1968: "Cabaret introduces Judi Dench into the world of the West End musical... She confirms she is not suffering from a bad cold - the huskiness in her voice she has had since birth."
This crack in her voice... so unusual, mesmerizing! i felt shivers go down my spine when i heard it live for the first time in my life... more than 40 years after this clip was taken. Judi's magnetism is huge! Thanks for posting.
What everyone misses is the magnificant Judi Dench is projecting a second-rate performance. She slips off notes or just misses them; hard to do. She projects a cheap and second-rate performer which was the character of Sally Bowles. Brilliant performance.
She was also the original Grizabella in Cats (who sings "Memory")! But had to withdraw due to injury. I was surprised about her musicals, too, but then she's a goddess who could probably do anything. Check out her version of Send In the Clowns...
One of my friends was one of the original Kit Kat Girls (Texas), and she said that Hal Prince had come back from London and said that he had found the most marvelous and amazing girl to play Sally for the London production. It was Judi. I think she was the greatest Sally of them all.
It fits the role of Sally Bowles though. She's a poor girl working in a Cabaret during a stressful time period. When people mostly went to Cabarets and brothels to drink and sleep with people. Her talent didn't matter as much as one would think. At least, that's how I think of it~
We must not overlook her Shakesperean work in Strattford-on-Avon and her beauty which has lasted to these days. She and her late husband are a gift to England and the World.
Dame Judi was appearing at the National Theatre while I was working backstage there. There was a transport strike at the time and she put a notice up on the board offering anyone who wanted it, a lift in her car back to Hamstead after the show. I have never wanted to live in Hamstead so much in all my life! PS: Saw this back in '68 - brilliant!
Oh my days - I love musicals, and I think Dame Judi is utterly incredible, but I had no idea about this! Thank you so much for sharing this amazing piece of musical history.
I just love the way she plays Sally so much more than the more modern versions where they do that “I’m a baby” thing. I find it kind of unsettling... and also I actually LOVE Dame Judi’s voice, it works for this kind of role.
Honestly, I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s noticed this imagery and found it unsettling. Don’t get me wrong, the performances are still good but I wish they didn’t play into the baby style. I feel it also infantilises the character in a way she openly rejects in her song.
I saw her in this with the drama group from school. We were invited backstage where she answered all our questions and was so lovely and generous with her time.. She was wearing a prim little black dress with a white collar. Never to be forgotten experience and a spellbinding performance. Count myself privileged. Life long fan.
Whoa. Just whoa. It's not often we think about what our favourite middle aged stars were doing when they were younger; but, Judi Dench as Sally is so mesmerising.
She sounds like she has a cold... but Dame Judi Dench is so charismatic, it WORKS, especially for Sally Bowles who's supposed to be working in a dive anyway.
This is awesome. I had no idea Dame Judi did this number back in the day!!!!! Alan Cummings version was tailored for him to a tee but Judi's is equally suitable for her husky, sex kitten vibe! Perfection!
I'm confused... do people think this is an Alan Cumming number? In none of the 3 productions of Cabaret that he starred in did he do this number, it's always been a Sally number. He may have done it in other setting but not in the show.
As a teenager visiting from Glasgow, this was the very first musical I saw in the West End. Judi Dench, Barry Dennen, Peter Sallis, Lila Kedrova.... they were a very tough act to follow!
Even though this is just the OLCR laid on top of the original video, it manages to fit nearly perfectly, and it actually seems like she could be singing exactly what we're hearing. Her performance here is absolutely flawless! She has everything the role requires, and more. I don't get why this performance is so neglected and why the OLCR is no longer available. I would love to hear it and compare it to the also-incredible original Broadway cast with the different-but-wonderful Jill Haworth.
Chews up space. I saw the original and revival versions of Cabaret on Broadway, of course the film, and now reviewed the available videos and her portrayal is outstanding. Even when she is lying still, she commands all the attention. Brilliant!!!!! Of course, there are better singers but she is good enough with her smoky voice, especially since Sally is not a great singer.
Dame Judi was WONDERFUL in this roll! Best SALLY in the stage version EVER! And that includes ALL stage versions ever. (... of course nothing can ever compare to LIZA as Sally but that was the movie version ...)
as a fan of Judi Dench as Jean Pargiter?Mrs. Lionel Hardcastle...it's so cool to see her all younger and sexy...I've only known her as later middle age ( like me lol ) and gettn older...she's still talented and lovely to me and her acting gets better every decade, I had no idea that body had been going on tho!! And all that marvelous singing! Wow thanks for posting...that just blew my mind! lol Ok, Older ladies keep on rock'n it. GB
@GettnBooted You should read her biography/autobiography - it has great pictures from all the way through her career... including as a very beautiful, very innocent, very very young Juliet!
