Stars: Liza Minnelli, Michael York, Joel Grey
Best Songs: Heirat, Cabaret, Money, Tomorrow Belongs to Me
Cabaret is one of those disappointing musicals that has a passel of great songs, a great singer, and an utterly boring book. When the movie is in the Kit Kat Klub with Joel Grey as MC, and Liza on stage, its magical. When it goes outside the club, and concentrates on the un-compelling love triangle and York's antics, its meanders and loses its way.
The Script tries to jazz the story up by throwing decadence, Nazis and Bi-sexuality at us, but to no avail. Part of the problem is Liza. A great singer (side note: how often does a great singer have a great singer as a parent?), she's not much of an actress, or a great beauty. Her character "Sally Bowles" is supposed to be a charismatic "Wild and Crazy Girl" who knocks the socks off the staid York character. But Liza can't really play that. Meanwhile, York is passive/dull in a passive/dull part. And none of the other actors make an impression.
But there are some great songs. The best isn't by Liza, but Heirat, sung by Greta Keller in the background. Amusingly, the two Jewish composers were criticized for writing a "Nazi Anthem" (Tomorrow Belongs to Me) !
Summary: I found Isherwood's Berlin Stories a bore, and same goes for Cabaret's book. My recommendation - watch it for the production numbers or skip the movie and buy the soundtrack.
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