Rating: 
Summary: A Milestone Musical, and One of The Best!
Review: Cabaret is one of those films where everything seems perfect and nothing seems out of place. This is mainly because of Bob Fosse's direction, a perfect and charming cast and musical numbers that rank amongst the best ever made. The multitalented Liza Minneli is sublime in this film, she has the best of both worlds; the looks and voice of her mother (Judy Garland) and the musical smarts of her father (Vincent Minneli), she is perfect as Sally Bowles, the carefree cabaret performer and her musical numbers are terrific. Joel Grey is also perfect as the devilish master of ceremonies. Michael York is also great. There is also a fascinating secondary story about the up-rise of the nazi party. Terrific musical numbers and performances, Fosse's Masterpiece. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film a 9!
Rating:
Summary: Willkommen, bienvenu...
Review: In 1972 it would have been next to impossible to make a conventional, MGM-type musical and get away with it. The form was largely passe by the end of the 60s--the last glorious gasp may have been "The Sound of Music"--but by the late 60s attempts to film more conventional musicals (remember Finian's Rainbow?) flopped mightily."Cabaret" seemed to point the way toward a new musical. Gritty, sharp, sophisticated--you've heard all the adjectives. The praise was warranted too. What wasn't so obvious, though, was that it too was something of a last gasp. "Cabaret's" verisimilitude so praised by many did not really lend itself that well to other settings. Decadent Berlin in the 30s holds a fascination for us all, the celebration before the devastation. And there really was a cabaret culture there until the Nazis finally cracked down on all free expression. Perfect fodder for a nouveau-musical. And rife with cinematic qualities too. "Cabaret" is a masterfully filmed work. As so many others have noted, everything just works perfectly in this film. Ultimately, you even forget the fact that Liza Minelli's Sally really is too big a talent for this dive. You accept her fantasy of being discovered by Hollywood or by UFA while working in this fleabag. Hey, it could happen... So why wasn't there ever a "Cabaret 2"? Why didn't Fosse, Minelli or Joel Grey ever equal or surpass their work here? Well, there were other musicals which placed their musical numbers in a true-to-life context (musicals about musicians). But films about rock stars (Barbra's "Star Is Born" or "The Rose") just didn't have the same pizzazz. We already knew the milieu; not too much to romanticize about rock star junkies OD'ing. But for one brief shining moment, there was ...pre-war Berlin.
Rating:
Summary: The Perfect Musical- Maybe the Perfect Movie
Review: Over the years I have seen Caberet at the theatre, on TV and on Video, and now DVD. I keep looking for one misplaced or unnecessary frame of flim and I cannot find it. I feel it is the perfect Musical (I am not a fan of the genre, genreally) because all of the music takes place where music does- either on the stage, the radio, the gramophone or as in the beer garden scene, as a sing along. No ballet in the corn field or breaking out in song while slopping the hogs. BRAVO! As for the possiblility this may be the perfect film, I have yet to see a frame of film here that is in any way gratuitious. By that I mean it all furthers the story and makes it all work. There is nothing extra and there is nothing just because, which happens in so many films. Some of the minor characters are caricatures but they were necessary to the plot. The atmosphere, slowly changing within the club as the miasma of Nazism descends on Berlin was superbly done. It all seemed so logical and natural when it was done and that was the intent. Fosse was a genius. He understood his genius and used what he knew to great advantage. Liza's lack of physical presence was as calculated as the lewdness of MC in getting the story across. While this may not be the BEST movie ever made, it may, as I said earlier, be the PERFECT movie, for its progression of story and editing.
Rating:
Summary: Liza,Fosse,Joel Grey,Kander and Ebb'sMasterpiece
Review: When I was a kid, my Mom and Aunt wanted to see Judy Garland's daughter in Cabaret.We soon forgot Liza was her daughter after seeing this movie.What a performance.I've never seen a movie like this in my life.The dance moves of Fosse are unreal.Everything in this movie is weird,when Michael York takes a leak in the bathroom,and there's a women,who's really a Man, next to him taking one.Joel Grey in drag,and the funniest part of the film,when Grey sings and dances with the monkey.Liza was in the costume,and was fantastic. The year this film came out,Liza was on the cover of Time and Newsweek. She had a number one special and album,Liza with a Z,that won her all kinds of awards ,and Liza also won the Oscar for her performace in this film.I don't think there's a star anywhere who could come close to Liza in 1972-1973. What a talent.This movie is still timeless today.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific Songs--Unforgettable scenes--Lackluster sound
Review: Cabaret is a great, intelligent musical, directed with a terrific sense of style and haunting imagery. The backdrop of decadent Berlin in the early days of Hitler's Third Reich sets the tone for this realistic film that would only disappoint those hoping for a "feel-good" musical. In fact, this is more drama perhaps than musical, as the musical numbers are non-intrusive and complement the story on the sidelines as the film progresses. The songs themselves are some of the best ever written, representing not only great music to hum along with but lyrics that are deeply ironic and poignant. In my opinion, this movie contains one of the best musical scenes in film history. It's when a young teenage blue-eyed blond German boy starts singing the unforgetable "Tommorow Belongs To Me," a nazi hymn that slowly builds enthusiasm among a crowd of German on-lookers at an outdoor gathering in the countryside. The Germans sitting on benches slowly arise to sing along, each chorus becoming more menacing and devoted to their cause. The central story line is of Sally Bowes, of course, and Liza Manilli is great. Her singing voice is actually almost too good for the role of an ambitious but only tepidly successful showgirl. The DVD version is great, but one negative point. The sound quality isn't particularly outstanding, and hi-fi lovers may wind up a bit disappointed with the flatness of the audio.
Rating:
Summary: What a pleasure
Review: I'm new to the world of DVD and love musicals. I ordered several of my favorites that I had not seen for some time. Some of them showed their age although I could easily see why I liked them to begin with. Cabaret had lost none of its dynamic edge. The story and the characters were real rather than just an MGM fantasy (like those too at times). It was a very good time with an old friend who "wasn't lying around".
Rating:
Summary: Ditto
Review: I have little to add to the above. I am glad that nearly everyone agrees this is one of the century's classic movies, musical or otherwise. I might say this is one of the rare cases where the movie version is far superior to the stage show. (Caberet, the show, is pretty hoaky by comparison).
Rating:
Summary: love liza
Review: I am such a fan of this film, each song brings you right to Berlin. The twists of this film are surprising, and you want another cabaret song the minute you finish it. The scenes with Joel Gray spice up the film, with naughty thrills. My favorite movie by far, acting well done, singing incrediable, dancing sassy, everything you need for a memorable musical
Rating:
Summary: CABARET IS HERE TO STAY
Review: EVERYONE'S PERFORMANCE IN THIS MOVIE WAS ABSOLUTELY STUNNING.THE SETS,THE SONGS,COSTUMES WERE ALL PHENOMENAL.LIZA WAS BRILLIANT IN HER SINGING AND ACTING.JOEL GREY,AMAZING.AND MICHAEL YORK WAS CHARMING AND LOVABLE.ANYONE WHO HASN'T SEEN IT YOU ARE MISSING OUT ON A GREAT MOVIE.
Rating:
Summary: A great movie!
Review: What a marvelous movie this is. The mise en scene is gorgeous and the performances sensational. Certainly one of the finest american movies of all times.
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