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I Am a Camera

Play trailer Poster for I Am a Camera 1955 1h 38m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 35% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Just before the Nazis ascend to power in Berlin, Chris (Laurence Harvey), an aspiring novelist from England, meets flamboyant cabaret entertainer Sally Bowles (Julie Harris) and an unusual friendship is born. As Sally feeds her extravagant tastes, Chris goes along for the ride, until their Jewish pal, Fritz (Anton Diffring), encounters trouble. Adapted from a play based on the memoirs of writer Christopher Isherwood, this story served as the inspiration for the acclaimed musical "Cabaret."

Critics Reviews

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Brigid Murnaghan Village Voice 05/10/2022
Camera is neither as evil as it has been touted nor as good as it could have been, but it is very enjoyable. Go to Full Review Herman G. Weinberg Film Culture 03/30/2022
For a motion picture, it is unusually literate and honest in its dialogue, which means that it doesn’t attempt to hide the truth under coy euphemisms. There is not a dishonest word or situation in it. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 06/19/2005
3/5
Phil Hall Film Threat 03/25/2005
2.5/5
The long-forgotten non-musical forerunner of Cabaret. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve D 06/30/2023 The acting isn't good enough to convince. See more 08/24/2019 Prefer Cabaret. Sally Bowles in this film is to affected. See more bill t @Spuzz 12/11/2013 This movie, which, yes, inspired Cabaret should really ONLY be known for that, because this is pretty academic filmmaking. Filmed with smarmy dilaloue, attempts at humor and stilted acting, this post-war brit effort feels far more important than it has every right to be. Also, this just feels just like a filmed version of the play. See more 12/06/2012 Very dated and a now essentially unknown 'prequel' to the far more successful Cabaret, this contains a likeable performance from Julie Harris as the entertainer Sally Bowles but there isn't a great deal that actually happens in the film, with most of the significant events following in its successor. See more 04/26/2011 This movie classic is simply marvelous! It's not a musical and it's before Cabaret. Julie Harris makes this movie watchable! See more 03/01/2009 For those who love Cabaret and Isherwood and Julie Harris, a rare treat. Julie Harris portraying a character who is NOT a whiny spinster or annoying mother but a young, flirtations flit of a girl in Berlin--the original, absolute Original Sally Bowles. See more Read all reviews
I Am a Camera

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Cast & Crew

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Henry Cornelius

Director

Julie Harris

Sally Bowles

Laurence Harvey

Christopher Isherwood

Shelley Winters

Natalia Landauer

Ron Randell

Clive

Lea Seidl

Fräulein Schneider
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I Am a Camera

I Am a Camera (1955) I Am a Camera (1955) I Am a Camera (1955) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Just before the Nazis ascend to power in Berlin, Chris (Laurence Harvey), an aspiring novelist from England, meets flamboyant cabaret entertainer Sally Bowles (Julie Harris) and an unusual friendship is born. As Sally feeds her extravagant tastes, Chris goes along for the ride, until their Jewish pal, Fritz (Anton Diffring), encounters trouble. Adapted from a play based on the memoirs of writer Christopher Isherwood, this story served as the inspiration for the acclaimed musical "Cabaret."
Director
Henry Cornelius
Producer
Jack Clayton
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 38m