Film Snail

The Band Wagon
The Band Wagon

7.1

The Band Wagon

NR·1953·112m

Summary

A Broadway artiste turns a faded film star's comeback vehicle into an artsy flop.

Cast

Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire

Tony Hunter

Cyd Charisse

Cyd Charisse

Gabrielle Gerard

Oscar Levant

Oscar Levant

Lester Marton

Nanette Fabray

Nanette Fabray

Lily Marton

Jack Buchanan

Jack Buchanan

Jeffrey Cordova

James Mitchell

James Mitchell

Paul Byrd

Robert Gist

Robert Gist

Hal

Ava Gardner

Ava Gardner

Ava Gardner (uncredited)

Don Beddoe

Don Beddoe

Producer (uncredited)

Henry Corden

Henry Corden

Orchestra Leader (uncredited)

Steve Forrest

Steve Forrest

Passenger on Train (uncredited)

Bess Flowers

Bess Flowers

Train Passenger (uncredited)

India Adams

Gabrielle Gerard (singing voice) (uncredited)

Douglas Fowley

Douglas Fowley

Auctioneer (uncredited)

Thurston Hall

Thurston Hall

Colonel Tripp (uncredited)

Frank McLure

Frank McLure

Investor (uncredited)

Julie Newmar

Julie Newmar

Salon Model / Chorine in Girl Hunt Ballet (uncredited)

Colin Kenny

Colin Kenny

Drunk Outside Arcade (uncredited)

Bert Stevens

Bert Stevens

Train Station Passenger (uncredited)

Harold Miller

Harold Miller

Bystander in Girl Hunt Ballet (uncredited)

Brandon Beach

Auction Guest (uncredited)

Leroy Daniels

Leroy Daniels

Arcade Shoeshine Man (uncredited)

Dorinda Clifton

Dorinda Clifton

Dancer (uncredited)

Emory Parnell

Emory Parnell

Man on Train (uncredited)

Madge Blake

Madge Blake

Investor (uncredited)

James Carlisle

Theatre Patron (uncredited)

Dick Cherney

Audience Member (uncredited)

Tom Coleman

Waiter (uncredited)

Roy Engel

Roy Engel

Reporter (uncredited)

Al Ferguson

Al Ferguson

Stagehand (uncredited)

Jack Gargan

Hotel Doorman (uncredited)

Herschel Graham

Ballet Audience Member (uncredited)

Ted Jordan

Ted Jordan

Chorus Member in Hotel Suite (uncredited)

John Lupton

John Lupton

Jack - Prompter (uncredited)

Ann McCrea

Ann McCrea

Chorus Member in Hotel Suite (uncredited)

Manuel París

Manuel París

Waiter (uncredited)

Frank J. Scannell

Frank J. Scannell

Reporter (uncredited)

Hal Taggart

Hal Taggart

Undetermined Role (uncredited)

Herb Vigran

Herb Vigran

Man on Train (uncredited)

Dick Gordon

Dick Gordon

Ballet Audience Member (uncredited)

Rudy Germane

Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Vincente Minnelli

Screenplay, Story

Adolph Green

Screenplay, Story

Betty Comden

Reviews

Geronimo1967

Geronimo1967

July 16, 2024

7

Now I do watch quite a lot of horrors films, but it's been a while since I've seen something quite so un-nerving as Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse and Oscar Levant all dressed up as babies singing a song about having a gun! That rather sums up this entertainingly eclectic story that sees the theatrically flamboyant "Cordova" (Jack Buchanan) drafted in to try and inject some life into the lacklustre "Tony" (Astaire). He's been feeling a bit down in the dumps for ages and now that he's no longer the apple of anyone's eye, is downright dejected. Luckily for him (and us) his two friends "Les" (Levant) and "Lily" (Nanette Fabray) aren't giving up. Problem? Well they have to find him a co-star for his new show - and when they alight on the somewhat highly-strung "Gabrielle" (Charisse) things don't exactly work. Indeed, she and "Tony" can barely bear to be in the same room as each other, much less share a stage - and so tantrums and stroppings galore ensue. It's all about the art, though, darling, as his pals use the toe-tapping "That's Entertainment" - a refrain frequently used throughout - to remind "Tony" that the clown with his pants falling down is all part of the job. Of course, there's no jeopardy at all here - you know pretty much from the outset just how well the ducks are going to get in their row, but the film looks great and there's a lovely chemistry between Charisse and Astaire that allows both actors to flourish amidst some perfect choreography, gentle comedy and memorable numbers from Messrs Schwartz and Dietz as they take their show on a tour of the United States. You might want to lock away your dolls at night, though...

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$2,900,000.00

Revenue:

$3,500,000.00

Keywords

new york city
musical
top hat
choreographer
broadway
grand central station
ballerina
fading star