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From Amazon.co.uk
Vincente Minnelli's 1958 adaptation of Colette's story about a girl (Leslie Caron) groomed as a courtesan--but desired as a wife by a Parisian playboy (Louis Jordan)--won a lot of Oscars, but it also has the unusual distinction of being an MGM musical shot on location in the City of Lights. What a musical it is (by Lerner and Loewe): Maurice Chevalier and Hermione Gingold crooning "Ah, Yes, I Remember It Well", plus the songs "Thank Heaven for Little Girls", "Gigi", "I'm a Bore", and "She's Not Thinking of Me". Director Vincente Minnelli (Some Came Running, Meet Me in St Louis) makes a sumptuous, dreamy, almost laid-back affair of it all and the indispensable cast is forever etched into memory. Hollywood's long-running infatuation with continental grace and manners, the memory of a much earlier time imported to American movies through such immigrant directors as Ernst Lubitsch, may have finally come to a gentle end with this film. --Tom Keogh
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Vincente Minnelli's 1958 adaptation of Colette's story about a girl (Leslie Caron) groomed as a courtesan--but desired as a wife by a Parisian playboy (Louis Jordan)--won a lot of Oscars, but it also has the unusual distinction of being an MGM musical shot on location in the City of Lights. What a musical it is (by Lerner and Loewe): Maurice Chevalier and Hermione Gingold crooning "Ah, Yes, I Remember It Well," plus the songs "Thank Heaven for Little Girls," "Gigi," "I'm a Bore," and "She's Not Thinking of Me." Director Vincente Minnelli (Some Came Running, Meet Me in St. Louis) makes a sumptuous, dreamy, almost laid-back affair of it all, and the indispensable cast is forever etched into memory. Hollywood's long-running infatuation with continental grace and manners, the memory of a much earlier time imported to American movies through such immigrant directors as Ernst Lubitsch, may have finally come to a gentle end with this film. --Tom Keogh
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A brilliant musical,
By A Customer
This review is from: Gigi (Widescreen/Full Screen) (DVD)
Gigi is a lavish, big time production with great music,costumes, scenery, and direction. I first saw this movie as a youth. In Louis Jordan's words 'it was a bore'. I ,however, appreciate this movie much more today although I still find it a little tedious at times. Overall, it is a very engaging and entertaining piece of work - especially the songs many of which are very charming. The casting was simply excellent. Leslie Caron made a perfect Gigi, who is depicted as an unrefined teenage brat. The real star in this movie is Louis Jordan, as Gaston, who has far more screen time than Caron. Maurice Chavalier is also excellent. Despite possessing wealth, fame and many women in his time, Gaston is bored with his existence. When he is with Gigi, he escapes from his boredom. Gigi brings real joy in his life. Little does he realize until the end of the movie that he is in love with her and does the unthinkable by asking her to marry him.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thank Heaven for Little Girls,
By
This review is from: Gigi (Widescreen/Full Screen) (DVD)
This is a fun musical that is worth rewatching. Apologies to readers as with out comparing to the book this film is first rate. And for those viewers that poses large high definition devices it is also fun to watch the background from clouds to furniture.The year 1900. The place Paris. The story of the coming of age of a little girl, Gigi (Leslie Caron.) And the coming of age of those (Maurice Chevalier, Louis Jourdan, and Hermione Gingold) interested in Gigi's coming of age. Mixed throughout in the appropriate places are relevant songs and visual filters. Directed by Vincente Minnelli who is well known for Brigadoon (1954), and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970). Original music by Frederick Loewe Camelot (1967) (music: "I Wonder What The King Is Doing Tonight"), and Brigadoon (1966) (TV) (music: "I'll Go Home With Bonnie Jean").
4.0 out of 5 stars
GIGI IS EYE CANDY,
By
This review is from: Gigi (Widescreen/Full Screen) (DVD)
It is ironic that GIGI, set in the year 1900, was shot on location in Paris while the contemporary "An American in Paris" was filmed on a sound stage. Minnelli wasn't exactly given an open cheque book by a budget conscious Studio and some scenes had to be shot later in California, such as the Trouville sea side episode, under the direction of Charles Walters no less, since Minnelli was already committed to his next film project. The effects of the time limits imposed on Minnelli are evident in some of the street scenes involving Chevalier and Jourdan where the camera is positioned at such an angle as to catch only the upper stories of the Parisian boulevards, thus avoiding all the trappings of the modern age at ground level.Footage not shot under the direction of Minnelli also strikes a discordant note. The Trouville episode somehow does not blend in with the whole. If Minnelli had been a more forceful character in his dealings with MGM a more suitable arrangement may have been arrived at. Nevertheless, GIGI is a sensual feast. Minnelli's genius for colour schemes and arrangements are evident in every frame under his direction. No one surpassed him in his lavish use of floral arrangements. He truly was the Renoir of directors and no doubt his heart belonged to the Impressionists. Minnelli was lucky in his Gallic cast. Leslie Caron was one of the finest actresses of the Musicals genre and Maurice Chevalier epitomized the American image of the civilized and ageless French dandy. Louis Jourdan's character was a perfect fit for his somewhat limited talents. Although GIGI won all nine Oscars for which it was nominated, not a single one was in any of the acting categories. Minnelli had a reputation for indifferent character direction and his actors had to fall back on their own individual thespian resources. GIGI also features some fine songs and singing and they blend in seemlessly with the story line. GIGI was not the last great musical. Four Musicals won the Best Picture Oscar during the 1960's but tellingly not one was made by MGM. With GIGI ,the era in which MGM set the standard in the realm of movie musicals, dating back to 1929's "Broadway Melody" came to a spectacular end.
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