Fosse Almost Missed Out
At the time of Cabaret’s production, Bob Fosse wasn’t the biggest name in the movie-making business. He’d only just released Sweet Charity, his first-ever film, and a major box office bomb. Executives Manny Wolf and Marty Baum weren’t keen on the idea of entrusting this new production to such an inexperienced and thus far unsuccessful director.
Shirley MacLaine and Bob Fosse rehearsing for ‘Sweet Charity,’ 1969. Photo by Fotos International / Shutterstock
They wanted to give the job to someone who was more established, with names like Billy Wilder and Gene Kelly being talked about at the time. However, the producer Cy Feuer really wanted to give Fosse a chance. He actually appealed to the executives on Fosse’s behalf, saying that Fosse knew musicals very well and could bring that part of the film to life in a way that other directors simply wouldn’t be able to.