Always a worrier, Fred feared he was finished after the relative flops of 'Let's Dance' with Betty Hutton and particularly 'The Belle of New York', which he loved more than the public did. His last smash had been the reunion with Ginger in '49; now Gene Kelly was being cried up as Fred's successor, pushing the musical into more ambitious artistic territory. Comden and Green, who had written the screenplay of Kelly's 'Singin' in the Rain', presented Astaire with a coded 'don't give up' message. In 'The Band Wagon' he portrays a failed movie star trying to stage a comeback on Broadway. He is surrounded by people who had worked with Kelly- Minnelli, Charisse, Levant- as if producer Arthur Freed were trying to assure Fred that MGM still valued him. The real backstory makes the finale more moving and prophetic. Like Tony, Fred took heart from the faith his colleagues retained in a hoofer in his sixth decade. He deferred his retirement yet again, going on to make three more fine musicals and enjoy a second coming on TV. Meanwhile it was Kelly who was soon to flame out. 'The show must go on', and for Astaire it did... for another 30 years. But IMO 'The Band Wagon' is Minnelli's masterpiece and the greatest of all musical films.
I truly miss the old MGM musicals with Mario Lanza, Gordon Mac Rae, Howard Keel. Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly Jane Powell and a cast of hundreds .I guess these wonderful movies and their talented stars may never be repeated.
There are some entertainers now..some good ones like hugh jackman...but the quality and quantity does not compare to the past..and hollywood has become a shadow of its former self
Such a great ending to a great film. Remember when you watch this...they are singing to you...people from the past sadly no longer with us..entertaining you..singing and looking at you. What an ending
Metro Goldwyn Mayer had the greatest musicals and "more stars than there are in the heavens" You can always tell an MGM musical. This was a awesome ending.
Let's all get aboard! We're in for special treat with one of the greatest musical movies ever-made - The Band Wagon.The finale number of Schwartz / Dietz's well-written song "That's Entertainment" is one of the most memorable highlights in this 1953 MGM's stupendous movie.This Vincente Minnelli's chef-d'oeuvre ( notably the production numbers,the costume designs,the musical score,and the story ) is truly-entertaining,exceptionally-fascinating,aesthetically-stunning,and extremely-haunting
And don't forget "admit we're a hit and we'll go on from there, we played a charade that was lighter than air, a good old-fashioned affair, as we sing this finale we hope runs up your alley..."
Ontem revi o filme "Roda da Fortuna" (The band wagon) . Fico grato àqueles que desenvolveram as novas formas de entretenimento doméstico as quais nos proporcionam rever os maravilhosos filmes produzidos em Hollywood, especialmente os musicais que tanto gosto.
LOL at how much oomph Oscar Levant puts into the showbiz sentiment. Is this the man who said 'Scratch the phony tinsel of Hollywood and you'll find the real tinsel underneath'?
Americans lightness and brilliance did wonders when it comes to musicals in the gold Hollywood era. Now they tried to make it work again with la la land movie but it lack magic and talent, that's why i wont go to see it. So.. when i heard about how many Oscar nominations earned, i kind of felt this is what is happening when nothing better comes along. I wonder ..we really did make progress or everything is pretty much flat, ordinary and predictable in movies? Hollywood does not have any clue, no taste, they are like a bunch of clowns without the talent. Ask to Robert Redford what it is his opinion about Hollywood and you hear the TRUTH. Movies are way to dumb, way too violent to be enjoyable to watch.Often is about serial killers, cops, the CIA or the FBI. Or..it is about the weirdest things ever like aliens come to earth to kill us, monstrous creatures or animals. That's so childish. How about put the gov out of the way and getting some interesting HUMAN stories about REAL people? Not much creativity is left in this world. Sadly, this is the truth.