It was. And Mein Herr is a much, much better song. This is so prissy and schoolgirlish I can't stand it. I saw this production with Jill Haworth on Broadway and I loved it. The the film came along and revved the entire thing up a hundred notches.
The film of Cabaret is very different from the original show -- and from Christopher Isherwood's Berlin Stories, the source for John van Druten's play I Am a Camera on which Cabaret was based -- but quite brilliant in its own way. New numbers by Kander & Ebb, all excellent, include Mein Herr, Money Makes the World Go Around and Maybe This Time (not a new song, but not originally from Cabaret). All of these later found their way into stage revivals. Please note that in Isherwood, Sally is definitely NOT a particularly talented singer; Judi Dench captures perfectly the slightly amateurish, extremely blase and totally fascinating performing personality.@@SuperWolsey
Better than Liza Minelli! (and sexier.) (amazing how well the studio recording fits. It actually looks perfectly synched!) You have any more songs from this? (I love the song where she begs to move in with him. ) (forgot the title.)
She's actually not meant to be a real vamp in this production. She thinks she is, but she's not very bright. When the character of Cliff comes into it he forces her to stop the vamp act. She's totally oblivious to the rise of the Nazis' rise to power.
Bearing in mind that in this production Sally is meant to be a very untalented, slightly delusional English girl - as opposed to Bob Fosse's ingenious re invention of this show, that creates Sally as a not very bright star, who has yet to be discovered, I suppose this is more in line with Isherwood's book. But now it's embarrassing. The film, however, is still as brilliant now as it was back then. As Fosse said, 'Nobody wants to sit in the cinema for two hours listening to someone who can't sing.' He was right. The problem with the film however is that it's so brilliant, this kind of approach to the material is all wrong.
Film and original stage musical are two different beasts. All of the non-cabaret songs were dropped from the film, as well as the important Herr Schultz/Frl. Schneider story (originally played so memorably by Lotte Lenya and Jack Gilford). All of which is fine, because what Bob Fosse (with the uncredited help of Gwen Verdon) did with their exceptional cast and the entirely new screenplay is terrific in its own right. The one "holdover" from stage to screen, Joel Grey as the M.C., is indelible. My big complaint about subsequent stage revivals is not so much that some songs from the film have been added to the score -- they're great numbers -- as the fact that somehow the linking figure of the M.C. has become the starring role, which unbalances the piece. Finally, if what you are saying is that it's "embarrassing" to have Sally portrayed (correctly) as a not-too-talented performer, I must disagree.
She worked the enunciation of “inkling” to an inch of its life
Holy hell! THIS is what Jui Dench sounded like? The sophisticated and raspy voice, the mesmerising sex appeal?! I get it now why she's such an icon
This crack in her voice... so unusual, mesmerizing! i felt shivers go down my spine when i heard it live for the first time in my life... more than 40 years after this clip was taken. Judi's magnetism is huge! Thanks for posting.
What everyone misses is the magnificant Judi Dench is projecting a second-rate performance. She slips off notes or just misses them; hard to do. She projects a cheap and second-rate performer which was the character of Sally Bowles. Brilliant performance.
This is a whole 'nother side to Ms. Dench! I never knew she did this show. I wish I could have seen the whole thing!
She was also the original Grizabella in Cats (who sings "Memory")! But had to withdraw due to injury. I was surprised about her musicals, too, but then she's a goddess who could probably do anything. Check out her version of Send In the Clowns...
I love that little squeak in her voice
One of my friends was one of the original Kit Kat Girls (Texas), and she said that Hal Prince had come back from London and said that he had found the most marvelous and amazing girl to play Sally for the London production. It was Judi. I think she was the greatest Sally of them all.
Her voice is outstandingly strong and unique, her characterization is flawless
It fits the role of Sally Bowles though. She's a poor girl working in a Cabaret during a stressful time period. When people mostly went to Cabarets and brothels to drink and sleep with people. Her talent didn't matter as much as one would think.
At least, that's how I think of it~
Sally isn’t supposed to be ultra talented, she’s actually supposed to be lacking in many talent areas. You’re totally right about that
@Zeug Dings Oh hey, another Nazi, damn y'all are bold recently
@Zeug Dings Ok Nazi
We must not overlook her Shakesperean work in Strattford-on-Avon and her beauty which has lasted to these days. She and her late husband are a gift to England and the World.
