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The Band Wagon (1953)

Director: Vincente Minnelli

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From Time Out Film Guide

One of Minnelli's best musicals, with an ingenious book which has Buchanan as a highbrow producer trying to turn Astaire's comeback show into an art house 'Faust', while Astaire and Charisse are meantime resolving the problem of whether their dancing styles can meld into a partnership. More importantly, it parades a streamof brilliant Howard Dietz-Arthur Schwartznumbers. Astaire is superlative in several items, notably 'By Myself' (a solitary introspection which opens the show with a purr), 'A Shine on Your Shoes', and (with Charisse) the gorgeous 'Dancing in the Dark'. So he can be forgiven for trying to do a Gene Kelly in the 'Girl Hunt' ballet ( a parody of Mickey Spillane sleaze more notable for Michael Kidd's choreography and Charisse's startlingly sinuous femme fatale). All this and witty dialogue too. A treat.

Author: TM 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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Cast & crew

Director: Vincente Minnelli

Producer: Arthur Freed

Cast: Fred Astaire, Jack Buchanan, Cyd Charisse, Oscar Levant, Nanette Fabray, Ava Gardner full cast

Genre(s): Musicals

Duration: 111 mins


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