I always held a bit of resentment towards “Cabaret” since I felt it stole most of the Academy Awards that should have gone to “The Godfather,” including best director (Bob Fosse) and supporting actor (Joel Grey), among the eight overall trophies for the musical.
On the new 40th anniversary Blu-ray 40-page book edition of the 1972 film (Warner, $27.98, Feb. 5), star Liza Minnelli and others associated with the movie recalled being equally shocked though less resentful than I was.
I also felt that Fosse’s “All That Jazz” a few years later was a better film, even though I always loved Grey’s songs “Willkommen” and “The Money Song” as well as Minnelli’s forceful performance of the title song.
But re-evaluating this immaculate high-definition edition increased my appreciation of the film best remembered for Minnelli’s Oscar-winning performance.
Helping generate more regard for the movie are the multiple bonus features, including a new documentary, “Cabaret: The Musical That Changed Musicals,” along with vintage documentaries “Cabaret: A Legend in the Making,” “The Recreation of an Era,” a multi-part memory gallery and more.
The story follows Minnelli’s somewhat ditzy and eccentric young American working part-time as a back-up dancer in a nightclub in pre-war decadent Berlin of 1931, just as the Nazi Party is beginning to emerge. Her casual sex leads to tough decisions as her male roommate and sometimes sex partner (Michael York) is exploring his own sexuality when he is tempted by a homosexual friend. Grey plays the emcee at the club and the movie’s storyteller along with the movie’s songs.
But still, how does “The Godfather” win best movie of the year but Fosse wins best director? And Joel Grey over Al Pacino’s Michael Corelone?
— By Scott Hettrick