The Band Wagon (1953)

 Vincente Minnelli's "The Band Wagon"


Often considered one of the finest MGM musicals of its era, alongside 1951's "An American in Paris" and 1952's "Singin' in the Rain," Vincente Minnelli's 1953 film "The Band Wagon" is a complete technicolor spectacle of singing, dancing, and pure entertainment. It centers on an aging Broadway musical star, played by Fred Astaire, who returns to the stage after taking time off. Much to his surprise, the industry has changed. The only way to revitalize his career is to make a smash hit. Despite MGM losing money on the project, "The Band Wagon" has gone on to earn critical acclaim and audience appreciation. 

I liked "The Band Wagon." Was it as monumental as "An American in Paris" or "Singin' in the Rain?" Absolutely not. That being said, I really liked the thematic underpinnings of the again star. Like with "Singin' in the Rain," this films seems to center on the changing landscape of the entertainment industry. Fred Astaire, who represents and older period of pre-war Hollywood musicals, was the perfect casting choice to fit this mold. On top of this, the visual technicolor spectacle created by Vincente Minnelli is something to behold and marvel at. Minnelli always is a sure-fire spectacle maker for Hollywood, and "The Band Wagon" certainly shows him touting his stuff.



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