Cabaret Research

Christopher and His Kind

This was a film about Christopher Isherwood the author of 'Goodbye to Berlin'. He gets invited to Berlin by his friend W.H. Auden. He works as a English teacher and rents a house, his housmates include Gerald Hamiltion and wannabe actress Jean Ross who work in a unsavoury Cabaret club. Others he meets are part of his Goodbye to Berlin characters. And has even admitted Jean Ross was based on Sally Bowles.

After a fling with a rent boy named Caspar. Christopher begins to fall in love with a man named Heinz a street sweeper. He pays for Heinz mums medical bills as she's sick. With the Nazis rising to power in Berlin Christopher goes back to London with Heinz however his visa expires and he has to go back. After years without seeing each other Christopher goes to Berlin, who is now now a writer and meets with Heinz again. He now has children and is married.

The film gives you a insight into the life of Berlin and the characters that Christopher wrote for. All inspired around real life and real people. You see him flea to Berlin to be in this freedom society and is welcomed into the subculture of cabaret. But as the film goes on you realise everyone is becoming naive around this lifestyle as the Nazis begin to come into power and cast a cloud over this life.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/christopher_and_his_kind_2011/

Goodbye to berlin

The book is about the decadence and sleaze of Berlin in the late 20's early 90's. It shows unique and different characters that you can learn from within this society they were all in. Either knowing the facts or thinking of your own reasons of why they are what they are like and what they want out of this life in Berlin. It talks about a gay couple Peter and Otto who are struggling to come to terms with their relationship.

The Launderers a Jewish family who is within the society of Jewish people not being liked by the Nazis. It tells you about how Berlin was once a time of freedom and openness that was then struggling down the path of politics and power. Sally the main character is a english cabaret signer who acts carefree and childish. Her character is known for the term 'Divine decandce' and her green nail polish. To show such as striking colour on her nails in them days was seen to be 'shocking.' Which Sally Bowles loved to portray.

http://alitchick.blogspot.co.uk/2008/07/goodbye-to-berlin.html
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/760702.Goodbye_to_Berlin

I am a Camera

Based on the book 'Goodbye to Berlin.' I am Camera is a broadway musical that was made in 1951. The title is known to be the quote on the first page of the book 'I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking.' The play was produced by John Van Druten who is a playwright and theatre director.

It opened its doors to this play in the Empire theatre in New York in November 28th. It ran 214 performances and was a huge success. It closed the play on July 12th 1952. Christopher Isherwood himself was in the play as William Prince. Julie Harris played Sally Bowles, for her acting, she won her first Tony award for Best Leading Actress.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1382316/I-Am-a-Camera