Customer Reviews

The Band Wagon (Two-Disc Special Edition)

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This movie begins with a phenomenal if misleading shot. It shows a top hat and cane belonging to former dancing legend Tony Hunter being auctioned, with no takers. Of course, if you see a top hat and cane, you think "Fred Astaire." But despite the implication and reference, Fred Astaire was, at the time this film was being made, still very much the greatest dancer in the movies (with apologies to Gene Kelly). Unlike Tony Hunter, he had never ceased to make "A" pictures. But no one could have played this role with more authority than Astaire.

The plot is simple: washed-out and used-up former dance legend Tony Hunter is returning to Broadway in an attempt to revive his sagging career. That provides the pretext that is needed for a nearly perfect musical. THE BAND WAGON is a magnificent blend of great songs, great music, great dancer numbers, great actors, and great comedy. The cast is perfect. You get not only the greatest song and dance man in movie history but also a magnificent partner in the elegant and leggy Cyd Charise. You get great comic relief with Oscar Levant and Nanette Fabray. And you get one of the few musical comedy performers who could rival Fred Astaire for elegance and charm in Jack Buchanan.

The musical numbers are both marvelous and apparently never ending. The film begins with Fred performing "By Myself" and then soon shifts to a thoroughly rousing version of "Shine on My Shoes." Later in the film, two enormously debonair song and dance men (Fred and Jack) perform "I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan's." And that doesn't even come close to exhausting the list.

Perhaps the highpoint of the film, however, comes when Tony and Gabrielle, the ballet performer the producers want to partner him with, uncertain that they will be able to dance with each other at all, take a carriage ride through Central Park to try to get to know each other. As they drive, they come upon an outdoor dance floor, with an orchestra playing the haunting Dietz and Schwartz classic "Dancing in the Dark" (which lyricist Dietz intended to be a meditation about the nature of human existence; Schwartz's music matched the mood of the lyrics perfectly). Tony and Gabrielle get out and begin to walk together in rhythm, gradually and tentatively attempting a few dance steps. Eventually, they discover each other's rhythm, and they begin to dance together marvelously and magnificently, matching the mood of the music precisely. It is one of the greatest moments in either Astaire or Charisse's career.

This is a must see film for any fan of the movie musical. I have to confess that I am not, by and large, a big fan of the MGM musical. I prefer the kookiness of the older RKO musicals, or even the stylized musicals of Warners or even Fox. MGM musicals were, to me, too often overproduced and dominated by the art directors. This film, however, is a magnificent exception.

This stunning new 2-disc edition of THE BAND WAGON - in my opinion the greatest musical ever made at MGM - is a must for all classic movie fans. The story is simple and effective. Washed-up Hollywood hoofer Tony Hunter (Fred Astaire) goes to try his luck on the Broadway stage, in a musical written by husband-and-wife team Lester and Lily Marton (Oscar Levant and Nanette Fabray). Bombastic `renaissance man' Jeffrey Kordova (Jack Buchanan) is assigned to direct and the simple sunny musical written by the Martons' is transformed into a moralistic Faustian tale. Tony is frustrated-still by his leading lady, elegant ballerina Gabrielle Gerard (Cyd Charisse). Will the show come together? Will Tony and Gaby ever get along? Find and join the joyous BAND WAGON!

The film looks glorious in an all-new `Ultra Resolution' restorative transfer. The colours fairly pop off the screen. The sound is presented in a newly-mastered 5.1 mix (though the original mono track is also available for purists). Extras include a delightful audio commentary where old pals Liza Minnelli and Michael Feinstein have a grand time (Minnelli talks about her father's experiences directing the picture and she shares her memories of visiting the set as a wide-eyed 6-year-old). There's also a new Making-Of featurette, with new interviews of Nanette Fabray, Cyd Charisse, James Mitchell and Ava Astaire McKenzie, Fred's daughter. The cut number "Two-Faced Woman" is presented both in it's full length and in dailies (I still have no idea why this fabulous number was cut, it's a perfect example of Minnelli's style coupled with the smouldering sensuality that Cyd Charisse was perfect at conveying). There is also silent footage of some other cut scenes (including where "Two-Faced Woman" would have sat in the picture). There's also the vintage TV episode of "The Men Who Made the Movies" that focused on Vincente Minnelli (copious amounts of great footage from his musicals) and a rare Vitaphone short featuring a very young Jack Buchanan.