Americans lightness and brilliance did wonders when it comes to musicals in the gold Hollywood era. Now they tried to make it work again with la la land movie but it lack magic and talent, that's why i wont go to see it. So.. when i heard about how many Oscar nominations earned, i kind of felt this is what is happening when nothing better comes along. I wonder ..we really did make progress or everything is pretty much flat, ordinary and predictable in movies? Hollywood does not have any clue, no taste, they are like a bunch of clowns without the talent. Ask to Robert Redford what it is his opinion about Hollywood and you hear the TRUTH. Movies are way to dumb, way too violent to be enjoyable to watch.Often is about serial killers, cops, the CIA or the FBI. Or..it is about the weirdest things ever like aliens come to earth to kill us, monstrous creatures or animals. That's so childish. How about put the gov out of the way and getting some interesting HUMAN stories about REAL people? Not much creativity is left in this world. Sadly, this is the truth.
Always a worrier, Fred feared he was finished after the relative flops of 'Let's Dance' with Betty Hutton and particularly 'The Belle of New York', which he loved more than the public did. His last smash had been the reunion with Ginger in '49; now Gene Kelly was being cried up as Fred's successor, pushing the musical into more ambitious artistic territory.
Comden and Green, who had written the screenplay of Kelly's 'Singin' in the Rain', presented Astaire with a coded 'don't give up' message. In 'The Band Wagon' he portrays a failed movie star trying to stage a comeback on Broadway. He is surrounded by people who had worked with Kelly- Minnelli, Charisse, Levant- as if producer Arthur Freed were trying to assure Fred that MGM still valued him.
The real backstory makes the finale more moving and prophetic. Like Tony, Fred took heart from the faith his colleagues retained in a hoofer in his sixth decade. He deferred his retirement yet again, going on to make three more fine musicals and enjoy a second coming on TV.
Meanwhile it was Kelly who was soon to flame out. 'The show must go on', and for Astaire it did... for another 30 years. But IMO 'The Band Wagon' is Minnelli's masterpiece and the greatest of all musical films.
Cyd most beautiful, talented, and athletic dancer!
I've always loved this tune and had to watch it again. Nanette Fabray lived to 97 years old! She was wonderful!
I truly miss the old MGM musicals with Mario Lanza, Gordon Mac Rae, Howard Keel. Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly Jane Powell and a cast of hundreds .I guess these wonderful movies and their talented stars may never be repeated.
There are some entertainers now..some good ones like hugh jackman...but the quality and quantity does not compare to the past..and hollywood has become a shadow of its former self
Such a great ending to a great film. Remember when you watch this...they are singing to you...people from the past sadly no longer with us..entertaining you..singing and looking at you. What an ending
Great soundtrack for incredible outstanding Technicolor historical rendering! Bravo from Paris France. Emmanuel
Metro Goldwyn Mayer had the greatest musicals and "more stars than there are in the heavens" You can always tell an MGM musical. This was a awesome ending.
Cyd Charisse was perfection
Women were so classy and beautiful back then
I Agree!!
Wonderful. There is no talent in Hollywood today when you compare it to this.
Copy that.
I cant agree with you more!!!
Let's all get aboard! We're in for special treat with one of the greatest musical movies ever-made - The Band Wagon.The finale number of Schwartz / Dietz's well-written song "That's Entertainment" is one of the most memorable highlights in this 1953 MGM's stupendous movie.This Vincente Minnelli's chef-d'oeuvre ( notably the production numbers,the costume designs,the musical score,and the story ) is truly-entertaining,exceptionally-fascinating,aesthetically-stunning,and extremely-haunting
This is such a fabulous musical! Oh my the talent was incredible ❤...... That Cyd and Fred boy can they 🩰 dance and sing!
A.show.that.is.really.a.show
Sends.you.out.with.a.kind.of.a.glow
And.you.say.as.you.go.on.your.way
That’s.Entertainment!
