Cabaret (1972 film)
Updated: 12/20/2025, 2:55:26 PM Wikipedia source
Cabaret is a 1972 American musical drama film directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse from a screenplay by Jay Presson Allen. It is based on the 1966 stage musical by Joe Masteroff (book) and the duo Kander and Ebb (music), which in turn was based on the 1951 play I Am a Camera by John Van Druten and the 1939 novel Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood. It stars Liza Minnelli, Michael York, Helmut Griem, Marisa Berenson, and Joel Grey. Multiple numbers from the stage score were used for the film, which also featured three other songs by Kander and Ebb, including two written for the adaptation. In the traditional manner of musical theater, most major characters in the stage version sing to express their emotions and advance the plot; in the film, however, the musical numbers are almost entirely diegetic and take place inside the club, with the exception of "Tomorrow Belongs to Me", which is not performed in the club or by the club characters, but is still diegetic, a nationalistic song sung by a Nazi youth and the German crowd. Cabaret was released in the United States on February 13, 1972, by Allied Artists. The film received critical acclaim and eventually earned more than $42 million in the box office against a production budget of $4.6 million. At the 45th Academy Awards, the film won in eight categories - including Best Director (Fosse), Best Actress (Minnelli), Best Supporting Actor (Grey), and Best Score - holding the record for most Oscars earned by a film not honored for Best Picture. In 1995, Cabaret was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Infobox
Directed by
Bob Fosse
Screenplay by
Jay Presson Allen[a]
Based on
mw- Cabaret(1966 musical)by Joe Masteroff I Am a Camera(1951 play)by John Van Druten Goodbye to Berlin(1939 novel)by Christopher Isherwood
Produced by
Cy Feuer
Starring
Liza Minnelli Michael York Helmut Griem Marisa Berenson Joel Grey
Cinematography
Geoffrey Unsworth
Edited by
David Bretherton
Music by
Score and lyrics: Kander and Ebb Adaptation: Ralph Burns
Productioncompany
ABC Pictures Corp.
Distributed by
Allied Artists
Release date
February 13, 1972 (1972-02-13)
Running time
124 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$4.6 million
Box office
$42.8 million
Tables
· Accolades
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Picture
Nominee(s)
Cy Feuer
Result
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
Bob Fosse
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Actress
Best Actress
Award
Best Actress
Category
Liza Minnelli
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Best Supporting Actor
Category
Joel Grey
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Adapted Screenplay
Award
Best Adapted Screenplay
Category
Jay Presson Allen
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Art Direction
Best Art Direction
Award
Best Art Direction
Category
Hans Jürgen Kiebach, Rolf Zehetbauer and Herbert Strabel
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Category
Geoffrey Unsworth
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Film Editing
Best Film Editing
Award
Best Film Editing
Category
David Bretherton
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Scoring: Adaptation and Original Song Score
Best Scoring: Adaptation and Original Song Score
Award
Best Scoring: Adaptation and Original Song Score
Category
Ralph Burns
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Sound
Best Sound
Award
Best Sound
Category
Robert Knudson and David Hildyard
Nominee(s)
Won
American Cinema Editors Awards
American Cinema Editors Awards
Award
American Cinema Editors Awards
Category
Best Edited Feature Film
Nominee(s)
David Bretherton
Result
Won
Belgian Film Critics Association
Belgian Film Critics Association
Award
Belgian Film Critics Association
Category
Grand Prix
Nominee(s)
Won
Bodil Awards
Bodil Awards
Award
Bodil Awards
Category
Best Non-European Film
Nominee(s)
Bob Fosse
Result
Won
British Academy Film Awards
British Academy Film Awards
Award
British Academy Film Awards
Category
Best Film
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Direction
Best Direction
Award
Best Direction
Category
Bob Fosse
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Award
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Category
Liza Minnelli
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Award
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Category
Marisa Berenson
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
Jay Presson Allen
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Art Direction
Best Art Direction
Award
Best Art Direction
Category
Rolf Zehetbauer
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Category
Geoffrey Unsworth
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Costume Design
Best Costume Design
Award
Best Costume Design
Category
Charlotte Flemming
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Film Editing
Best Film Editing
Award
Best Film Editing
Category
David Bretherton
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Soundtrack
Best Soundtrack
Award
Best Soundtrack
Category
David Hildyard, Robert Knudson, and Arthur Piantadosi
Nominee(s)
Won
Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles
Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles
Award
Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles
Category
Joel Grey
Nominee(s)
Won
British Society of Cinematographers Awards
British Society of Cinematographers Awards
Award
British Society of Cinematographers Awards
Category
Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film
Nominee(s)
Geoffrey Unsworth
Result
Won
David di Donatello Awards
David di Donatello Awards
Award
David di Donatello Awards
Category
Best Foreign Director
Nominee(s)
Bob Fosse
Result
Won
Best Foreign Actress
Best Foreign Actress
Award
Best Foreign Actress
Category
Liza Minnelli
Nominee(s)
Won
Directors Guild of America Awards
Directors Guild of America Awards
Award
Directors Guild of America Awards
Category
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
Nominee(s)
Bob Fosse
Result
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Award
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Category
Liza Minnelli
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Award
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Category
Joel Grey
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Award
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Category
Marisa Berenson
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Most Promising Newcomer – Female
