MovieChat Forums > The Band Wagon (1953) Discussion > The Band Wagon v Singing in the Rain

The Band Wagon v Singing in the Rain

posted 16 years ago by jamdonahoo
35 replies | jump to latest

Certainly two of the top musicals of all time as only MGM could do them. Which is better?

Dancing stars: Kelly or Astaire? I give this a draw, athletic style of Kelly or the grace of Astaire. Both had average voices. Gene was better looking.

Lady Dancers: Cyd v Debbie. Again stylistic differences. Cyd had a more balletic style while Debbie was more the hoofer style, full of energy. Cyd's legs and angelic face gives her a slight edge. Of course Cyd was in SITR too so again a draw.

Supporting Cast: Jack Buchanan and Nannette Fabray are great but so is Donald O'Connor. This one is a tie also.

Plot: Both light and frothy but the Bandwagon plot was straight out of an Andy Hardy movie. Gee, kids let's get together and do a bang up show. Actually parodied by Astaire at the party.

So far pretty even but the tiebreaker has to be the performance of Jean Hagen as Lina. IMO the best comedic actress job ever done.

A narrow win for SITR.

[–] trevorh321 (5495) 3 years ago

Dancing stars: Kelly or Astaire? I have to give the edge to Kelly, who incredible athleticism is tough to beat.

Lady Dancers: Cyd v Debbie. Much tougher because Cyd is clearly the better dancer (as she showed in the show stopping dance with Kelly in SITR) but Debbie has a girl next door likeability that is often irresistible. I call this a draw.

Supporting Cast: Jack Buchanan and Nannette Fabray are great but so is Donald O'Connor. With all due respect to Buchanan and Fabray, it was Donald O'Connor who shocked me the most with his incredibly inventive dancing, and some of the finest facial gymnastics ever seen. If you ask me, he was the biggest surprise of Singin' in the Rain.

And why they decided to tack on the love relationship between Astaire and Charisse is a bit of a mystery. It wasn't needed, it didn't work, it felt forced and unnecessary.

Singin' in the Rain 10/10
The Band Wagon 8/10

The win goes to Singin' in the Rain.

[–] liscarkat (19416) 21 days ago

Debby Reynolds or Cyd Charrise? Debbie is cute. Cyd is a spectacular dancer, incredibly sexy, and at least as good an actress as Reynolds.