The Band Wagon (Two-Disc Special Edition)
by Vincente Minnelli
List Price:
Our Price: $6.58
You Save: $20.41 (76%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Cyd Charisse, Fred Astaire, Jack BuchananDirector: Vincente Minnelli
Brand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0
Format: NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled
Picture Format: Academy Ratio, 1.37:1
Running Time: 112 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-03-15
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product features:
- In this Vincente Minnelli-directed backstager, Fred Astaire dazzles in numbers set in a train station (By Myself), a penny arcade (A Shine on Your Shoes), a backlot Central Park (Dancing in the Dark) and a smokey cafe (Girl Hunt), the latter two with the incomparable Cyd Charisse. And when he, Nanette Fabray and Jack Buchanan play infants who "hate each other very much!" in the merry Trip
Movie Reviews of The Band Wagon (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Movie Review: The Band Wagon (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Summary: 5 Stars
The Band Wagon (Two-Disc Special Edition)Almost everything that Fred Astaire dances in can be called a classic. There isn't another dancer known as well for his style and grace as Fred Astaire who virtually made "The Musical" with Ginger Rogers back in the 30's. And this one is no exception with leading lady Cyd Charisse especially with there beautiful romantic dance in the Central Park that is noted by many as a favorite. Some people believe the character Tony Hunter (Fred Astaire) was somehow suppose to represent what was happening to Fred Astaire (somehow feeling like he Tony Hunter was a has-been) in his life however I couldn't imagine anything farther from the truth. There is a universal appeal of Fred Astaire's light grace and motion is still felt in this film. You can even see exactly how Fred moves in scene where he dances in slow motion while the rest of the cast dances at normal speed.
This is a light musical with not the best of plots but it is workable venue for a dancing and singing scenes. Tony Hunter (Fred Astaire) a "has-been" musical star comes into town to see his playwright friends Lily Marton (delightful Nanette Fabray) and movie husband Lester Marton (as always himself Oscar Levant). These two have written a play for him, which they want big-shot "artistic" director/producer/star Jeffrey Cordova (Jack Buchanan) a pompous a-hummm, to help run the production. He changes their little musical comedy into a modernistic Faust insisting on hiring prima ballerina, Gabrielle Gerard (the fabulous Cyd Charisse) as leading lady to Tony. Of course it's hate at first sight with Gabrielle's and her jealous boyfriend/manger/choreographer bringing even more tension to a tense situation. The whole combination creates a huge egg. In the midst of the insanity Tony walks out, Cabrielle is sent to apologize - the beautiful dance in the park ensues - beginning of romance - "the show must go on" they take back their show creating a series of creative sometimes innovative musical numbers.
Some of my favorite musical numbers are Fred Astaire and the shoe shine man "A Shine on My Shoes" (played by an actual shoeshine man who dances that way shining shoes). Of course the Central Park Dance "Dancing in the Dark", the slow-mo dance, One of my favorites "Triplets" where Fred Astaire is joined with Jack Buchanan and Nanette Fabray playing triplet babies who hate each other - this one still gets letters on how'd you do that. And "That's Entertainment" (which was first introduced by Betty Hutton, Howard Keel & Louis Calhern in "Annie Get Your Gun" a musical about Annie Oakley) and in this film this song in it's presentation is the title and theme song for 3 more movies.
So in conclusion Two Thumbs up!!!
Summary of The Band Wagon (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 07/15/2008Similar DVD Movies
The Barkleys of BroadwayASTAIRE,FRED; Release date: 2005-08-16; DVD
Best price: $5.50
Price in other shops:
Broadway Melody of 1940Broadway; Release date: 2003-04-22; DVD
Best price: $13.46
Price in other shops:
Daddy Long LegsFox; Release date: 2006-02-21; DVD
Best price: $10.39
Price in other shops:
You'll Never Get RichSony; Release date: 2003-10-21; DVD
Best price: $8.12
Price in other shops:
A Damsel In DistressRelease date: 2011-11-02; Published: 2011; DVD
Best price: $16.94
Price in other shops:
You Were Never LovelierSony; Release date: 2004-05-25; DVD
Best price: $7.70
Price in other shops:
Ziegfeld FolliesWarner Brothers; Release date: 2006-04-25; DVD
Best price: $4.98
Price in other shops:
Silk StockingsASTAIRE,FRED; Release date: 2003-04-22; DVD
Best price: $14.20
Price in other shops:
An American in Paris (Two-Disc Special Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2008-09-16; DVD
Best price: $9.92
Price in other shops:
Easter Parade (Two Disc Special Edition)Warner; Release date: 2005-03-15; DVD
Best price: $5.94
Price in other shops: