of Bob Fosse will? Set in a turbulent (and often seedy) Germany, the main character Sally Bowles (played by Minelli) will have you gawping in awe at her outrageous costumes and even more outrageous comments, as she shocks and sings her way through a rocky relationship with English teacher Brian, (York). There's no denying that the musical numbers in this movie are inspiringly dynamic and hugely fun to watch, but the underlying messages that the film displays in a rising Nazi Germany are still as intriguing and powerful as ever. Not the proud owner of a copy? You haven't lived! Moviemail on Nov 1, 2. Cabaret: 4. 0th Anniversary Edition (Digibook) Blu- ray Review. Nations are not swayed overnight, and hatred isn't born with the simple flick of a switch. Irrational bigotry takes time to simmer and fester, silently infecting its victims by preying on desperation and fear. What starts out as a mere whisper, initially dismissed or ignored, can eventually gain momentum, boiling into a dark rallying cry that marches over decency and compassion. Set during the fading twilight of Weimar- era Berlin, Bob Fosse's groundbreaking dramatic musical, 'Cabaret,' subtly chronicles the rise of Nazism - - and it does it all with a little song and dance. Buy Cabaret: 40th Anniversary Edition at a low price; free shipping on qualified orders. See reviews & details on a wide selection of Blu-ray & DVDs. The dual-layered Special Edition widescreen DVD includes an exclusive 25th-anniversary documentary, Cabaret. PacMan / Galaga Video Games. PacMan/Galaga/PacMan Cabaret Namco. The 25th Anniversary Limited Edition. Through the story of a struggling singer who dreams of making it big, the film weaves a multi- faceted, genre defying work, all juxtaposed against the backdrop of a society slowly circling the drain. Loosely based on the 1. Broadway show, the story is set in 1. Berlin and focuses on a young American singer, Sally Bowles (Liza Minnelli), who works as a performer at the seedy and eccentric Kit Kat Club. When she rents out a room to an intelligent but reserved English tutor named Brian (Michael York), the two become good friends. Despite Brian's ambiguous sexuality, the pair eventually engage in a romantic relationship, but their coupling is tested when a third party is introduced. Meanwhile, the ascent of the Nazi party looms ever- present in the background, casting a pale cloud of approaching doom over the nation. Though he received plenty of accolades throughout his career, director Bob Fosse isn't as well known today as some of his other celebrated contemporaries, and that's really quite a shame. An important voice of the New Hollywood movement - - which brought an innovative, independent edge to American cinema in the late 6. Fosse's work helped to usher in a new era of filmmaking that frequently subverted genre expectations. With 'Cabaret,' the director essentially re- imagines the entire concept of studio musicals from the ground up, abandoning the elaborate, feel- good productions of the golden age, in favor of something much more raw and intimate. Characters don't burst out into random melody to express their emotions or desires. Instead, the musical numbers are all relegated to the stage within the Kit Kat club, maintaining an air of reality throughout the proceedings. Likewise, the subject matter of the story is a far cry from the positive, up- lifting material usually associated with the art form. This is a film that deals with serious and provocative subject matter, resulting in a song and dance experience geared exclusively toward adults. Truly original when first released in 1. An undercurrent of escalating gloom permeates throughout the proceedings, delicately informing all of the film's various storylines. The narrative mostly follows Sally and Brian's developing romance, which leads to a rather unconventional love triangle that tackles the characters' oscillating jealousy. An important subplot also focuses on a German man's attempts to woo an affluent Jewish woman, and the writers throw in an ironic third act twist. Throughout it all, the gradual rise of anti- Semitism and Nazism hangs heavy in the film's periphery, and the manner in which Fosse carefully handles the increasing threat is masterful. Through passing comments or minor references, the topic initially stays in the background - - until suddenly, it's not. Mirroring the tragic realities of the era, the spread of fascist hostility sort of sneaks up on the runtime, and once it finally asserts itself, it becomes clear that there is no going back. Between all the drama, the movie takes frequent excursions into the lively Kit Kat Club, setting the stage for several contextually relevant musical numbers that offer further commentary on the script's deeper themes. Cramped and marked by a circus- like atmosphere, the hazy, claustrophobic space becomes the home for a series of expertly choreographed sequences that really show off Fosse's gift for dance. The hypnotic, playful movements are all perfectly married to the music, and as bolstered by the songs' often farcical lyrics, these scenes become much more than simple breaks from the main narrative. Through cross- cutting and dialectical montage, the director expertly juxtaposes several of the deceptively jaunty tunes with more disturbing imagery (like a gang of Nazis brutally beating a man), drawing meaningful parallels between the two. Likewise, the film's compositions and camera movements work in tandem with its theatrical subjects, further embellishing the slightly exaggerated world of the club through grotesque flash. Much like the dancers themselves, Fosse's visual and editing style follows a meticulously planned, but altogether unpredictable rhythm, giving aesthetic life to the sleazy, dizzying cabaret. Stepping into the smoky spotlight, Liza Minnelli shines brightly as the enthusiastic but delusional dreamer Sally Bowles. Childlike, eccentric, and fueled by an infectious thirst for life, the character is somehow graceful, crass, pouty, sultry, and totally awkward all at once. Always aspiring just outside her reach, she hides a tragic layer of fragile desperation beneath an outward veneer of confidence. Minnelli does an amazing job of realizing all of the woman's strengths and flaws - - and when she takes to the stage. The actress absolutely explodes, giving a truly powerful and commanding musical performance that bursts from the screen. As memorable as Minnelli is, in the role of the enigmatic Master of Ceremonies, Joel Gray just might steal the show. Limited only to the Kit Kat Club and having no actual dialogue outside of songs, the part isn't so much an actual character as it is a living extension of the stage itself. An ambiguous, creepy, almost otherworldly figure, Gray could be interpreted as an impish embodiment of the film's escalating dread. Though he at times seems rather harmless and benign, during key moments the director will quickly cut to the character's unsettling smile, cementing the theatrical specter as some kind of foreboding omen of things to come. Bookended by shots of a distorted reflection, the film concludes with a simple but utterly haunting image. An eerie portent of further horrors lurking just around the corner, the final scene manages to speak volumes, saying everything that needs to be said through so little. A powerful reinvention of the Hollywood musical, 'Cabaret' chronicles a brief dalliance between two seemingly opposite individuals in Berlin, while the city slowly succumbs to the tragic spread of hatred. As Sally Bowles sparkles on the tiny, seedy stage of the decadent Kit Kat Club, the world outside quietly crumbles, and the spotlight dims on a nation soon to be consumed by shadow. The Blu- ray: Vital Disc Stats. Warner Bros. After some warnings and logos the disc transitions to a standard menu.
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