I'm not prepared to be objective about "The Band Wagon." To me it has the artistry of "An American in Paris" and the rollicking fun of "Singing in the Rain." Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse have never danced better before or since and this backstage musical with plenty of tunes by Dietz and Schwartz gives them plenty of opportunity to strut their stuff. To me the "Dancing in the Dark" sequence is the most sublime dance number ever recorded on film.

"The Band Wagon" is not just a musical, but a musical about musicals. Fred Astaire plays a slightly down-and-out version of himself, "Tony Hunter," who was "in all those singing and dancing pictures ten or twelve years ago, but the critics say he's washed up." Against his better judgment Tony gets teamed up with Cyd in an arty version of "Faust" that has disaster written all over it. But you know show people . . . and musicals . . .

This movie really gets a split response. Nobody hates it but for some it's "just okay" and then there are the ones like me who LOOVE it. It's my favorite musical and one of my favorite movies, period. I'm very glad Amazon is stocking it again. If you're a fan of Astaire, director Vincente Minnelli, or the MGM films of the early fifties, I doubt you'll be disappointed if you take a chance on "The Band Wagon."

The Band Wagon is one of those excellent MGM musicals with enough song and dance musical numbers to make your eyes bug out! The color is excellent and the sound is good. The plot moves along at a good pace; and there was never a dull moment. The cinematography and the choreography work very well, especially in scenes where the actors are performing a play within a movie.

The action begins when Tony Hunter (Fred Astaire), a washed up actor and dancer, comes to New York to try his luck on Broadway as well as meet his old friends Lily and Lester Martin (Nanette Fabray and Oscar Levant, respectively). Lily and Lester are not just married--they're also a writing team! They hatch a plan to revive Tony's career with a great artistic vehicle for him. Tony agrees but soon there's a great deal of uneasiness for Tony when he discovers that Lily and Lester want the great star Jeffrey Cordova (Jack Buchanan), who also directs and produces, to plan out the show.

Things become even more uneasy when Tony doesn't exactly hit it off with the female leading lady, Gabrielle Gerard (Cyd Charisse). Tony worries that Gabrielle might be taller than he is; and Tony and Gabrielle just don't get along. Worse yet, Jeffrey Cordova insists that the vehicle for Tony's comeback be transformed into a type of Faustian play that Tony comes to loathe.

Of course, from here the plot could go just about anywhere. Will Tony and Gabrielle ever see eye-to-eye? What about Gabrielle's boyfriend who is the choreographer for the show--how will he fit into the picture? Will the changing of the show to a Faustian theme really work? How will Lily and Lester react to the changes being made to the show? No spoilers here, folks--you'll just have to watch the movie to find out!

Of course, you buy this for the movie; but the extras are extensive and very impressive. There's a great commentary by Liza Minnelli and you get a great documentary about Vincente Minnelli, the director of The Band Wagon. The Fred Astaire trailer gallery is nice but you'll probably be more amazed at a rare Vitaphone short featuring Jack Buchanan way before The Band Wagon was ever filmed!

The Band Wagon is clearly one of the great MGM musicals. There are many timeless moments including the "That's Entertainment" number; and the sequence of musical numbers that wind up the film is wonderful to behold. I highly recommend this film for people who love classic movie musicals; and fans of the stars of this picture will almost surely want to get this for their collections.

THE BAND WAGON is a unique film which gently mocks the conventions of the "backstage musical" genre by piling stereotype upon stereotype to comic effect. While some viewers see the film as purely cliche and dismiss it as such, those in tune with its covert satire often rank it as one of Hollywood's finest musicals. But however you look at it, THE BAND WAGON offers two of Hollywood's greatest dancers, three memorable character actors, fabulous music, and some of the finest musical set pieces ever created for film.

The story is slight but contains unexpected twists. Fred Astaire is a has-been movie musical star (much of the film actually parodies his own history) who decides to return to Broadway--and unexpectedly finds himself trapped in a musical adaptation of Faust with a neurotic director (Jack Buchanan), two irate writers (Oscar Levant and Nanette Fabray) and a decidedly icy leading lady (Cyd Charisse.) Needless to say, disaster follows disaster until every one concerned decides to junk the Faust element and do something purely entertaining instead. As with most Vincent Minnelli films, THE BAND WAGON is visually stunning in virtually every manner possible, and the loose plot offers plenty of room for one dazzling musical number after another. Astaire literally defies time with his work in this film and Charisse makes an exceptional partner; at the same time, Buchanan, Fabray, and Levant lend a touch of acid humor that adds considerably to the fun.

