“An unforgettable cry of despair.” - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
“It’s hard to believe it’s half a century since CABARET first sashayed into cinemas: in look, sound and sensibility, it still feels fresh and daring, expanding the possibilities of what musicals can do and say at every turn.” - Guy Lodge, Variety
Thursday, July 18, 8:15 p.m. | Of all the final frames in this series, the concluding seconds of CABARET might not instantly come to mind. The last image, a distorted reflection of the audience at the Kit Kat Klub—is a grim coda to what has been two dazzling hours of song and dance directed by Bob Fosse (Academy Award winner for Best Director); one can’t be blamed for forgetting. Set in Berlin in the early 1930s, against the encroaching darkness of fascism and the rise of the Nazi party, CABARET revolves around the naive British writer Brian Roberts (Michael York) and his relationship with the fragile American cabaret performer Sally Bowles (Liza Minelli, in an Academy Award–winning performance). As tensions rise in Germany, their messy relationship deteriorates, all set to the music of the vibrant and hectic Kit Kat Club. As our enigmatic Master of Ceremonies (Joel Grey, also in an Academy Award–winning turn) wishes us his final farewell, CABARET offers a warning glimpse of the horrors to come.
Awards & Nominations
Winner - Best Actress in a Lead Role (Liza Minnelli), Best Actor in a Supporting (Joel Grey), Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Academy Awards
Winner - Best Actress, Best Director, Best Film, BAFTA
Last Shot: Stick the landing. Bring it home. Finish strong. In cinema, the last shot is arguably the most important. “This is it, this is the final moment, it is perfect!” only to have it go on, stumbling and fumbling its way to the credits? For all those missed opportunities, there are also the pitch-perfect conclusions, the memorable last looks, the frames that catch your breath in your throat and with pure artistry not only conclude a film but underscore, emphasize, or affirm the entire running time that came before it. Our 11-film Last Shot series explores impeccable resolutions in film. View full Last Shot series. *Spoiler alert: the endings of all films in this series are mentioned (as subtly as possible) in their description, and the accompanying still images do not reflect their final frames.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu