Essay Questions

The plot of the movie is the flamboyant and bohemian tale of cabaret entertainers and gigolos whilst the sub-plot is concerned with the rise of a dangerous Fascist regime. How do the two plot lines intertwine?

The sub-plot intertwined with the central one both obviously and subtly. Throughout the movie we see more and more representatives of the Nazi regime, including the brown shirted Nazi Youth member who sings at the Biergarten and the SS officers sitting in the front row of the Kit Kat Klub. However, the more subtle weaving in of the rise of the Nazi regime is at its lost impactful when it comes to the impending threat to the Jewish characters in the movie. Although their fate is not mentioned it is implicitly stated that they will be threatened (especially since they have money that the Nazis will steal) and that they need to plan either an escape or to be hidden in plain sight claiming to be Christians instead of Jews although this too will become impossible once their papers and ID are demanded. The fact that the SS officers are shown in the final scene foreshadows the fact that the Bohemian days of fun and games are numbered and that the Third Reich is already influencing every area of life in Berlin.

Liza Minnelli was not a universally popular choice to play the role of Sally Bowles. Why might this have been and how did she win over her critics?

Liza Minnelli once gave an interview explaining the "Of Course" Principle; directors would ask for her because she was Judy Garland's daughter, and then add that she was gifted and good. The director would say, "Of course." Directors would observe that she was Justin garland's daughter but that she was joy as good as her mother; producers would say, "Well, of course." Plagued her entire life by the "Of Course" principle which meant that she was never right for a role because she was never her mother, Minnelli was not the universal choice primarily because she was considered a Broadway performer by the movie studio who were not always enthusiastic in transitioning theater performers from stage to screen. They also believed that her talents were in song and dance, and not in acting. Minnelli proved them wrong by being great in the role of Sally Bowles and playing her as a Bohemian club performer who struggles with relationships and who is coming to terms with the consequences of her actions. She also makes sure to play Sally as a dramatic role that involves song and dance rather than as Vaudeville with a little dramatic action as an addendum.

This is a "fun" film because of the familiar song and dance routines and the entertaining way in which the characters conduct their relationships with each other. However, it can also be seen as somewhat of a morality play. What are some of the serious issues dealt with under the guise of entertainment?

Sally is very free and easy and a genuine free spirit who wants to live for the moment and pay little regard to the future or the consequences of her actions or choices. She deals with a pregnancy outside of marriage which in that era was almost unheard of and was still a disgrace (remember, this is the age in which unwed mothers were sent away to the convent where nuns would take their newborns away for adoption regardless of the young mother's wishes). This is demonstrated by Jack's offering to marry her - if she wants to have the child marriage is going to be a necessity. Realizing that she does not see the role of stay at home mom in her future Sally decides to have an abortion - this would likely be a backstreet affair without proper medical follow-up or attention. We also see a lot of different relationships, most of which seem to be either for money or for convenience. There is not much true romantic love in this film. The art of being a gigolo (basically a man living off a richer woman) is highlighted and relationships seem to be for some kind of gain but rarely genuine. This is another of the moral questions the movie asks if the audience.