| Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Oscar
Levant , Nanette Fabray, Jack Buchanan, James Mitchell , Robert Gist
One of the most subtle and sophisticated of the musical comedies
that came out of MGM's Arthur Freed Unit in the '40s and '50s, The
Band Wagon stars Fred Astaire as Tony Hunter, a movie star whose
career is in a downturn. Looking for a boost, Tony decides to try
starring in a Broadway musical. His friends Lester and Lily Marton
(Oscar Levant and Nanette Fabray) have written a show they feel
would be just right for Tony, and the three team up with Jeffrey
Cordova (Jack Buchanan), a self-styled "genius" director,
who gets the idea to turn the play into a revised version of Faust.
Cordova's more pretentious ideas don't always sit well with the
Martons, and Tony isn't too happy with his leggy co-star, Gaby Gerard
(Cyd Charisse), whom he's convinced is too tall (then again, she
thinks he's too old). But when the show proves a disaster in out-of-town
tryouts, everyone realizes they have to put aside their differences
if they want a show that will be on Broadway for longer than four
hours. The Band Wagon featured a rare American appearance for British
musical star Jack Buchanan, who does a fine soft-shoe with Fred
Astaire on "I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan." Astaire
also shines in the numbers "Shine on Your Shoes" and "The
Girl Hunt," a witty Mickey Spillane parody. |