The musical numbers are everything here, and they are all--including the disasterous Faust rehearsal--beautifully and memorably staged: the opening shoe shine number, the simple beauty of 'Dancing in the Dark,' the brief turns by Buchanan, Fabray and Levant are all charmers... and 'That's Entertainment' sums up the intent of the film. Although some find it extremely slight, THE BAND WAGON remains one of the few truly great movie musicals of the 1950s--and easily one of the truly great movie musicals of Hollywood's golden age. Recommended.

This one of the best movies. I still can't decide if Singin in the Rain or The Band Wagon is better. The movie stars Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Oscar Levant, Nanette Fabray, and Jack Buchanan. Anyway the movie is about a old washed up movie star named Tony Hunter (Fred Astaire) who decides to go back to New York. His friends and number one fans Lester and Lily Marton (Oscar Levant and Nanette Fabray) wrote a new broadway show and want Tony to star in it. Tony finally agrees and they get the hottest broadway producer Jeffrey Cordova (Jack Buchanan) to produce it. They also get the hottest ballet dancer on Broadway, Gabrielle Gerard (The lovely Cyd Charisse) to star as Tony's leading lady. Well she turns out to be a prima ballerina and her and Tony just don't get along. Part of it is she is taller than him and they can't dance together!. Well they eventually get along and work out their problems for opening night. Jeffrey change the plot of the show soo much the show became a flop. Everyone decides to help out and change the show. The show becomes a success and Tony gets the girl! This is a great movie and I consider this Fred's Singin in the Rain. This movie also has some great music.

Here are the numbers:

By Myself- Fred sings this after he gets off his train ride.

A Shine on Your Shoes- Fred sings and dances to this song in game house. This is one of my favorite numbers!

That's Entertainment- This is the best number Fred, Oscar, Nanette and Jack sing this number. It is pure delight! It is also sung at the end of the movie!

Dancing in the Dark- Fred and Cyd dance in this number in a park. It is breathtaking. I think Fred and Cyd were great together. Another of my favorites!

I Love Louisa- Fred sings this song and Nanette dances with him with the chorus!

New Sun in the Sky- Cyd sings (really dubbed) and dances to this song with a chorus of guys. I like this number!

I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan- Jack and Fred sing and dance to this song. This is another favorite of mine!


Louisiana Hayride- Nanette sings to this number with a chorus. I really like this one too!

Triplets- Fred, Jack, and Nanette sing and dance to this number. Its cute and they are all dressed up like babies! Its great!

Girl Hunt Ballet- This is one of the coolest parts of the movie. Fred and Cyd dance to this number its just great! I love that red dress she wears too. She looks amazing!

I am very happy that Warner Bros. released this on DVD and it has great extras!

Here are the extras:

Disc One:
New Digital Transfer from Restored Picture and Audio Elements
Soundtrack Remastered in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and Original Mono
Commentary by Liza Minnelli (daughter of Vincente Minnelli) and Michael Feinstein
Astaire Trailer Gallery
Subtitles - English, French and Spanish

Disc Two:
New Making-of Documentary Get Aboard! The Band Wagon
In-depth Documentary analysis of the career of director Vincente Minnelli
Outtake Musical Number Two Faced Woman
Rare, Vintage Vitaphone Musical Short Jack Buchanan with the Glee Quartet

Do yourself a favor and get aboard the band wagon!!!

This was one of the last, great MGM musicals and it shows just how assured and professional those MGM musicals could be. Most people that I know of rank it among the top musicals ever made, usually a half step behind Singin' in the Rain. It's an insider's valentine to show business and putting on a show, written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green as a funny, gentle satire on the professions' pretensions and foibles.