Most Promising Newcomer – Female
Award
Most Promising Newcomer – Female
Category
Nominated
Best Director – Motion Picture
Best Director – Motion Picture
Award
Best Director – Motion Picture
Category
Bob Fosse
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Award
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Category
Jay Presson Allen
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Original Song – Motion Picture
Best Original Song – Motion Picture
Award
Best Original Song – Motion Picture
Category
"Mein Herr" Music by John Kander; Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Nominee(s)
Nominated
"Money, Money" Music by John Kander; Lyrics by Fred Ebb
"Money, Money" Music by John Kander; Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Award
"Money, Money" Music by John Kander; Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Category
Nominated
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
Award
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
Category
Best Supporting Actor
Nominee(s)
Joel Grey
Result
Won
National Board of Review Awards
National Board of Review Awards
Award
National Board of Review Awards
Category
Top Ten Films
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Film
Best Film
Award
Best Film
Category
Won
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
Bob Fosse
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Best Supporting Actor
Category
Joel Grey
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Award
Best Supporting Actress
Category
Marisa Berenson
Nominee(s)
Won
National Film Preservation Board
National Film Preservation Board
Award
National Film Preservation Board
Category
National Film Registry
Nominee(s)
Inducted
National Society of Film Critics Awards
National Society of Film Critics Awards
Award
National Society of Film Critics Awards
Category
Best Actress
Nominee(s)
Liza Minnelli
Result
5th Place
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Best Supporting Actor
Category
Joel Grey
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Category
Geoffrey Unsworth
Nominee(s)
4th Place
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Award
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Category
Hall of Fame – Motion Picture
Nominee(s)
Inducted
Sant Jordi Awards
Sant Jordi Awards
Award
Sant Jordi Awards
Category
Best Performance in a Foreign Film
Nominee(s)
Liza Minnelli
Result
Won
Writers Guild of America Awards
Writers Guild of America Awards
Award
Writers Guild of America Awards
Category
Best Comedy – Adapted from Another Medium
Nominee(s)
Jay Presson Allen
Result
Won
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Academy Awards | Best Picture | Cy Feuer | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Bob Fosse | Won | ||
| Best Actress | Liza Minnelli | Won | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Joel Grey | Won | ||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Jay Presson Allen | Nominated | ||
| Best Art Direction | Hans Jürgen Kiebach, Rolf Zehetbauer and Herbert Strabel | Won | ||
| Best Cinematography | Geoffrey Unsworth | Won | ||
| Best Film Editing | David Bretherton | Won | ||
| Best Scoring: Adaptation and Original Song Score | Ralph Burns | Won | ||
| Best Sound | Robert Knudson and David Hildyard | Won | ||
| American Cinema Editors Awards | Best Edited Feature Film | David Bretherton | Won | |
| Belgian Film Critics Association | Grand Prix | Won | ||
| Bodil Awards | Best Non-European Film | Bob Fosse | Won | |
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Film | Won | ||
| Best Direction | Bob Fosse | Won | ||
| Best Actress in a Leading Role | Liza Minnelli | Won | ||
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Marisa Berenson | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay | Jay Presson Allen | Nominated | ||
| Best Art Direction | Rolf Zehetbauer | Won | ||
| Best Cinematography | Geoffrey Unsworth | Won | ||
| Best Costume Design | Charlotte Flemming | Nominated | ||
| Best Film Editing | David Bretherton | Nominated | ||
| Best Soundtrack | David Hildyard, Robert Knudson, and Arthur Piantadosi | Won | ||
| Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles | Joel Grey | Won | ||
| British Society of Cinematographers Awards | Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film | Geoffrey Unsworth | Won | |
| David di Donatello Awards | Best Foreign Director | Bob Fosse | Won | |
| Best Foreign Actress | Liza Minnelli | Won | ||
| Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | Bob Fosse | Nominated | |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Won | ||
| Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Liza Minnelli | Won | ||
| Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Joel Grey | Won | ||
| Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture | Marisa Berenson | Nominated | ||
| Most Promising Newcomer – Female | Nominated | |||
| Best Director – Motion Picture | Bob Fosse | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay – Motion Picture | Jay Presson Allen | Nominated | ||
| Best Original Song – Motion Picture | "Mein Herr" Music by John Kander; Lyrics by Fred Ebb | Nominated | ||
| "Money, Money" Music by John Kander; Lyrics by Fred Ebb | Nominated | |||
| Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Joel Grey | Won | |
| National Board of Review Awards | Top Ten Films | Won | ||
| Best Film | Won | |||
| Best Director | Bob Fosse | Won | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Joel Grey | Won | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Marisa Berenson | Won | ||
| National Film Preservation Board | National Film Registry | Inducted | ||
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Actress | Liza Minnelli | 5th Place | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Joel Grey | Won | ||
| Best Cinematography | Geoffrey Unsworth | 4th Place | ||
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Hall of Fame – Motion Picture | Inducted | ||
| Sant Jordi Awards | Best Performance in a Foreign Film | Liza Minnelli | Won | |
References
- Rewrites by Hugh Wheeler, credited as "research consultant" (see Screenplay revisions).
- Also for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
- Tied with Al Pacino for The Godfather.
- Tied with Eddie Albert for The Heartbreak Kid.
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- Turner Classic Movieshttps://web.archive.org/web/20171021035856/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/21780/Cabaret/notes.html
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