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The Band Wagon
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The Band Wagon (1953) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

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Down 12% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Vincente Minnelli
Writers:
Betty Comden (story) and
Adolph Green (story)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Band Wagon on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
7 August 1953 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Comedy | Musical | Romance See more »
Tagline:
Get Aboard! See more »
Plot:
A pretentiously artistic director is hired for a new Broadway musical and changes it beyond recognition. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination See more »
NewsDesk:
(26 articles)
R.I.P. S.W.A.T. star Steve Forrest
 (From The AV Club. 23 May 2013, 12:00 PM, PDT)
'The Essentials' Drew Barrymore takes on 'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?'
 (From Zap2It - From Inside the Box. 28 July 2012, 11:00 AM, PDT)
We celebrate May Day with five of our favorite May-centric pop culture references
 (From EW.com - PopWatch. 1 May 2012, 1:00 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
When there's a shine on your shoes, there's a melody in your heart! See more (86 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Fred Astaire ... Tony Hunter

Cyd Charisse ... Gabrielle Gerard

Oscar Levant ... Lester Marton

Nanette Fabray ... Lily Marton
Jack Buchanan ... Jeffrey Cordova

James Mitchell ... Paul Byrd
Robert Gist ... Hal
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fred Aldrich ... Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)
Richard Alexander ... Stagehand (uncredited)
Ernest Anderson ... Train Porter (uncredited)
Barbara Bailey ... Dancer (uncredited)
Patsy Bangs ... Dancer (uncredited)
Lysa Baugher ... Dancer in Troupe (uncredited)
Ralph Beaumont ... Dancer in Troupe (uncredited)

Don Beddoe ... Producer (uncredited)
Madge Blake ... Investor (uncredited)
Herman Boden ... Dancer (uncredited)
Paul Bradley ... Waiter (uncredited)
Joe Brockman ... Hansom Driver (uncredited)
Robert Burton ... Caterer (uncredited)
Sue Casey ... Tall Girl in Arcade (uncredited)
Lyle Clark ... Chorus Member in Hotel Suite (uncredited)
Dorinda Clifton ... Dancer (uncredited)
Joan Collenette ... Dancer (uncredited)
Jack Colton ... Dancer (uncredited)
James Conaty ... First Nighter (uncredited)

Henry Corden ... Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
Pinkie Corrigan ... Dancer (uncredited)
Oliver Cross ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Lillian Culver ... Investor (uncredited)
Dick D'Arcy ... Dancer (uncredited)
Leroy Daniels ... Arcade Shoeshine Man (uncredited)
Fred Datig Jr. ... Usher (uncredited)
Dulcie Day ... Woman in Lobby (uncredited)
Helen Dickson ... Dowager First Nighter (uncredited)
Jack Dodds ... Dancer (uncredited)
George Economides ... Man in Arcade (uncredited)
Michael Economides ... Man in Arcade (uncredited)
Roy Engel ... Reporter (uncredited)
Estelle Etterre ... Investor (uncredited)
Betty Farrington ... Fitter (uncredited)
Al Ferguson ... Stagehand (uncredited)
Gwenn Fields ... Woman in Arcade (uncredited)
Bess Flowers ... Lady on Train / Extra in Girl Hunt Ballet (uncredited)

Steve Forrest ... Passenger on Train (uncredited)
Bill Foster ... Acrobatic Dancer in Troupe (uncredited)

Douglas Fowley ... Auctioneer (uncredited)
Wymer Gard ... Usher (uncredited)

Ava Gardner ... Herself (uncredited)
Jack Gargan ... Hotel Doorman (uncredited)
Marion Gray ... Investor (uncredited)
Shelah Hackett ... Dancer (uncredited)
Thurston Hall ... Colonel Tripp (uncredited)
Mary Hammond ... Dancer (uncredited)
Dee Hartford ... 2nd Model in 'Girl Hunt Ballet' (uncredited)
Eden Hartford ... Girl in 'Girl Hunt Ballet' Sequence (uncredited)
Sam Hearn ... Agent (uncredited)
Julie Hedin ... Woman in Arcade (uncredited)
Al Hill ... Arcade Shooting Gallery Operator (uncredited)
Harlan Hoagland ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes ... Investor (uncredited)
Curtis Loys Jackson Jr. ... Man in Arcade (uncredited)
Ted Jordan ... Chorus Member in Hotel Suite (uncredited)
Colin Kenny ... Drunk Outside Arcade (uncredited)
Donald Kerr ... Reporter (uncredited)
Mario Lamm ... Man in Arcade (uncredited)
Judy Landon ... Dancer in Troupe (uncredited)
Shirley Lopez ... Dancer in Troupe (uncredited)
William Lundy ... Dancer (uncredited)
John Lupton ... Jack - Prompter (uncredited)
Alan Marston ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Judy Matson ... Singer in 'That's Entertainment' Sequence (uncredited)
Matt Mattox ... Featured Dancer (uncredited)
Bert May ... Dancer in Troupe (uncredited)
Helen McAllister ... Dancer (uncredited)

