The Real Cabaret

The Real Cabaret

Alan Cumming explores the true stories on which the Cabaret musical was based.

20091 h

Few musicals can claim to capture the mood of a historical period as well as the 1972 classic Cabaret. Liza Minnelli's unforgettable portrayal of singer Sally Bowles and the film's stylish recreation of the era have become defining images of Weimar Berlin. In this documentary, actor Alan Cumming explores the truths behind the fiction. He meets many of those closely involved with the original film, including Liza Minnelli, and talks to cabaret artists, among them acclaimed performer Ute Lemper. Alan explores the origins of the Cabaret story in the writings of Christopher Isherwood and uncovers the story of the real life Sally Bowles, a woman very different from her fictional counterpart. He talks to the composer of Cabaret about the inspiration for the film's most famous songs and discovers the stories of the original composers and performers, among them Marlene Dietrich. Finally, Alan reveals the tragic fate of many of the cabaret artists at the hands of the Nazis.

Created by
Richard Bright
Origin
US
TMDB rating
10.0 / 10 · 1 vote

Cast

In the same vein

Pick up exactly where you left off.

Tick an episode and the rest sorts itself out: what is waiting tonight, what airs tomorrow, what you abandoned two years ago. And under every episode, what other people made of it, without ever spoiling what comes next.

Create an account

Free, no ads.