Climb on "The Bandwagon"!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 2:57pm

I just saw that The Bandwagon is coming to DVD March 15th!

This might be my favorite big-screen musical and it doesn't seem to get it's due so I wanted everyone to know it is finally coming to DVD. Slate ran a great article today talking about the efforts Warner is making to clean up the old Technicolor films and said that Bandwagon in particular looks better than ever-- even better than the 35 MM prints in existance. The productions numbers are AWESOME and a great cast...just go get it!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 2:59pm

This is one of my favorites, too. And I agree that it is not really given the respect of, say, Singing in the Rain, but is just as good.

[Feodor Sverdlov]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:38pm

I'm not the fan of the MGM musical that most people are, or at least what we're told most people are. There is something very pretentious about them, to me. I much prefer the Fox musical. However, I've always had a soft spot for THE BANDWAGON. It's lots of fun and I'm looking forward to this DVD release.

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:40pm

Looking forward to this, but also Easter Parade which is finally coming out.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 4:03pm

This is great news -- I love The Bandwagon!

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 4:04pm

Hrmm.. I have never heard of this.. maybe thats because i'm only 15? lol

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 4:09pm

^^ All the more reason to watch it...and every other Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire movie out there! Updated On: 3/1/05 at 04:09 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 5:38pm

Fred Astaire plays a Broadway Star who's past his prime. Nannette Fabray and Oscar Levant (One of the true oddball "Stunt Castings" of all time, incidentally) play the young writing team (Based on Comden & Green, who wrote the picture) who lure him back to star in a Musical called "The Bandwagon." Jack Buchanan plays a egocentric director who turns their simple show into a "Modern Inferno" with a leading lady lifted from Ballet (Cyd Charrisse). It's a wonderful spoof of Broadway, when Broadway shows had to works of art, not just a good time.

It's very very funny and is loaded with great tunes, all staged in elaborate production numbers by the great Vincent Minnelli (Father of Liza, one time Husband of Judy Garland for you youngsters). It's definitely worth at least a rental, but I recommend buying it as you will watch it again & again....

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 7:22pm

My favorite number is "Triplets" followed by "Dancing in the Dark". I'm glad it's coming to DVD.

[jim coleman]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 7:31pm

There was talk about 15 years ago of putting BANDWAGON on the stage. That would be interesting, although maybe they should just leave it as a classic movie. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN didn't fare too well on the stage.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 8:02pm

I love THE BANDWAGON - it's one of my favorite MGM Freed musicals of the 1950s. I can't wait to get this.

The funny thing is, Fox owned the rights to THE BANDWAGON for years. In 1945, its blonde star June Haver was quoted in the New York Times as being very excited to follow up her work on THE DOLLY SISTERS with THE BANDWAGON ("What a glorious score! I can't wait to do it!" she enthused). By 1949, Fox finally got around to it, but they lost interest in the project and gave it to the non-singing,non-dancing Betsy Drake, who happened to be Mrs. Cary Grant at the time (Grant had come to Fox for a few pictures, and apperantly finding a picture for the missus was part of the deal). The forgotten 'first' version of "The Bandwagon", DANCING IN THE DARK, was the dismal result.
Presumably to make Drake feel at home, nobody else in the cast can sing or dance. I adore Fox musicals, but find this film practically unwatchable.

The plot: Conceited film star Emery Slade (William Powell) was on top in 1932; in 1949, he's broke and still insufferable. Fox producer Crossman (Adolphe Menjou) enlists Slade's aid to persuade Broadway star Rosalie Brooks (Randy Stewart) to star in the film "Bandwagon" But when Slade meets Julie Clarke, (Drake) his assistant's (Mark Stevens) onetime girlfriend, he decides she, not Rosalie, should get the part. Julie is Slades' long-lost daughter.

The "glorious score" was cut to nothing, Drake was dubbed and her dancing done in long-shots by a double. The film quickly flopped, and Fox quietly sold the rights to MGM who knew exactly what to do with them.
Dancing in the Dark

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 11:14pm

WOW! Thanks Master! I had NO idea it was the same story! "Dancing in the Dark" is now on my list of must-sees! I love to see what various people can do with the same material!

[wildcat]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 11:18pm

I wonder if any of the cut material will be on the DVD. Apart from Cyd's "Two Faced Woman" number which made it onto "That's Entertainment-Part 3", two other songs were vocally recorded called "Got a Brand New Suit" and "You Have Everything". Don't know if they were actually filmed, though.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/2/05 at 11:50am

Yes Wildcat-- there are outtakes although apart from "Two-faced" and a cut Jack Buchanan number I'm not sure what all is there.

Incidentally, also on that date (3/15) will be the DVD debut of Easter Parade and Finian's Rainbow. The Easter Parade DVD has tons of bonus material including the PBS Garland documentary from a couple years back-- worth the price alone. Also that day is Bells Are Ringing and the new, remastered Brigadoon (with all the cut numbers, also).

The movies will also be available in a box set called "Classic Musicals"

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/2/05 at 12:32pm

I wonder how it compares to the original 1931 Broadway musical which starred Fred and Adele Astaire. I believe I have the OBC on vinyl. Where's onceadancer when you need her?
The Band Wagon

[onceadancer2]

Posted: 3/2/05 at 12:40pm

Hello Matt:

You really can't compare them. The 1931 was a revue and it just consisted of different skits, songs, production numbers, etc. Again I can't remember much, but what I do remember is the wonderful colors and lighting. And the turntable! It was used very wittily and really added great charm to the show. WHy doesn't ENCORES revive this?

Miriam

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 3/2/05 at 12:40pm

Neither film has the naughty "Hoops", alas. It featured Fred & Adele as nosy Parisian tykes who bust up various illicit romantic liasons in the park.

"Eh-run-run-run,
Eh-rat-tap-plan,
we run into zee big fat man.
All day Long
We Play avec zee hoops!"

Updated On: 3/2/05 at 12:40 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/2/05 at 1:41pm

Thanks Miriam!

I knew they were quite different, but I didn't know enough about the stage production to know how closely they were related. I only knew that it was something of a review, but they did share some music in common.

I wonder how the turntables were operated in the 30s. Were they commonly used then?

[onceadancer2]

Posted: 3/3/05 at 9:14am

Matt:

The revolving stage, as far as I know and remember, was mainly used on the German and Viennese stages. In fact they were a staple of Max Reinhardt's productions, notably a famous production of TWELFTH NIGHT. The first musical to use the revolving stage in AMerica was the Schubert production of MEET MY SISTER in 1930. However, it was Hassard Short who took the revolving stage to a real artisitic plateau!

Miriam

Updated On: 3/3/05 at 09:14 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/3/05 at 9:35am

Miriam, you are a treasure. I have been wondering about the turntables for years. I have seen them used in a variety of ways and always found it to be a curiosity. I always learn so much from your posts. Thank you so much!

Kisses,
Matt