The Band Wagon (1953)

Director:

Vincente Minnelli

Writers:

Betty Comden (story) and
Adolph Green (story) ...

Release Date:

7 agosto 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Musical | Romance

Frase comercial:

Get Aboard!

Plot:

A pretentiously artistic director is hired for a new Broadway musical and changes it beyond recognition.

Plot Keywords:

Older Man Younger Woman | Triplets | Parody | Arcade | Satire

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Comentarios de los usuarios:

When there's a shine on your shoes, there's a melody in your heart!

Cast

Fred Astaire	...	Tony Hunter
Cyd Charisse	...	Gabrielle Gerard
Oscar Levant	...	Lester Marton
Nanette Fabray	...	Lily Marton
Jack Buchanan	...	Jeffrey Cordova
James Mitchell	...	Paul Byrd
Robert Gist	...	Hal Benton

También conocida como:

I Love Louisa (USA) (working title)
Brindis al amor (Argentina) [es]
Melodías de Broadway (Spain) [es]
Rueda de la fortuna, La (Venezuela) [es]

Duración:

111 min

País:

USA

Idioma:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sonido:

Mono )Western Electric Sound System)

Clasificación:

Argentina:Atp | West Germany:12 | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #16342)

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivialidades:

Many of the props, sets, and costumes for the huge production number that goes wrong in rehearsal in Boston are from Lovely to Look at (1952), Ziegfeld Follies (1946) and An American in Paris (1951).

Goofs:

Continuity: At the New York opening night, the theater name on the marquee is Alcott Theatre, but the program cover has Stratton Theatre.

Quotes:

Lester Marton: I can stand anything but pain!

Movie Connections:

References Top Hat (1935)

Soundtrack:

The Girl Hunt

When there's a shine on your shoes, there's a melody in your heart!

Vincente Minnelli was a director that worked well in different genres, as his distinguished career shows. He excelled in the musicals he directed. In "The Band Wagon", Mr. Minnelli gave us one of the perhaps, most satisfactory musicals of all times. In fact, this is a film that doesn't have many original songs like some other MGM musicals, but still shows the talented Betty Comden and Adolph Green at their best.

Some of the criticism directed to "The Band Wagon" in this forum has to do with the perception that Fred Astaire, the star of the film, was finished, but as he brilliantly demonstrates, he still had a lot left in him. One of the most brilliant numbers of the film involves Mr. Astaire dancing with Leroy Daniels "Shine on my Shoes" at an arcade on 42 Street. Both Mr. Astaire and Mr. Daniels do amazing dancing in a number that will remain one of the classics of the American musicals in film.

The pairing of Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse proves to be one of the most felicitous things in the movie. Ms. Charisse and Mr. Astaire are seen dancing beautifully in "Dancing in the Dark" and in the ballet sequence. Ms. Charisse was one of the most talented dancing stars at MGM and it's a shame she didn't get more opportunities in which to shine, as she does in "The Band Wagon".

Oscar Levant and Nannette Fabray are excellent playing Adolph Green and Betty Comden, that in the film they are named Lester and Lily Marton. Jack Buchanan plays Jeffrey Cordova, the classical actor that turns all shows into hits. Mr. Buchanan is hysterical with his approach to turn the show the Martons have written into a variation of "Faust", with disastrous consequences.

Among the other great numbers in the film, "The Triplets", in which Jeff, Lily and Tony, are seen as dancing and singing babies in a delightful turn. Also Nannette Fabray in "Louisiana Hayride" shows her best qualities. Other songs heard are "By Myself", "Change my Plan", and that hymn about show business, "That's Entertainment".

"The Band Wagon" is a film to cherish because all the right elements were put together by the genius of Vincente Minnelli.