Bob Fosse Used to Play Tricks on Marisa Berenson
Marisa Berenson has recalled on numerous occasions how Cabaret’s director, Bob Fosse, used to play some pretty mean and unfair tricks on her during filming, to help bring out her character. He wanted her character to be shy, embarrassed, and ashamed, ‘repressed and virgin-like’ in Marisa’s own words.
Joel Grey and Marisa Berenson in ‘Cabaret,’ 1972. Photo by Abc / Allied Artists / Kobal / Shutterstock
So, before the shooting of certain scenes, he would walk over to Marisa and whisper obscene things in her ears to make her go red or feel uncomfortable. One time, during a scene in which her character’s dog was killed, the director arranged for real animal guts to be placed in a room to surprise Marisa when she opened the door.