The Band Wagon (1953)

Star Rating- 2 1/2
Length of Film- 111 minutes 
Director- Vincente Minnelli
Cast- Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Oscar Levant, Nannette Fabray, Jack Buchanan, James Mitchell, & Robert Gist
Oscar Nominations- Betty Comden, Adolph Green (screenplay), Mary Ann Nyberg (costume), & Adolph Deutsch (music)

The Band Wagon came out a year after Singin' in the Rain, and it did NOT match the same "amazingness" of rain. A lot of it had to with the leading man. Fred Astaire can dance, but he doesn't have the looks or the singing ability like Gene Kelly.

This is going to be a short and sweet synopsis. The first half was producing and practicing  for the stage production of the musical, and of course it failed because the director had a different vision than the writers. The cast and chorus decided to re do the production to the original when they went on tour. The tour was a success and then they went back to on stage.

The end of the film was seeing each individual song in full costume and on stage. My favorite scene was when the 3 main characters dressed up as babies and sang and dance. You can CLEARLY see that they have fake arms and legs, but I have no idea how they did it. The song was catchy and you couldn't take your eyes away from the performers and trying to figure out how they did it. Here's an explanation from tcm.com


"Another musical sequence, the bizarre "Triplets," shows Astaire, Fabray and Buchanan all apparently midgets dressed as babies, sliding down from their high chairs and dancing. Since we see their feet hit the floor and special effects seem impossible, how did they do it? By balancing on artificial legs strapped to their knees, Fabray reports; they fell dozens of times before getting it right, and relied on pain-killers." 

The ONLY reason why I gave this movie the 1/2 star is because of the "Triplets" song. 

Atlantic City (1980)

Star Rating- 2
Length of Film- 104 minutes
Director-Louis Malle
Cast- Burt Lancaster, Susan Surandon, Kate Reid, Michel Piccopi, Hollis McLaren, Robert Joy, Al Waxman, Robert Goulet, Moses Znaimer, Angus Macinnes, Sean Sullivan, Wallace Shawn, Harvey Atkins, Norma Deil' Agnese, & Louis Del Grande
Oscar Nominations- Denis Heroux (best picture), Louis Malle (director), John Guarenas (screenplay), Burt Lancaster (actor), & Susan Surandon





If you want to see Susan Surandon rub lemon juice on her chest, shoulders, and breast...then watch this movie.

If you want to watch Susan Surandon make out with an older man...then watch this movie.

If you want to see a husband leave his wife for her sister, because they got pregnant...then watch this movie. 

If you want to see how they bought and sold cocaine...watch this movie.

Everyone rants and raves about how this movie portrays the crumbling Atlantic City with all the renovations and the mix of old and new AC trying to mesh as one. Burt Lancaster playing the old AC mobster who cannot let go of the past, and Susan Surandon, the present who is trying to get out of the food industry to the card tables to better her life.


I just didn't like it... I didn't like the romance the writers wrote having Surandon and Lamcaster be lovers. I can't believe a woman would go for a man 40+ years older. 

The book, "1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die" raved about this film stating..." A wonderfully hard-to-categorize combination of crime thriller, love story, Beauty and the Beast-style fairy tale, and meditation on the changes affecting an American resort over half a century. " 

Yes, you write a compelling review interesting me in the film, but it sucked!!! Why would you want to watch a movie about a town that's falling a part, showing that crime and drugs were a crucial part of the city? Not me... 

Susa Surandon's accent was god awful, and made me second guess why she was even nominated for an Oscar. Why? Because she was topless and had to make out with Burt Lancaster? I don't think so... 

The ONLY part I liked was when the mixed the coca in with baby talc powder, or something along those sorts to trick the sellers and make more $. Thought that was pretty clever. 

Again, make your own mind. I disagreed with the reviewer of the book, but it doesn't mean that you won't. 

Happy watching!

M*A*S*H (1970)

Star Rating- 4

Length of Film- 116 minutes
Director- Robert Altman
Cast- Donald Sutherland,Elliott Gould, Tom Skerritt, Sally Kellerman, Robert Duvall, Roger Bowen, Rene Auberjonois, David Arkin
Oscar- Ring Lardner Jr. (Screenplay)
Oscar Nominations- Ingo Preminger (best picture), Robert Altman (director), Sally Kellerman (actress in support role), and Danford B. Greene (editing)






This film is considered a "satire" the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. This of course hits the nail on the head about the Korean War. Here are some of the quotes from the film that made me laugh.

Soldier #1: I think we should send a letter or commendation to the armed forces radio network.

Soldier #2: Ah, wonderful. Yes. It was the most uplifting program I’ve ever heard.

Soldier #1: It was climatic.

_____________________________________________________________________

Hospital Worker- Who are you?

Hawkeye- I’m Dr. Jekyll, actually. This is my friend, Mr. Hyde.

McIntyre- [Grunts]

 This movie is a just a bunch of guys stuck in a small area. They entertain themselves by teasing a female Major, nicknaming her "hot lips". They even go as far as tearing down the walls of the bathroom revealing her naked body for everyone to see.

Another hilarious part was when a soldier was so depressed, that he wanted to commit suicide. They throw him his last supper, which looked a lot like the last supper in the New Testament. 

At the end of the movie, while Hawkeye and Duke was driving away in a jeep, going home after being discharged, the intercom came on with announcements stating the movie MASH would be playing. It went through and named all of the actors that were in the film. It was a creative way to incorporate the credits, but still be in the film.