Frank McClure ... Investor (uncredited)
Ann McCrea ... Chorus Member in Hotel Suite (uncredited)
Owen McGiveney ... Prop Man (uncredited)
Mary Menzies ... Dancer (uncredited)
Harold Miller ... Bystander in Girl Hunt Ballet (uncredited)
Nolie Miller ... Dancer (uncredited)
Lawrence Montaigne ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Ben Moselle ... Man in Arcade (uncredited)
Peggy Murray ... Dancer in Troupe (uncredited)

Julie Newmar ... Salon Model / Chorine in Girl Hunt Ballet (uncredited)
Loulie Jean Norman ... Singer in 'That's Entertainment' Sequence (uncredited)
Emory Parnell ... Man on Train (uncredited)
Manuel París ... Waiter (uncredited)
Paul Power ... Man in Lobby (uncredited)
Marilyn Radcliff ... Dancer (uncredited)
Frank Radcliffe ... Dancer (uncredited)
Elynne Ray ... Dancer in Troupe (uncredited)
Charles Regan ... Stagehand (uncredited)
Jack Regas ... Dancer (uncredited)
Phil Rhodes ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Joette Robinson ... Dancer (uncredited)
Cecile Rogers ... Dancer (uncredited)
Barbara Ruick ... Passenger on Train (uncredited)
Dick Sands ... Man in Arcade (uncredited)
Frank J. Scannell ... Reporter (uncredited)
George Sherwood ... Investor (uncredited)
Eddie Lou Simms ... Man in Arcade (uncredited)
Earl Spainard ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Robert Spencer ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Harry Stanton ... Investor (uncredited)
Bob Stebbins ... Chorus Member in Hotel Suite (uncredited)
Lotte Stein ... Cordova's German Chambermaid (uncredited)
Bert Stevens ... Train Station Passenger (uncredited)
Norman Stevens ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Roberta Stevenson ... Dancer (uncredited)
Jack Stoney ... Stagehand (uncredited)
Brick Sullivan ... Special Effects Man (uncredited)
Hal Taggart ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Jack Tesler ... Ivan (uncredited)
Jimmy Thompson ... Jimmy (uncredited)
Dee Turnell ... Barbara (uncredited)
Herb Vigran ... Man on Train (uncredited)
Glen Walters ... Woman in Arcade (uncredited)
Bobby Watson ... Bobby (uncredited)
Crystal White ... Dancer (uncredited)
Smoki Whitfield ... Chauffeur (uncredited)
Marc Wilder ... Dancer (uncredited)
Stuart Wilson ... Reporter (uncredited)
Gloria Wood ... Singer in 'That's Entertainment' Sequence (uncredited)
Wilson Wood ... Can-Toss Booth Operator (uncredited)
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Directed by
Vincente Minnelli 
 
Writing credits
Betty Comden (story and screenplay) and
Adolph Green (story and screenplay)

Norman Corwin  uncredited
Alan Jay Lerner  uncredited

Produced by
Roger Edens .... associate producer
Arthur Freed .... producer
Bill Ryan .... associate producer (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
Alexander Courage (uncredited)
Adolph Deutsch (uncredited)
Conrad Salinger (uncredited)
 
Cinematography by
Harry Jackson (director of photography)
George J. Folsey (director of photography) (uncredited)
 
Film Editing by
Albert Akst 
George White (uncredited)
 
Art Direction by
E. Preston Ames  (as Preston Ames)
Cedric Gibbons 
 
Set Decoration by
F. Keogh Gleason (set decorations) (as Keogh Gleason)
Edwin B. Willis 
 
Costume Design by
Mary Ann Nyberg 
 
Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff .... hair stylist
William Tuttle .... makeup creator
 
