The Band Wagon (Vorhang auf!)

An aging showbiz star returns to New York in hopes of making a triumphant Broadway comeback. The tension between commercial success and artistic ambition drives both the story and the musical numbers. Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse deliver unforgettable dance sequences that blur the lines between film and stage.

Minnelli combines glamour with self-irony: lavish choreography alternates with sharp, witty dialogue, while songs such as “That’s Entertainment!” went on to become standards. Produced by MGM and written by Comden & Green, the film was not a major box-office success upon its release, but was later recognized as one of Hollywood’s great musicals and was added to the National Film Registry in 1995.