Cabaret & the Seductive Power of Evil
It’s 1971 in a filthy German nightclub, and Liza Minnelli is starting to think she’s made one of the worst mistakes of her life — and she’s not the only one. But what nobody realizes is that the weird little low-budget queer musical they’re making would become the stuff of Hollywood legend. This is the story of Cabaret — the film that made icons out of its stars, transformed the very genre of movie musicals, influenced art and culture for decades to come from Chicago to Schitt’s Creek … and served as a warning that’s as timely today as it was back then.
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@goobfilmcast4239
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
Fosse was a creative genius. In the best and worst way.
@SEAsiaTraveler
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
Odd that he doesn't mention Gwen Verdon and why she wasn't a candidate. Obvious choice (and Fosse's wife).
@carlhoward9656
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
Most of the ads on YouTube are scams. YouTube doesn’t seam to monitor any advertising on their platform.
@jimmywhite3922
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
I was 15…had no idea what this was about. Scared, insecure , brainy, goofy gay kid. It affected me in ways I can't describe. Such a triumph on so many levels. Now…I'm 70 and fabulous! The "blue looks good on you" sweater scene with Helmut Griem and Michael York and the "screw Max" and "so do I" scene with Michael York and Liza changed my life!..😂
@gunarroze645
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
Excellent show!
@katanaki3059
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
I was an 11 year old girl just moved to NYC. Loved this movie!
@kathwells8334
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
I encourage you all to read the Christopher Isherwood books – Goodbye to Berlin and Mr Norris Changes Trains. This is a top video thanks.
@CureSummer4Ever
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
Sweet Charity isn't just about her falling for a movie star. It's about Charity's bad luck in life and love and her persevering despite all the misfortune. Just calling it a love story between her and a movie star is too simplified and kind of incorrect.
@Rabijeel
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
Fosse was a Genius Yeares ahead of his Time – simple as that.
And as many Genius at that Time were "ahead of their Time" and that was a Mark of their Time – he was also a Man that created the Time as it was.
A Really big Man.
@lynfairy
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
About roe v wade ….
@skyavalanche
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
This video is like a Doctoral Thesis. Holy Cow, the research and presentation is exceptional. Bowles me over!
@Nibody-s1f
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
Ernst Rohm (was the co-founder and leader of the Sturmabteilung (SA) – or "Brownshirts" who were responsible for the early beatings and persecutions) was actively gay. Arguably he was worse that the two prominent gays you mentioned who put themselves in with the Nazis, as he actively oversaw the more violent persecutions.
@nicoleley2234
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
This is really interesting. I knew about Christopher Isherwood because I read his Berlin Stories but nothing about the rest.
@adamarket
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
I just saw the musical being staged at the Kit Kat Club in London. Despite loving the movie and enjoying several of the memorable numbers, the schmaltzy storyline that was cut from the movie left me bored and cold. After watching your video, I understand my more negative take on the stage version. That said, some of the staging of the classic numbers was very well done.
@arturocostantino623
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
Billy Wilder maybe
@arturocostantino623
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
The Frug from Sweet Charity is probably the best dance scene in the last 70 years
@taketheredpill1452
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
the urgent danger is evident now…Irony
@dougr.2398
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
My family and many others always pronounced the name Feuer as very close to foyer (not the French pronunciation of “foyer”). It’s Germanic and Yiddish in origin
@dougr.2398
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
WRONG! The author (Christopher Isherwood) was homosexual….. the main male character of Cabaret was bisexual
@BuckyNugget
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
The old man @31:17 looking sadly at what's happening always gives me chills.
@kyralindsey5885
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
The men in charge really stood on business, protecting Brian's queer identity. They really said "the world was yelling at us to move, we stood firm and said no, you move"
@bjrr-m1k
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
This is, quite possibly,, the Gayest video I've ever seen.
Liked and subscribed 👍
@vonsteuben21c
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
It's a nice story to say that Isherwood moved to liberal Berlin and then unexpectedly things turned bad. In reality, Isherwood knowingly moved to a deeply troubled and dysfunctional war torn foreign society because his wealth, privilege, and foreign national status allowed him to behave in ways that would never have been tolerated in his native country. The idea that anybody moving to Berlin in 1929 wasn't aware of the political and social situation is obviously absurd. Isherwood himself came to realize this, and it is reflected in his novel. But Cabaret and similar treatments completely distorted this meaning and rewrote history, doing a disservice both to historical accuracy and to Isherwood himself.
@my_lookingglass
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
Dictatorship uses liberalism for years it distracts people from the dangers it ushers in…same thing goes on today ever worse because we should know better sadly!
@jordangustke1877
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
Bob was a creative genius….he was also a substance abusing, egotistical manic
@nina-jr8rn
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
I would LOVE a video on queerness among Nazi leaders
@chrisb5483
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
I have seen the stage version twice and feel like I finally understand what is going on. I never got the gorilla scene, i thought it might be about Jewish people or about a particular couple, but it just didn't click it was so out of nowhere.
@amberlawson7867
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
im sorry basil did what?!
@lavendermoonbeams
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
Excellent video! I saw this movie when I was maybe a touch too young (my Mom loves Liza Minelli) and it didn't quite hit. I wasn't really comfortable with a lot of what I saw but I feel I lacked context. Now, it resonates more deeply and having become familiar with Christopher Isherwood, the idea to borrow more from his book makes way more sense for the changes made!
This was a really interesting dive and much appreciated. The world still needs Cabaret and its message.
@barrett7893
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
Ronald Reagan was one of the worst presidents in history! He started the trickle down economics that is a bunch of BS!!
@Naomhán-a2
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
This was a great video.
@lindavenne8038
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
Cabaret's on point today, especially with what is going on in America!
@TALKCalgary-2
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
Excellent research, writing and presentation.
@AnvilPictures
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
33:28 this reminds me of a saying
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
@j0nnyism
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
Ernst rohm the leader of the brown shirts often visited the gay clubs in Berlin being openly gay himself. The Nazis only came down heavily on gay people after his death during the night of the long knives. Hitler himself said he didn’t care what people did in their private lives as long as they were discrete about it. They were ironically more tolerant of gay people than many other right wing more religious parties until 1933
@victoriocanale2946
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
I never wanted to watch Caberet because I always thought it was too camp, even though I'm a gay man. Now that I've heard a bit about it and seen a little I think I'm going to watch it as I totally overrated it without even giving it a chance, something I do often due to my upbringing, however I'm not as stuck up as I use to be, I'm no longer the champion Highland Dancer or an associate of Scottish Ballet . I went from a 27 roomed house to a homeless unit 😂, I was homeless at 16, first slept rough at 13 and lost both parents by age 12 so I had a lot going on. Thank you for making this video and helping me open my eyes that little wider ❤
@dondon6655
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
Matt, you are so good at putting together these stories. You are also hot. Thanks for all this history.
@stardresser1
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
Completely wonderful
Thank you!
@PixelTheMushroom
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
"Degenerate" hmmmmmm, now, dear reader, do you remember which other group was very fond of classifying things they didn't like as degenerate.
@amburkajama
June 30, 2026 at 7:13 am
This was excellent. Thank you.
Comments are closed.