Cabaret: Most Oscars Won by a Film That Wasn't the Best Picture (1972)

Cabaret

Directed: Bob Fosse

Based on: Cabaret (1966 musical)

Starring: Liza Minnelli, Michael York, Helmut Griem

Marisa Berenson, Fritz Wepper, Joel Grey

Cinematography: Geoffrey Unsworth

Released: February 13, 1972

The 1972 musical film, Cabaret, starring Liza Minnelli, was directed by Bob Fosse. The role gave Minnelli, the daughter of Judy Garland, her first chance to sing on screen. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress. Joel Grey won the Best Supporting Actor prize. 

The Best Director went to Bob Fosse. The picture won Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Sound, Best Original Song Score and Adaptation, and Best Film Editing. It holds the record for most Oscars earned by a film not honored for Best Picture. The soundtrack album went gold, outselling the original Broadway cast album.

(Cabaret) contains some definitive Minnelli performances, 

particularly her rendition of the title song.

Allmusic review

Liza Minella in Cabaret (1972)

In a 2006 movie review, Jamie Russell wrote, "Bob Fosse's "Cabaret" launched Liza Minnelli into Hollywood superstardom and reinvented the musical for the Age of Aquarius." Allmusic reviewer William Ruhlmann said the star's "...performance can be read as a tribute to her mother, Judy Garland." 

In addition to its eight Oscars, it won Golden Globes awards for Best Picture - Musical/Comedy, Best Actress - Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy,  and  Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture. In 1995, Cabaret was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

"Maybe This Time" was written by John Kander and Fred Ebb for actress Kaye Ballard. In the 1972 film Cabaret it's sung by Liza Minnelli's character, Sally Bowles. Minelli had already recorded and released the track on her debut studio album Liza! Liza! in 1964. 

The actors sing the songs in most musicals to advance the storyline. In Fosse's version of Cabaret, the tunes are performed from the stage of a nightclub in Berlin. Talkin' Broadway wrote, "Maybe this Time...is the only time we see the real person beneath the frivolous girl for whom life is a neverending party (Cabaret, whatever). As we're privy to Sally's unspoken thoughts here."