En 1972 se estrena una inolvidable película musical: Cabaret, dirigida por Bob Fosse. Este film, que fue musical de Brodway antes que película, supuso el inicio de una nueva época para los musicales en el cine, pues era éste un género prácticamente desaparecido a principios de los 70.
Su protagonista, Liza Minelli, lo fue casi de casualidad pues el papel se ofreció inicialmente a Julie Andrews quien no lo aceptó por considerar que era incompatible con su éxito como estrella infantil –se habían cumplido entonces 8 años desde el estreno de Mary Popins-. Claro que esto no deja de ser más que una anécdota porque hoy Sally Bowles es, sin duda, Liza Minelli, y es que no sólo la interpretación sino incluso la caracterización del personaje corrió de su cuenta.
"What good is sitting alone In your room?
Come hear the music play.
Life is a Cabaret, old chum,
Come to the Cabaret.
Put down the knitting, The book and the broom.
It's time for a holiday.
Life is a Cabaret, old chum
Come to the Cabaret.
Come taste the wine, Come hear the band.
Come blow a horn, Start celebrating;
Right this way, Your table's waiting.
What good's permitting Some prophet of doom
To wipe every smile away.
Life is a Cabaret, old chum,
So Come to the Cabaret!
I used to have a girlfriend Known as Elsie,
With whom I shared A four sordid rooms in Chelsea
She wasn't what you'd call a blushing flower...
As a matter of fact she rented by the hour.
The day she died the neighbors Came to snicker:
"Well, that's what comes from too much pills and liquor."
But when I saw her laid out like a Queen,
She was the happiest... corpse... I'd ever seen.
I think of Elsie to this very day.
I remember how she'd turn to me and say:
"What good is sitting all alone in you room?
Come hear the music play.
Life is a Cabaret, old chum,
Come to the Cabaret.
And as for me, And as for me,
I made my mind up, back in Chelsea,
When I go, I'm going like Elsie.
Start by admitting, From cradle to tomb
It isn't that a long a stay.
Life is a Cabaret, old chum,
It's only a Cabaret, old chum
And I love a Cabaret.