Gigi (1958)

Director: Vincente Minnelli
Screenplay: Alan Jay Lerner (Based on the novel by Collette)
Cast: Leslie Caron, Louis Jordan, Maurice Chevalier, Hermione Gingold, Eva Gabor, Jacques Bergerac, Isabel Jeans & John Abbott

Oscar wins (9): Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Scoring of a Musical Picture & Best Original Song ("Gigi")

I often wonder how the general public of film experts could dislike such an amazingly wonderful film. The movie is not only well acted, directed and produced but it is lavish and chic. Clearly one of the most stylish and elegant movies I've ever seen produced on to the silver screen. Lerner and Lowe's score provides the glamorous musical with great music and brings it up to a top-notch rating.

It is the tale of Gigi (Leslie Caron), a young girl living in turn of the century Paris, where marriage and catching a rich man is all that is important to her Grandmother (Hermione Gingold) and her Aunt Alicia (Isabel Jeans). Here she takes lessons on becoming a lady in preparation for her to try and catch a man (or a Duke or a King) of her own.

Also in the tale is the very rich (but bored) socialite Gaston Lachaille (Louis Jordan) who has everything in the world he wants, except one thing: happiness. The only place he finds himself truly happy is when he is in the company of the young Gigi and her persistent Grandmother. As they play cards and drink tea together on countless afternoons, Gigi and Gaston grow a bond as strong as that of family.

But as Gigi turns into a woman, her Grandmother and Aunt only has one idea with her and her best friend, Gaston Lachaille. As the days go by, Gigi must now choose if she wants to follow the steps of her social climbing family or that of love. And will Gaston treat Gigi like every other mistress he's had in his life?

As one of the first songs in Gigi goes, "it's a bore!", the film definitely is not one. It is charming and as I mentioned chic. The entertainment value of Gigi is non-stop, giving us a picture which will make you laugh, cry and fall in love. The outpouring glorious colors of Paris and the pallet used in the art direction and costume design is first rate, making the movie a sight for sore eyes. It's all eye candy!

Though I know a lot of film buffs will disagree with me on this one, but I believe that the four principals cast members (Jordan, Caron, Chevalier and Gingold) all deserves Oscar nominations. I did not say wins, I said nominations. They were all entertaining and good! I did not cringe once on their performances. Jordan is the obvious standout. We see Gaston transform before us, and not physically like Gigi does, but emotionally. His knockout rendition on the Oscar winning song "Gigi" sold the whole performance to me. He was fantastic!

Caron improved so much from her An American in Paris (1951) days and gives a worthy performance. Chevalier is charming and unconventional in his supporting performance as Gaston's womanizing Uncle.

Minnelli paints Paris again with all is luster and grandeur. He is not a people's director (though he can obviously direct), but Minnelli focuses on the the aesthetics of the production. This is what Gigi needed and had. He gave us a peek into 19th century Paris perfectly. And this, in my opinion, is his best work.

The way they closed the film was extremely cheesy, but very effective. Sometimes people have to remember (especially the Academy) that movies should be entertaining as well as good. They have to connect with people and Gigi gives the people that. It was such a joy to watch and I'll never get sick of it. "Thanks heavens" for such a glorious musical film!

Picture: Gigi (Leslie Caron) listens to her Aunt as she discusses the ways of Fine Dining.