Research- 'Christopher and his Kind'

Image Credit:  David Allcock » CHRISTOPHER AND HIS KIND. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.davidallcock.com/wp/projects/christopher-and-his-kind/. [Accessed 11 October 2014].

As part of our research to help us choose and develop a character from the Cabaret Script, I looked further into Isherwood's experience in Berlin, by watching the film 'Christopher and his Kind'.  It was based on Isherwood’s memoir of his time in Berlin in the early 1930s.  Isherwood followed his friend, the poet WH Auden (Pip Carter), to Berlin, where he discovered the spirit of sexual freedom in a cellar bar called the Cosy Corner, much like the Kit Kat Club in Cabaret.  Christopher and His Kind didn’t have Sally Bowles, but instead the person who had inspired her, Isherwood’s friend Jean Ross.

- Christopher and his Kind is very similar to Goodbye to Berlin and Cabaret, and as are the characters.  Christopher mirrors Bryan, Jean mirrors Sally Bowles and Fraulein Thurua is very similar to Fraulein Schneider.

- We thought Cabaret was sexual, well this film takes it to another level.  We learn again that sexual activity was very important to the men and women of the era, homosexuality is also explored in 'Christopher and his Kind'.

- Christopher and His Kind, as well as Cabaret capture a place and a time in a place of great transition.  We see the dying streets of the Wiemar Republic and the fascist fist of the Nazis.  The philosophical landlady, Fraulein Thurua tries to shrug off the Nazis’ grab for power.

- During these scenes,  the colour use represents the unhappiness of the Berlin citizens and the poverty they're facing; dull, gloomy tones of brown symbolise the working class community, where as richer colours like red are used to represent the upper class.

- Jean Ross' makeup is very similar to that of Sally Bowles, but almost more of a contemporary twist on it. The eyes are dark and smokey, and red lips were a necessity.  Instead of the typical cut crease which I noticed in Cabaret, Jean Ross' eyeshadow is more blended, a typical fashion based smokey look.

- The show girls are again dressed in extravagant costumes, wearing headpieces, jewels and feather boas.  

- Christopher and His Kind showed us the real trials and tribulations of Weimar Berlin in the 1930's.  It not only gave me an insight into the seediness of Berlin at the time, but really shows us what the characters lives were like at the time, helping us to further build a persona of our chosen character.