Review of The Devil's Cabaret

Such imagination goes into this musical Dante's Inferno that jazzes up life in the underworld. Veteran screen villain Charles Middleton is the titled character who uses a barker like Eddie Buzzell to collect newcomers by putting on a hell of a show. Filmed in color, this has impressive if demonic looking sets. Musicap features may have been box office poison at the time, but audiences didn't mind the shorts too much. Looking back at them, you can't deny the artistry that went into them. Even if the subject matter is a bit disturbing in a spiritual sense, it just has to be taken lightly. Buzzell is charming and lively, while Middleton makes a rather mild master of damnation. A few funny bits give this a humorous flow with literally red hot dancing that is truly on fire.