I Am a Camera (1955)

In Weimar-era Berlin, an aspiring writer strikes up a friendship with a vivacious, penniless singer.

Director:

Henry Cornelius

Writers:

John Van Druten (from the play "I am a Camera"), Christopher Isherwood (based on the stories of)

Stars:

Julie Harris, Laurence Harvey, Shelley Winters

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julie Harris	...	Sally Bowles
Laurence Harvey	...	Christopher Isherwood
Shelley Winters	...	Natalia Landauer
Ron Randell	...	Clive
Lea Seidl	...	Fräulein Schneider
Anton Diffring	...	Fritz Wendel
Ina De La Haye	...	Herr Landauer
Jean Gargoet	...	Pierre
Stanley Maxted	...	Curtis B. Ryland, Editor
Alexis Bobrinskoy	...	Proprietor (Troika)
André Mikhelson	...	Head Waiter (Troika)
Frederick Valk	...	Doctor
Tutte Lemkow	...	Electro-Therapist
Patrick McGoohan	...	Swedish Water Therapist
Julia Arnall	...	Model

Storyline

In Weimar-era Berlin, an aspiring writer strikes up a friendship with a vivacious, penniless singer.

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Plot Keywords:

based on play | based on book | 

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Taglines:

THE MOST TALKED-ABOUT PICTURE ON THAT MOST TALKED-ABOUT SUBJECT! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The character of Sally Bowles was based upon a real person Jean Ross. In reality, Ross was considerably more politically-inclined and intelligent than the Sally Bowles character created by Christopher Isherwood. In addition to being an actress and singer, Ross was a devout Stalinist and served as a war correspondent during the Spanish Civil War. She was noted for her heroism in reporting from the front lines of battles. Her many romantic partners included Eric Maschwitz and Claud Cockburn.

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Goofs

Whilst eating in Sally's room, Chris has a fork in his right hand. In the next shot, his hand is at his side and he reaches over the plate to pick up the fork again.

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Quotes

Christopher Isherwood: [to Sally] Any mess you get into, you try and get out of by using your extremely inadequate sex appeal.

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Crazy Credits

In opening credits, Shelley Winters is misspelled "Shelly".

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Future War (1999)

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Soundtracks

Ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin
Music by Ralph Maria Siegel
Lyrics by Aldo von Pinelli
Sung by Marlene Dietrich and Liselotte Malkowsky

User Reviews

Surprisingly good

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Much reviled when it first appeared, (inspiring the famous review 'Me No Leica'), this precursor of "Cabaret" can now be looked at in comparison and it's not half bad. It's certainly no classic but it has its own wayward charm, (the film version of "Cabaret" follows this plot whereas the stage version changed the plot somewhat). One should, of course, resist the temptation to snicker when Laurence Harvey's Christopher Isherwood, (it keeps the original author's real name; God Knows what Isherwood thought of it), describes himself as 'a confirmed bachelor' and while Harvey is an utterly inadequate 'hero', (he's virtually asexual), and Shelly Winters woefully miscast as Fraulien Landauer, (the part Marisa Berenson played in "Cabaret"), Julie Harris is a perfectly marvellous Sally, (it's a lovely piece of comic acting), and Anton Diffring is first-rate as Fritz, the German-Jew in love with Shelly's character. Of course, if "Cabaret" had never come along you might ask yourself would this ever have seen the light of day again. That it has been revived may not quite be cause for celebration but it's perfectly acceptable all the same.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 July 1955 (UK)

Also Known As:

Une fille comme ça

Company Credits

Production Co:

Romulus Films, Remus Films Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1