Barbra Streisand stated in an interview once that she turned down a chance to be in "Cabaret", I'm asssuming she was offered the role of Sally Bowles. What do you think the film would've been like if she had accepted the part?
Judy, Liza, Barbra, Bette, These are names I shan't forget!
While many people will disagree with me, I can't imagine anyone else being Sally.
For me, Liza will always be the real Sally.
I just loved her so much.
Her appearance was more of what I envisioned Sally as.
I read the Berlin Stories and saw the stage show before seeing the movie, and, in every case, Liza was similar to my interpretation of Sally. Much more than Barbara would have been.
------
I'll swallow your soul!!
As much as I love the film, and the show. Liza is not my interpretation of Sally, neither is Streisand. This is because in the Books, and in the Show Sally is English.
shareI agree, I don't get the changes in characterization, but, physically speaking, Liza was how I envisioned Sally to appear.
shareA Jewish Sally Bowles? Don't think so. That would've been a different story.
shareYes, it would have been totally different. Plus, sorry Streisand fans, I don't think herBabship could have carried it off.
shareI am a huge Streisand fan, but still shudder at the thought of her playing Sally and from what I read of her, Ms Streisand obviously agreed as she didn't accept the role. Also, as you point out, a Jewish Sally would have changed everything.
shareBarbra's religion aside, it would have been a disaster. I do agree that Liza was too good, but it's a movie. The 'plain' girl is always beautiful. I do think the movie had top much late-60s early-70s influence. The only other version I've seen was a local community theatre (and I'll admit, it was fun, but not talent filled - although Sean Whalen did perform in some of the shows, most notably Diary of Anne Frank), but I liked the play version more than the movie - my favorite song is Don't Tell Mama... which isn't performed in the movie.
shareMaybe she was offered the role of the one Jewish girl, whose name now escapes me...
The wealthy one that falls in love with Fritz.
Thankfully that didn't happen.
Interestingly, I once heard that Minelli's performance was criticized because she was too talented. (I think it was critc John Simon but I am not 100% sure of this). He reason was that Sally was supposed to be a mediocre at best singer who was self-delusional about her abiliities. She was never going be discovered because there was not much to discover. This may be closer to the protrait of Sally in the original Isherwood work. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed Liza's performance. I have seen only on other version, in a regional theater production, so I really have no firm basis to judge other professional perfomances.
share[deleted]
The film wouldn't have been nearly as interesting. Minnelli lacks
Streisand's voice and sex appeal, but she is a far greater actor. She
was born to play Sally Bowles.
On Apr 13 2010 gerald-flynn said “Sally was supposed to be a mediocre at best singer who was self-delusional about her abiliities. She was never going be discovered because there was not much to discover. This may be closer to the protrait of Sally in the original Isherwood work.”
My answer comes late as I’ve only just discovered this thread but this is very true. In Isherwood’s novel Goodbye to Berlin which contains the chapter on Sally Bowles (she was one of several characters the only main character was Isherwood) she was a no talent singer with big ideas singing in a run down dive in a sleazy part of town on the east side of Berlin. The cliental were drunken down & outs who came into the dive to get out of the weather & sleep it off. If Bowles took off her clothes & danced in the buff they couldn’t have cared less. The film glamorises this out of all proportion.
This is why Streisand wouldn't have worked. She's too insular a
performer for this role. She lacks warmth and the great vulnerability
that Minnelli has. Also, and let's be honest - Minnelli has never
possessed a great singing voice. It's shrill and thin, more to the
sound of Ethel Merman. She could not sing like Garland or Streisand.
[deleted]
I'd put Minnelli's voice right up there with Garland and Streisand. Shrill and thin, it's simply not. With all her acclaim and awards, Liza Minnelli is still one of the most underrated singers in history. Pick up her latest CD, "Confessions." She is in magnificent voice at age 64.
I do agree Streisand would have derailed this film.
[deleted]
Streisand would also not have worked because she is to obviously Jewish to play the part in terms of when the film is set.
shareStreisand was never a dancer. She couldn't do that little "goodbye" gesture with the bowler hat.
She also didn't sweat. She probably wouldn't have allowed her character to feel up her own boobs, smoke cigarettes or sleep around.
She would have made a very boring Sally.
God no. Streisand is a Jew and looks it. Her playing Sally would have required the film to acknowledge her Jewishness and deal with it (obviously, she would have felt terribly threatened by the growing Nazi unrest - something a gentile Sally would/could have ignored).
Streisand is also classic "Brooklyn Jew" - which made her totally unsuitable for the part of wealthy German/Jewish merchant's daughter that everyone falls in love with.
On the other hand, I still think Bab's portrayal of Dolly Levi in "Hello Dolly" was totally appropriate, despite her youth at the time. Now THAT'S a role that calls for a New York/Brooklyn Jew!
"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"
Actually Dolly was Dolly Gallagher, an Irish Catholic lass, before she married Mr. Levi but I agree that Streisand did a good job.
shareStreisand just could not have played Sally Bowles. As others have said she is just entirely too Jewish in her appearance, which would defeat the purpose of an unconcerned, flighty Bowles going through early Nazi Germany. Sally Bowlestein would not make any sense. Streisand also cannot dance and would have been embarassing doing Fosse choreography. She would just be all wrong. Even for the part of Natalia. Natalia was a very beautiful, sweet, naive young woman.
I think Liza was perfect for the role. Her voice is much of the time shrill and thin, which is perfect for a cabaret performer. She also had the pathos and griminess that Barbra couldn't have given the role.
Jezebel! Flauntin' your flesh in temptation's raiment! You will burn. Oh, you will burn!
If Babs stated it as "a chance to be in Cabaret" and didn't name drop the lead role then I doubt very seriously she was up for Sally. We all know Babs and her ego. If she were ever up for a lead role in a film and turned it down she never lets the public nor the star who took it forget it
shareIf Barbra Streisand was indeed offered this role (which I have always PROFOUNDLY doubted), thank God she turned it down.
Epic miscasting.
Liza Minnelli was born to play Sally Bowles. She is the DEFINITIVE Sally Bowles. You can revive "Cabaret" as much as you want on Broadway, but no actress will ever erase Liza's performance in this film. It is one of the most perfect mesh of actress and role in movie history.
You guys bashing Streisand are high. She played this exact same character type around this time (the wacky, yet endearing bohemian chick) in movies like The Owl and the Pussycat and What's Up, Doc. She would've done just as brilliantly as Minnelli. The movie just would've had a different flavor to it.
shareYou claim Sally Bowles is the "exact same character type" as the shreiking, toilet-mouthed Doris in Owl and the Pussycat, and you call us high? LOL!
shareI love Barbra but Cabaret would not of been the movie it is if she would of been cast. Like everyone agrees, Liza was born to play Sally. *beep* Liza IS Sally.
share