The Band Wagon (1953)

Director: Vincente Minnelli

Writer(s): Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Norman Corwin, Alan Jay Lerner

Starring: Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Oscar Levant, Nanette Fabray, Jack Buchanan, James Mitchell, Robert Gist, India Adams, Fred Aldrich, Richard Alexander, Ernest Anderson, Barbara Bailey, Patsy Bangs, Lysa Baugher, Brandon Beach, Ralph Beaumont, Don Beddoe, Madge Blake, Herman Boden, Paul Bradley, Joe Brockman, Robert Burton, Sue Casey, Dick Cherney, Lyle Clark, Dorinda Clifton, Joan Collenette, Jack Colton, James Conaty, Henry Corden, Pinkie Corrigan, Oliver Cross, Lillian Culver, Dick D’Arcy, Leroy Daniels, Fred Datig Jr., Dulcie Day, Helen Dickson, Jack Dodds, George Economides, Michael Economides, Roy Engel, Estelle Etterre, Luigi Faccuito, Betty Farrington, Al Ferguson, Gwenn Fields, Bess Flowers, George Ford, Steve Forrest, Bill Foster, Douglas Fowley, Wymer Gard, Ava Gardner, Jack Gargan, Rudy Germane, James Gonzalez, Herschel Graham, Marion Gray, Shelah Hackett, Thurston Hall, Mary Hammond, Dee Hartford, Eden Hartford, Sam Hearn, Julie Hedin, Al Hill, Harlan Hoagland, Stuart Holmes, Jimmie Horan, Curtis Loys Jackson Jr., Ted Jordan, Colin Kenny, Donald Kerr, Mario Lamm, Judy Landon, Carl M. Leviness, Shirley Lopez, William Lundy, John Lupton, Alan Marston, Judy Matson, Matt Mattox, Bert May, Helen McAllister, Ann McCrea, Owen McGiveney, Frank McLure, Mary Menzies, Harold Miller, Nolie Miller, Hans Moebus, Lawrence Montaigne, Ben Moselle, Peggy Murray, Julie Newmar, Loulie Jean Norman, Monty O’Grady, Emory Parnell, Manuel París, Paul Power, Marilyn Radcliff, Frank Radcliffe, Elynne Ray, Charles Regan, Jack Regas, Phil Rhodes, Joette Robinson, Cecile Rogers, Barbara Ruick, Dick Sands, Frank J. Scannell, George Sherwood, Eddie Lou Simms, Mabel Smaney, Earl Spainard, Robert Spencer, Harry Stanton, Bob Stebbins, Lotte Stein, Norman Stevans, Bert Stevens, Roberta Stevenson, Jack Stoney, Brick Sullivan, Hal Taggart, Jack Tesler, Jimmy Thompson, Dee Turnell, Herb Vigran, Glen Walters, Bobby Watson, Crystal White, Smoki Whitfield, Marc Wilder, Stuart Wilson, Gloria Wood, Wilson Wood

Synopsis: Tony Hunter, a famous singer/dancer movie star, is feeling washed up and old hat (old top hat, tie and tails to be exact). The reporters are out for Ava Gardner, not him. But his old friends Lily and Les Martin have an idea for a funny little Broadway show and he agrees to do it. But things begin to get out of hand, when bigshot “artistic” director/producer/star Jeffrey Cordova joins the production, proclaims it’s a modernistic Faust and insists on hiring a prima ballerina, Gabrielle Gerard, to star opposite Tony, and it’s hate at first sight. And her jealous choreographer isn’t helping to ease the tension. The show is doomed by pretentiousness. But romance, a “let’s put on a show” epiphany, and a triumphant opening are waiting in the wings. After all, this is a musical comedy!

Release Date: August 7, 1953 (USA) | Length: 112 min | Genre: Comedy, Musical | Certificate: Passed