In The Band Wagon (1953), Fred Astaire plays Tony Hunter, a musical star whose career is fading, who tries to make a comeback in a Broadway show directed by Vincente Minnelli. With Cyd Charisse as his co-star, Tony must navigate a pretentious director and a show that is falling apart, before finding a simpler, more honest musical.
The Band Wagon is now regarded as one of Astaire’s finest films, with dances including the famous Girl Hunt ballet and the playful Triplets number. Astaire’s performance, as a star who is both weary and hopeful, is one of his most affecting.
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