MovieChat Forums > The Band Wagon (1953) Discussion > Fred Astaire's best MGM musical!!

Fred Astaire's best MGM musical!!

posted 20 years ago by sarcophagus_deliver
14 replies | jump to latest

I have look forward watching this movie on video. It was so hard to find one!
Fred Astaire in this movie is more like himself I have to say. Because his characters in other musiacls are often gentle, suave. Not like this one. They said this film is closer to himself.

Alothough this is a modern time backstage. It looks like a movie not more than a backstage musical. At least not like those in depression-era. I like the way Jack Buchanan's portray of that crazy director and other colorful characters around. It get's me more laugh when the character's quick-instenct leads his falling actions.

The songs and dance squences are all great and plasant to eyes and ears. Most amazed me is that they were all moving the plot along. Just like Irving Berlin's "Easter Parade". This is definently one of MGM's finest musicals Vincente Minnelli directed!!

[–] acp17 19 years ago

I agree

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] ijonesiii 18 years ago

I totally agree with your post and agree that THE BAND WAGON is probably Fred Astaire's best musical. Astaire has rarely been seen to better advantage onscreen. A classic.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] ijones-9 18 years ago

This is probably my favorite MGM musical and I would definitely place it in the top five of all MGM musicals. Astaire has never been showcased more effectively and Cyd Charisse made a lovely partner. I mentioned this on another thread, but Astaire was often asked who his favorite partner was and of course he was too much of a gentleman to name someone but on the subject you Cyd Charisse Fred said, "When you dance with Cyd Charisse...you stay danced with."

[–] Isaac5855 16 years ago

This is my faovrite MGM musical period and I agree that the character of Tony Hunter is probably the character out of all his films that resembles the real Fred Astaire.

[–] mitchflorida 16 years ago

This may be heresy, but I never liked the Fred Astaire musicals he made for RKO with Ginger Rogers. The film making was just too primitive to enjoy.

This film is head and shoulders over his other efforts.

[–] thbryn 16 years ago

In several ways this plot was a goof on the way Astaire was apparently being treated at the time, begining with the A.Gardner cameo.

"He sent the rain."
"Who sent the fire?"

[–] Eightythreeyearoldguy 13 years ago

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"In several ways this plot was a goof on the way Astaire was apparently being treated at the time, begining with the A.Gardner cameo."

I very much had that suspicion. It was few years later that he started taking dramatic roles like in ON THE BEACH and THE TOWERING INFERNO.

I'm the kind of guy, when I move - watch my smoke. But I'm gonna need some good clothes though.

[–] vanityfair_713 15 years ago

Of course it's not heresy....those are what's he's known for. I love Easter Parade and Band Wagon, but those are my favorites as well.

He said it's all in your head, and I said, so's everything--
But he didnt get it.

[–] csu16387 14 years ago

I would agree that The Band Wagon is Fred Astaire's best MGM musical. Easter Parade and Broadway Melody of 1940 come in second and third.

"Now what kind of man are YOU dude?"

[–] paynejeremy 11 years ago

Fred Astaire's best musical...with any studio. This topped Top Hat and was a better time than Swing Time. As for Easter Parade, there's no comparison. This was Christmas, Easter and Opening Night all in one.

[–] snsurone 10 years ago

THE BAND WAGON is one of my two favorite Fred Astaire musicals--the other one being THREE LITTLE WORDS (I just adore the chemistry between Astaire and Red Skelton!).

[–] ChicagoToffee 7 years ago

The "Dancing in the Dark" scene alone makes this movie Fred's finest film.

It's one of the best, if not the best, dance scenes in film history.