Cabaret

Carmen Saint James
5 min readMar 6, 2020

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Released in 1972. Directed by Bob Fosse. Starring Liza Minnelli as Sally Bowles.

I didn’t feel like watching anything else and this was in the armoire and I’d never seen it so there you go.

I will be mentioning plot elements so if you haven’t seen it you will soon find out. The following was written while watching the movie under the influence of cannabis. If you want to know the inspiration behind these critiques then read my announcement →HERE←. As you’ll find, I don’t always write about the movie but go on tangents that the movie makes me think about. That’s the whole point of following this pot-produced stream of consciousness. Enjoy.

This article is rated R for Language.

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Those performer’s clothes in the opening number are lame.

Liza is very unusual looking. I’m surprised she was a big thing back then. She must have been very talented. Big teeth, eyes far apart, and those eyelashes. I wonder if we’re headed back to that parted eyelash style. And those bangs that dip down in the middle like straight-up Dracula. I can really see Judy in her. I do like that outfit, the black low-cut halter vest. That’s the iconic cabaret look. She’s got such a flat ass.

I need to go to someplace like this. Phones on the tables, that touch. I should have gone to that jazz club in NYC.

“Makes me feel wildly sensual.” She’s so handsy.

Screaming while the subway rumbles above. Wow, they had above ground trains back then? That’s surprising.

I feel it’s almost too fast paced to keep up with the dialogue. I feel like I’m missing things.

She’s really coming on to him. Wow, she’s really forward. Those eyelashes are outrageous.

Perfect. German beer, German movie.

Her outfits are pretty great. That big white bow. That short side swiped hair.

Well there you have it. That’s why she’s always looking for love in other men. It’s her dad’s love that she wants.

Fuck, she just looked down cause he got hard. It’s that subtle.

That blue eye-shadow, pencil thin eyebrows, big black choker, and spaced out eyelashes; no wonder men dress up as her, she looks like a drag queen. But it’s interesting to think that they used to think that was glamorous. She looks like a clown.

But this is a great song. She’s performing, even when everyone’s asleep. She’s still giving it her all, that’s cause she’s a performer, not just an actor, performer.

It’s hard to tell what they are saying. It’s literally like a game of telephone. I thought he said something about loving him and then chickens, but he really said “tell him your lover is a gangster from Chicago” ..“giving her body frequently to men”.. “gigolo who hunts for fortune.”

Basically raped her until she consented.

She just decides to go into this stranger’s car.

I want to get a 20s style dress, low back, semi low front but low hip sash that makes your torso look long. It’s slimming and makes you look tall. Plus it is the ’20s now.

His blonde slim mustache, so pedophile-esque.

So she’s got a sugar daddy, this baron, but it’s a threesome. So the boyfriend doesn’t think it’s weird that this man is buying her stuff and flirting right in front of him?

This random man who is rich and takes a fancy with her, and she is just there to entertain him. She has no money, no prestige, and he knows how easy it is to use and discard her because she just wants to be there for the money and prestige.

Does he want to get with both of them or just Sally? They are all gonna make out. Threesome. So weird. Sensual. He’s going to pass out and they are gonna screw. He only wanted her cause he knew she was a floozy and would have sex with him to be in movies or for nice things.

I just don’t think blonde guys should have mustaches, it just doesn’t look right.

Who is in love with who?

This anthem is scary as fuck. These people just shouting singing. Nazis.

I knew it, they are both screwing him.

This fuckin piece of shit. Racist scumbags killed her dog.

Fuck, having to have an abortion back then. This is scandalous for sure.

I feel like they would be horrible neighbors. I mean they are living in this person’s home and they are up late screwing, drinking, and giggling. And you know Liza is loud as fuck.

That freckle under her eye.

“why can’t we just live and let live.”

Wait, are they comparing Jewish people with monkeys?

You never see her without makeup. She never washes her face before bed.

She basically wants her dream of being an actress more than love, more than marriage, more than a baby.

Ok, this is the only song that I knew, “come to the cabaret.” You can’t keep your eyes off of her but this song is actually kinda sad. “The happiest corpse I’d ever seen.”..“when I go I’m goin’ like Elsie.” Damn.

And I’ll say, I do love the all female band.

Now I gotta go watch Stevie Budd’s Cabaret performance again. I could watch her performance over and over and cry every time. It’s just such great character development.

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Next review found →HERE

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Carmen Saint James is a performance artist and the author of The Psychotropic Journals & Volume II. You can check out her latest writings, videos, and photography on her website, youtube channel, and Instagram @carmensaintjames.

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Carmen Saint James
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Author of The Psychotropic Journals & Volume II. Creator of The Stoned Movie Critique(r).