Dame Judi was appearing at the National Theatre while I was working backstage there. There was a transport strike at the time and she put a notice up on the board offering anyone who wanted it, a lift in her car back to Hamstead after the show. I have never wanted to live in Hamstead so much in all my life! PS: Saw this back in '68 - brilliant!
Oh my days - I love musicals, and I think Dame Judi is utterly incredible, but I had no idea about this! Thank you so much for sharing this amazing piece of musical history.
I just love the way she plays Sally so much more than the more modern versions where they do that “I’m a baby” thing. I find it kind of unsettling... and also I actually LOVE Dame Judi’s voice, it works for this kind of role.
Honestly, I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s noticed this imagery and found it unsettling. Don’t get me wrong, the performances are still good but I wish they didn’t play into the baby style. I feel it also infantilises the character in a way she openly rejects in her song.
isn't that the whole point of the song?
The whole point of Cabaret is to be unsettling...This isn't Mary Poppins
@@galegorgeous8857 how does it feel to be wrong
@@galegorgeous8857cabaret can be unsettling without pedophilic themes. It’s suppose to be the raunchyness that’s unsettling. Not sexualizing children.
I saw her in this with the drama group from school. We were invited backstage where she answered all our questions and was so lovely and generous with her time.. She was wearing a prim little black dress with a white collar. Never to be forgotten experience and a spellbinding performance. Count myself privileged. Life long fan.
Whoa. Just whoa. It's not often we think about what our favourite middle aged stars were doing when they were younger; but, Judi Dench as Sally is so mesmerising.
Found out the same thing about Bela Lugosi a couple days ago. He was a young actor once tho it's like he only came into existence to play The Count.
She sounds like she has a cold... but Dame Judi Dench is so charismatic, it WORKS, especially for Sally Bowles who's supposed to be working in a dive anyway.
This is awesome. I had no idea Dame Judi did this number back in the day!!!!! Alan Cummings version was tailored for him to a tee but Judi's is equally suitable for her husky, sex kitten vibe! Perfection!
I'm confused... do people think this is an Alan Cumming number? In none of the 3 productions of Cabaret that he starred in did he do this number, it's always been a Sally number. He may have done it in other setting but not in the show.
As a teenager visiting from Glasgow, this was the very first musical I saw in the West End. Judi Dench, Barry Dennen, Peter Sallis, Lila Kedrova.... they were a very tough act to follow!
Her voice is golden
Wow...I've seen a lot of versions of this song, and this one is, well, DEFINITIVE!
Even though this is just the OLCR laid on top of the original video, it manages to fit nearly perfectly, and it actually seems like she could be singing exactly what we're hearing.
Her performance here is absolutely flawless! She has everything the role requires, and more. I don't get why this performance is so neglected and why the OLCR is no longer available. I would love to hear it and compare it to the also-incredible original Broadway cast with the different-but-wonderful Jill Haworth.
loooooove it!!! her voice totally unique! amazing!
Chews up space. I saw the original and revival versions of Cabaret on Broadway, of course the film, and now reviewed the available videos and her portrayal is outstanding. Even when she is lying still, she commands all the attention. Brilliant!!!!! Of course, there are better singers but she is good enough with her smoky voice, especially since Sally is not a great singer.
Her voice was perfect for the role. Sally was supposed to be more of an engaging personality on stage than a talented entertainer, wasn't she?
She made a marvelous Sally Bowles. Wish I’d seen that production.
Judi Dench, :) blooming fab best version of the song by far
She really can do anything. Never fails to amaze me.
her voice is lovely
I won't stop listening until I know EVERY word!
She sounds and looks EXACTLY like Jean Simmons!! Wow. spitting image. (no btw I'm not talking about the singer, but an actress from the 40's )
Jean Simmons was MUCH prettier.
An inspiration to all women with husky voices like myself :)
Dame Judi was WONDERFUL in this roll! Best SALLY in the stage version EVER! And that includes ALL stage versions ever. (... of course nothing can ever compare to LIZA as Sally but that was the movie version ...)
as a fan of Judi Dench as Jean Pargiter?Mrs. Lionel Hardcastle...it's so cool to see her all younger and sexy...I've only known her as later middle age ( like me lol ) and gettn older...she's still talented and lovely to me and her acting gets better every decade, I had no idea that body had been going on tho!! And all
that marvelous singing! Wow thanks for posting...that just blew my mind! lol
Ok, Older ladies keep on rock'n it. GB
I have looked for this recording to download and all that I run across cannot even compare to Judi Dench! She is amazing.
