Synopsis for
Cabaret (1972) More at IMDbPro »

Sally Bowles (Liza Minnelli) is a second-rate singer and dancer who lives in Germany in the between-wars period. She dreams of becoming rich and famous. Meanwhile, she works at the Kit-Kat cabaret, a seedy place with suggestive musical numbers. The Master of Ceremonies (Joel Grey), introduces and participates in the risque acts at the cabaret.

We see Nazis asking for donations from the club patrons, but the owner throws them out.

Sally meets Brian Roberts (Michael York) when he takes a room in a flat she shares with some older people. He is in Berlin to study and teach English, but is currently penniless. Through the other tenant's conversations, the audience can see the growing influence of racist ideas and Nazism.

Brian and Sally like each other. However, Sally doesn't want to fall in love with him because she wants to marry big money. One day, while complaining at the laundrette because of problems with the timing of the cleaning of some garments, she bumps into Maximilian von Heune (Helmut Griem). He helps Sally by translating the attendant's German into English. Sally flirts with him, and he offers her a ride in his limousine. Sally falls dazzled when she notices the luxurious car.

Meanwhile, Sally and Brian have been setting up one student of Brian's, a wanna-be gigolo who plans on meeting and wedding an ugly but rich woman, Fritz Wendel (Fritz Wepper), with a wealthy heiress, Natalia Landauer (Marisa Berenson). While Fritz was originally after Natalia's money, he finds he has really fallen for her - and she is in love with him.

Brian and Sally visit Max at his castle. Max gives them a first-class treatment, and Sally gets completely starry-eyed. However, there, they learn the truth: Max is married, but he and his wife have decided to lead separate lives with many different lovers and sexual adventures on either side, but never breaking up their marriage, as financially that would be an end to their flamboyant living. Sally confesses to Brian that she has slept with Max. Brian confesses that he has too.

The Nazis are gaining public acceptance and power. A Nazi youth starts singing in a park, and most of the people join in. A Nazi gang beats up the club owner in revenge of their previous treatment. Some of the acts in the club make fun of Jews and appear supportive of the Nazi movement.

A Nazi gang kills Natalia's dog and leaves it on her door-step. Brian encourages Fritz to propose to her, as he knows she really does love him, and Fritz loves her as a person - not just for her fortune. Fritz says that it won't happen, because he's penniless. Because of the increasingly hostile atmosphere, Natalia rejects Fritz when he finally proposes. She tells him that the marriage can't take place because she is Jewish. Fritz confesses to Natalia that he is Jewish as well, and they get married in a traditional ceremony immediately.

Max sends a note to Sally and Brian, saying that he has to leave the country on "family business". He includes money for each of them. Sally buys a fur coat with her share. Soon, she feels gloomy, and tells Brian that she is pregnant, but doesn't know who the father is. It could be Max or Brian.

She considers an abortion, but Brian asks her to marry him. He asks her to have the baby and tries to convince her that they could be happy together in spite of not being millionaires. Sally says that she'll think about it. It's implied that, if she has a baby, she'll never be able to become a star or marry a rich man.

The next thing Brian notices is that Sally hasn't got the furry coat anymore. Brian realizes that she's given it to the doctor as payment for the abortion. Their relationship is over.

Brian and Sally head to the train station so Brian can return to England. Sally stays behind to keep up her performances at the club. She sings the biographical "Cabaret", and the MC closes the show. The atmosphere is not joyous anymore.

We an empty stage, and the focus light several Nazi officers who are going to close down the Kit Kat club.