Book to Film-CABARET

(Dir: Bob Fosse USA 1972 124 mins)

This groundbreaking musical starring Liza Minnelli, Michael York and Joel Grey, is set in 1930s Berlin, during the dying days of the Weimar Republic and the rise of fascism. Jay Presson Allen’s Oscar-winning screenplay was based on Christopher Isherwood’s autobiographical novel Goodbye to Berlin (1939); with additional material from I Am a Camera (the 1951 theatrical adaptation of Isherwood’s book), and Kander and Ebb’s stage musical, Cabaret (1966).

Fosse’s direction avoids the cliché-ridden feel-good traditions of the form and goes instead to the bleak heart of the material, an approach which changed our expectations of what musicals could do. Nominated for 10 Oscars, Cabaret went on to win 8, including Best Actress Liza Minnelli, Best Supporting Actor Joel Grey, and Best Director Bob Fosse.

The session will be presented by John Newman and Michael O’Rourke who will host a discussion after the screening.

The book by Christopher Isherwood is available in paperback and Kindle as Goodbye to Berlin and The Berlin Novels.

Cabaret has been described as ‘a musical for people who hate them. Satanically catchy, terrifyingly seductive and drenched in the sexiest kind of cynicism and decadent despair.’

Doors/Bar 1.00pm film 2.00pm

Host or Publisher The Backlot Perth