Trivia / The Band Wagon

• Completely Different Title: The French title is Tous en Scène! (more or less "All on Stage!").
• Cut Song: There was originally a seductive dance routine where Cyd Charisse performs "Two-Faced Woman". India Adams' recording of the song was reused for Torch Song for a musical number featuring Joan Crawford. It was first shown to the public as part of That's Entertainment III.
• Hostility on the Set: In the DVD bonus features, Nanette Fabray stated that Oscar Levant was difficult to work with. Whenever something would go wrong or he would make a mistake, he would blame whomever was around. This included stage hands, other actors, lighting technicians, or whoever was handy. She said that, since she was usually closest, she caught the brunt of it. Following a botched take, he again blamed her for something. She lost her temper and told him off. Everyone on the set applauded. After that, he was much easier to work with.
• Non-Singing Voice: Cyd Charisse was dubbed by India Adams.
• Prop Recycling: Many of the props, sets, and costumes for the huge production number that goes wrong in rehearsal in Boston are from Lovely to Look At, Ziegfeld Follies (1945) and An American in Paris.
• Reality Subtext: Fred Astaire had already contemplated retirement, just like Tony.
• Referenced by...: Michael Jackson homaged the film in the "Smooth Criminal" sequence of Moonwalker.
• Troubled Production: Both the show-within-the-show and in real life.
  • In the show-within-the-show, the artistic team squabbles constantly, Tony can't handle the ballet choreography, and the scenery goes haywire.
  • According to the interviews in the making-of featurette and various Vincente Minnelli biographies, the production was a nightmare. Not all of the actors got along, shooting ran over both the schedule and the budget, and Fred Astaire somehow had to concentrate on the film while his wife was dying.
• What Could Have Been: Vincent Price and Edward G. Robinson were considered for the role of Jeffrey Cordova.
• Working Title: I Love Louisa.

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