Wow who knew I was gay for Judi Dench?
Well now! I am so torn between Judi Dench and Alan Cumming right now...
Sorry, Joel Grey was the BEST emcee ever! No comparison.
Yes he was. Alan Cummings played it like an irritating queen in a gay bar.@@travisgrant5608
I would pay a considerable amount of money to go back in time and see this live. A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT
@GettnBooted You should read her biography/autobiography - it has great pictures from all the way through her career... including as a very beautiful, very innocent, very very young Juliet!
I love the personality of Judi's Sally.She can't sing,but she can act!
She's good
This song was cut from the film and replaced with Mien Heir.This is incredible footage ,
Goddamn it, Hollywood
It was. And Mein Herr is a much, much better song. This is so prissy and schoolgirlish I can't stand it. I saw this production with Jill Haworth on Broadway and I loved it. The the film came along and revved the entire thing up a hundred notches.
The film of Cabaret is very different from the original show -- and from Christopher Isherwood's Berlin Stories, the source for John van Druten's play I Am a Camera on which Cabaret was based -- but quite brilliant in its own way. New numbers by Kander & Ebb, all excellent, include Mein Herr, Money Makes the World Go Around and Maybe This Time (not a new song, but not originally from Cabaret). All of these later found their way into stage revivals. Please note that in Isherwood, Sally is definitely NOT a particularly talented singer; Judi Dench captures perfectly the slightly amateurish, extremely blase and totally fascinating performing personality.@@SuperWolsey
Holy Crud its
a. Lady Catherine De Bourgh
b. Queen Elizabeth I
c. Queen Victoria
d. Eleanor Lavish
I don't think I will ever be the same again.
the only version of this song i like :) yay dame judi!
this is how we do it
I agree with you...although to be clear, a good voice is a plus.
Better than Liza Minelli! (and sexier.) (amazing how well the studio recording fits. It actually looks perfectly synched!) You have any more songs from this? (I love the song where she begs to move in with him. ) (forgot the title.)
"Perfectly Marvelous"
M too! don't forget M!
Oh, Goddess!!!!
1:21-1:40 is my favorite part!
Oh Goddes!!!
Son of a biscuit! She is sizzling!
@fernandofariajunior Her character isn't meant to be good at singing. She's a singer in a crummy cabaret, so she's meant to be a bit off.
Was the London version of Cabaret filmed!!!!!!! The show, the sets, the costumes and performances all preserved!?!?!?
she used to be gorgeous!
Still is!
TheAngryReport naturally :)
Since Dame Judi claims her voice has been husky since birth ... you think she smoked in utero?
I think her mother smoked
Because Sally isn't supposed to be a good singer. Pretty simple answer actually.
She sounds and looks just like Ida Maria.
woah....lol she is so herself :p th voice works!
Wonder what 007 would have said😊
[!]
Is this woman Judy Dench?
It's weird seeing Judi play a vamp.
She's actually not meant to be a real vamp in this production. She thinks she is, but she's not very bright. When the character of Cliff comes into it he forces her to stop the vamp act. She's totally oblivious to the rise of the Nazis' rise to power.
Bearing in mind that in this production Sally is meant to be a very untalented, slightly delusional English girl - as opposed to Bob Fosse's ingenious re invention of this show, that creates Sally as a not very bright star, who has yet to be discovered, I suppose this is more in line with Isherwood's book. But now it's embarrassing. The film, however, is still as brilliant now as it was back then. As Fosse said, 'Nobody wants to sit in the cinema for two hours listening to someone who can't sing.' He was right. The problem with the film however is that it's so brilliant, this kind of approach to the material is all wrong.
Film and original stage musical are two different beasts. All of the non-cabaret songs were dropped from the film, as well as the important Herr Schultz/Frl. Schneider story (originally played so memorably by Lotte Lenya and Jack Gilford). All of which is fine, because what Bob Fosse (with the uncredited help of Gwen Verdon) did with their exceptional cast and the entirely new screenplay is terrific in its own right. The one "holdover" from stage to screen, Joel Grey as the M.C., is indelible. My big complaint about subsequent stage revivals is not so much that some songs from the film have been added to the score -- they're great numbers -- as the fact that somehow the linking figure of the M.C. has become the starring role, which unbalances the piece. Finally, if what you are saying is that it's "embarrassing" to have Sally portrayed (correctly) as a not-too-talented performer, I must disagree.