Tony Hunter (Fred Astaire), a fading Hollywood song and dance man, comes to New York at the request of his friends, Broadway musical writers Lily and Les Marton (Nanette Fabray and Oscar Levant). They have a great idea for a show that Tony will star in, and they are aiming to get the biggest Broadway director to take in on, Jeffrey Cordova (Jack Buchanan). Cordova agrees to not only dirtect and produce but to appear as the devil. He gets famed ballet star Gabrielle Girard (Cyd Charisse) to co-star...and decides the Martons' lighthearted spoof, with some rewriting, of course, would be a pefect modern-day musical retelling of the Faust legend. Thud. Besides all the things that can go wrong on an out-of-town tryout, Hunter and Gerard don't take to each other at first. She's a ballerina. He's a hoofer. And she's maybe a little tall for him. The show, pretentious and humorless, flops in New Haven. But then Tony takes over, the 'let's put on a show' theme kicks in, all the songs and dances that were kicked out go back in and Cordova recognizes his faults and wants to stay with the show under Tony's direction. It's a big hit, and Tony and Gabrielle have fallen in love.

The second thing to remember in all of this is how well it gently satirizes so many of the show biz conventions. The movie is funny and the good-humored elbowing is amusing. The Martons are based on Comden and Green, Cordova was based on Jose Ferrer, at that time a major Broadway actor-director, and Astaire had several of his idiosyncrasies pinned on the character of Tony Hunter (worrying about the height of his costars, for example), which he good-naturedly accepted.

The first thing, however, is that this is a musical with great musical performers. The Band Wagon's backbone is the classic songs by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz. Astaire, Charisse, Fabray and Buchanan all have plenty of opportunities to do what they do best, sing and dance. Among the outstanding numbers are "By Myself" (Astaire), "A Shine on Your Shoes" (Astaire), "That's Entertainment" (everyone), "Dancing in the Dark" (Astaire, Charisse), "I Love Louisa" (Astaire), "A New Sun in the Sky" (Charisse), "I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan" (Astaire, Buchanan), "Louisiana Hayride" (Fabray) and "Triplets" (Astaire, Buchanan, Fabray). One of the highlights is "The Girl Hunt Ballet," a knowing spoof of the Micky Spillane hard boiled private eye tales. It's choreographed by Michael Kidd, danced by Astaire and Charisse, with the narration, spoken by Astaire, written by Alan Jay Lerner. Its head-and-shoulders better, in my view, than so many of the ballet pretensions then current in many musicals.

The DVD presentation is excellent, as are the extras. They include an interesting "making of" feature that has on-camera comments by the surviving stars and creators: Fabray, Charisse, Kidd and James Mitchell.

This is surely one of the best movie musicals. The backstage trials and tribulations of producing a broadway version of Faust with a frenetic director at the helm and two dancers whose egos and styles clash provide the basis for this delightful film. The dances are wonderful, especially the smooth and romantic "dancing in the dark" number. Astaire, as always, brings a freshness and improvisation to all his numbers and Cyd Charisse is lovely. The Girl Hunt ballet is one of the better long dance sequences created for a movie musical and it is a less self-conscious than the ballets Kelly created in his movies. Micheal Kidd's choreography manages to capture a wryness and tongue in cheek quality that wears well. The costumes for Cyd are stunning. Get this video. You won't be sorry.

There are many shimmering moments in Bandwagon: Fred Astaire (playing a role close to his own life story; he was 53 at the time), the acidic wit of Oscar Levant ('that'll keep 'em laughing!!') tempered by the sunny Nanette Fabray and musical numbers including "Shine on Your Shoes," "I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan," and a clever novelty trio called "Triplets." But the musical sequence that stands out the most is the one which has no vocal, no dialog, and gently advances the movie's plot of whether or not oil-and-water dancers Astaire and Cyd Charisse can actually perform together- when he thinks she's too tall and she thinks he's too old. Against a Central Park twilight, the film shows its heroes enjoy a hushed walk through a park (only an instrumental refrain of 'High and Low' is heard), after which they step into an empty courtyard (he in a pastel linen suit and spectator shoes, she in a flared white dress and ballet flats; a necessity to keep her from being taller than him on film) and into the pas-de-deux of "Dancing In The Dark." It's an exquisite sequence, which at times resembles courtship, foreplay, and ultimately a romantic climax- all done in dance. It ends, just as smoothly as it began, with the two leads spinning up a flight of stairs and mounting a hansom cab, without a single hair out of place. Now THAT's entertainment.

I am so happy to see Warner is FINALLY moving away from their inferior digipacks and using the industry standard Amaray cases, as they did with this one and Easter Parade. This is an excellent set with 5.1 Dolby and crisp, clean picture. Of course, there is no much to say about this movie that hasn't already been said. Excellent!