The nightclub that once operated in Beak Street in London's Soho opened in 1913 and was taken over in the 1930s by Percival Murray, who introduced cabaret featuring a troupe of showgirls, who down the years shed more and more of their costumes. Pathe News filmed here as early as 1933. "Cabaret Girl" is the most substantial account of the Percival Murray era, beautifully shot in Eastmancolor by Douglas Hill, who went on to have a long career in sexploitation. (Given that the club was at one time called Blanchard's it's possibly no accident that the director is Guy Blanchard). By 1956 "dance partners" were on offer at Murray's but there's no mention of this. But there's still a prurient aspect to the film with showgirls adopting provocative poses and stripping off for massage and the sunlamp. Otherwise the simple production numbers, with an alleged 35 girls in amusingly cheap-looking costumes, give a good idea of the standard of the entertainment at Murray's. The commentary, on the other hand, stresses the £30,000 production budget for each show, the "orchestra" (a small band) and the seven full-time seamstresses. There is also a trip to Murray's country estate. He seems to have done quite well out of the club. His success continued into the 1960s, when it was revealed that showgirl Christine Keeler met Stephen Ward at Murray's and set in motion the scandal that was to bring down the Conservative government in 1964. Subsequently Murray's failed to move with the times and closed in 1975, when most nightclubs were going out of business. Nothing remains of the building although the "staff entrance" sign, removed from a back wall, was on show when "Cabaret Girl" was shown 22nd March, 2018, at a sale in London of Ronald Cobb's costume designs. The film has good production values, including synchronised sound, for its time and a very good print is now available to view for free on BFI Player. Recommended.