A.song.that.is.winging.along
Or.a.dance.with.a.touch.of.romance
Is.the.art.that.appeals.to.the.heart
That’s.Entertainment!.…
No.death.like.you.get.in.Macbeth
No.ordeal.like.the.end.of.Camille
This.goodbye.brings.a.tear.to.the.eye
The.world.is.a.stage
The.stage.is.a.world.of.entertainment
And don't forget "admit we're a hit and we'll go on from there, we played a charade that was lighter than air, a good old-fashioned affair, as we sing this finale we hope runs up your alley..."
Unforgetable scene !
Probably my favorite ending of any musical, aside from Holiday Inn. Perfection.
White Christmas also had a wonderful ending.
The Bandwagon was a great movie with a great cast, and as the saying goes we will never see their liked again....Frank
Music with a lot of class, only recently that I discovered Fred Astaire, and he is my fav.
Loved his acting singing and dancing most of my life...hollywood does not have his like anymore and it is poorer for it
Those were the days!
Ontem revi o filme "Roda da Fortuna" (The band wagon) . Fico grato àqueles que desenvolveram as novas formas de entretenimento doméstico as quais nos proporcionam rever os maravilhosos filmes produzidos em Hollywood, especialmente os musicais que tanto gosto.
Spectacular!
00:07 I was so impressed that I had goose bumps.
Yeah that moment chokes me up everytime.
It’s true what they say the world will always be Full of entertainment.
The group singing at 2.48 - I think they may be the writers, producer and other crew making an appearance in the film!
The run up to the finale is also the finale.
The Band Wagon is coming to the New York Stage this fall.
How was it i wonder
LOL at how much oomph Oscar Levant puts into the showbiz sentiment. Is this the man who said 'Scratch the phony tinsel of Hollywood and you'll find the real tinsel underneath'?
Hurrah!
Ranciere has brought me here
Forgive me, but I've always felt that in this final scene Nanette Fabray should have been wearing the olive green gown and Cyd wearing the royal blue.
Americans lightness and brilliance did wonders when it comes to musicals in the gold Hollywood era. Now they tried to make it work again with la la land movie but it lack magic and talent, that's why i wont go to see it. So.. when i heard about how many Oscar nominations earned, i kind of felt this is what is happening when nothing better comes along. I wonder ..we really did make progress or everything is pretty much flat, ordinary and predictable in movies? Hollywood does not have any clue, no taste, they are like a bunch of clowns without the talent. Ask to Robert Redford what it is his opinion about Hollywood and you hear the TRUTH. Movies are way to dumb, way too violent to be enjoyable to watch.Often is about serial killers, cops, the CIA or the FBI. Or..it is about the weirdest things ever like aliens come to earth to kill us, monstrous creatures or animals. That's so childish. How about put the gov out of the way and getting some interesting HUMAN stories about REAL people? Not much creativity is left in this world. Sadly, this is the truth.
This hollywood is a pale faded shadow of what was before
A Phoenix always rises from the ashes. Pray, Hollywood can, as well.
Es veu tan tan tan antic!!!
The only one left alive in 2017 is Nanette Fabray
She has now passed away.
Ywah sadly gone now
Americans lightness and brilliance did wonders when it comes to musicals in the gold Hollywood era. Now they tried to make it work again with la la land movie but it lack magic and talent, that's why i wont go to see it. So.. when i heard about how many Oscar nominations earned, i kind of felt this is what is happening when nothing better comes along. I wonder ..we really did make progress or everything is pretty much flat, ordinary and predictable in movies? Hollywood does not have any clue, no taste, they are like a bunch of clowns without the talent. Ask to Robert Redford what it is his opinion about Hollywood and you hear the TRUTH. Movies are way to dumb, way too violent to be enjoyable to watch.Often is about serial killers, cops, the CIA or the FBI. Or..it is about the weirdest things ever like aliens come to earth to kill us, monstrous creatures or animals. That's so childish. How about put the gov out of the way and getting some interesting HUMAN stories about REAL people? Not much creativity is left in this world. Sadly, this is the truth.