Production Management
Hugh Boswell .... unit manager (uncredited)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jerry Thorpe .... assistant director
Al Alt .... second assistant director (uncredited)
Jack Greenwood .... assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Oliver Smith .... designer: musical numbers
Robert Cormack .... continuity sketches (uncredited)
Tommy Crawford .... props (uncredited)
Tom Ordoqui .... property master (uncredited)
Harold Turberg .... property master: rehearsal unit (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Douglas Shearer .... recording supervisor
James Brock .... sound (uncredited)
Ben Price .... recordist (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Warren Newcombe .... special effects
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Robert J. Bronner .... camera operator (uncredited)
Charles Burrell .... best boy (uncredited)
Phil Philbrick .... gaffer (uncredited)
Mervin Price .... grip (uncredited)
Al Smith .... playback operator (uncredited)
Gene Stout .... best boy (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mary Ann Nyberg .... costumes
Morris Brown .... wardrobe (uncredited)
Grace Kuhn .... wardrobe (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Alexander Courage .... orchestrator
Adolph Deutsch .... musical director
Howard Dietz .... songs by
Michael Kidd .... stager: dances and musical numbers
Skip Martin .... orchestrator
Conrad Salinger .... orchestrator
Arthur Schwartz .... songs by
Robert Franklyn .... orchestrator (uncredited)
Harry V. Lojewski .... pianist (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Robert Brower .... Technicolor color consultant
Henri Jaffa .... Technicolor color consultant
Louis Calhern .... dialogue coach: Jack Buchanan (uncredited)
Pat Denise .... assistant dance director (uncredited)
Pat Denise .... dancing stand-in: Cyd Charisse (uncredited)
Janet Koye .... secretary (uncredited)
William E. Orr .... script supervisor (uncredited)
Carroll Pratt .... stage manager (uncredited)
Dwayne Ratliff .... dancing stand-in (uncredited)
Alex Romero .... assistant dance director (uncredited)
Alex Romero .... dancing stand-in: Fred Astaire (uncredited)
Emily Torchia .... publicist (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
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Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
112 min (Turner library print) (copyright length)
Country:
USA
Language:
English | French
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono )Western Electric Sound System)
Certification:
Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #16342) | Argentina:Atp | West Germany:12 | Canada:G (video rating) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | UK:U (video rating) (1998) (2005)
Filming Locations:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
Company:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)See more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Three other Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz numbers, which can be heard on the Rhino soundtrack CD, were deleted from the movie: "Sweet Music," sung by Nanette Fabray and Oscar Levant (NOTE: the melody is played in the background); "You Have Everything," danced by Fred Astaire; and "Got a Bran' New Suit," performed by Astaire and Nanette Fabray (with Oscar Levant on piano).See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: During the dance audition scene, Paul Byrd demonstrates the steps and then walks over to Lester Marton. The camera cuts briefly to a seated Jeffrey Cordova, who is watching the audition, and shows Paul standing behind him. But in the next shot, Paul is still standing next to Lester.See more »
Quotes:
Jeffrey Cordova:[pitching his idea for the show] Exploiter of children! Purveyor of evil!See more »
Movie Connections:
Featured in 42nd Street: River to River (2009)See more »
Soundtrack:
Penny ArcadeSee more »

FAQ

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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
19 out of 23 people found the following review useful.
When there's a shine on your shoes, there's a melody in your heart!, 22 September 2005
Author: jotix100 from New York

Vincente Minnelli was a director that worked well in different genres, as his distinguished career shows. He excelled in the musicals he directed. In "The Band Wagon", Mr. Minnelli gave us one of the perhaps, most satisfactory musicals of all times. In fact, this is a film that doesn't have many original songs like some other MGM musicals, but still shows the talented Betty Comden and Adolph Green at their best.

Some of the criticism directed to "The Band Wagon" in this forum has to do with the perception that Fred Astaire, the star of the film, was finished, but as he brilliantly demonstrates, he still had a lot left in him. One of the most brilliant numbers of the film involves Mr. Astaire dancing with Leroy Daniels "Shine on my Shoes" at an arcade on 42 Street. Both Mr. Astaire and Mr. Daniels do amazing dancing in a number that will remain one of the classics of the American musicals in film.

The pairing of Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse proves to be one of the most felicitous things in the movie. Ms. Charisse and Mr. Astaire are seen dancing beautifully in "Dancing in the Dark" and in the ballet sequence. Ms. Charisse was one of the most talented dancing stars at MGM and it's a shame she didn't get more opportunities in which to shine, as she does in "The Band Wagon".

Oscar Levant and Nannette Fabray are excellent playing Adolph Green and Betty Comden, that in the film they are named Lester and Lily Marton. Jack Buchanan plays Jeffrey Cordova, the classical actor that turns all shows into hits. Mr. Buchanan is hysterical with his approach to turn the show the Martons have written into a variation of "Faust", with disastrous consequences.

Among the other great numbers in the film, "The Triplets", in which Jeff, Lily and Tony, are seen as dancing and singing babies in a delightful turn. Also Nannette Fabray in "Louisiana Hayride" shows her best qualities. Other songs heard are "By Myself", "Change my Plan", and that hymn about show business, "That's Entertainment".

"The Band Wagon" is a film to cherish because all the right elements were put together by the genius of Vincente Minnelli.

Was the above review useful to you?
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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Band Wagon (1953)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Cyd Charisse lip syncing? heyteegs
Loved it!!! GREAT!! But... UCFfilmcritic
the top four movie musicals of all-time / in no particular order oldsenior
Why? And How Could this Happen! mattsmith89
Why didn't they re-shoot the last scene? De_Facto_Segregation
The Band Wagon v Singing in the Rain jamdonahoo
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