SYNOPSIS

Based on French author Colette's beloved 1945 novella of the same name, Gigi is the musical story of a young girl in turn-of-the-century Paris (Leslie Caron) who is being trained by her grandmother (Hermione Gingold) and great aunt (Isabel Jeans) for a life as a courtesan. The awkward but vivacious Gigi soon captures the interest of dashing but easily bored bon vivant Gaston (Louis Jourdan) who wants her to become his mistress. As Gigi blossoms into a swan, she must decide if she will accept Gaston's offer or follow her heart and hold out for a more permanent commitment.

Director: Vincente Minnelli
Producer: Arthur Freed
Screenplay: Alan Jay Lerner
Based on the 1945 French novella Gigi by Colette
Cinematography: Joseph Ruttenberg
Production Design: Cecil Beaton
Editing: Adrienne Fazan
Music Composer: Frederick Loewe, André Previn
Costume Designer: Cecil Beaton
Cast: Leslie Caron (Gigi), Maurice Chevalier (Honoré Lachailles), Louis Jourdan (Gaston), Hermione Gingold (Madame Alvarez), Eva Gabor (Liane), Jacques Bergerac (Sandomir), Isabel Jeans (Aunt Alicia), John Abbott (Manuel), Edwin Jerome (Charles, the Butler), Lydia Stevens (Simone), Maurice Marsac (Prince Berensky), Monique Van Vooren (Show Girl), Dorothy Neumann (Designer), Maruja Ploss (Mannequin), Marilyn Sims (Redhead), Richard Bean (Harlequin), Pat Sheehan (Blonde).

C-116m. Letterboxed. Closed Captioning. Descriptive Video Service.

Why GIGI is Essential

Gigi was responsible for revitalizing the movie career of Maurice Chevalier. Chevalier had worked in show business all his life and had become a movie star in Hollywood musicals during the 1930s. Following World War II, however, his film career declined. The huge success of Gigi, right on the tails of his previous hit film Love in the Afternoon (1957), re-established Chevalier as a beloved international star more popular than ever at the age of 70. Chevalier was given an honorary Academy Award "for his contributions to the world of entertainment for more than half a century."

Gigi was made during the declining years of the studio system era. For MGM, whose name was always synonymous with the biggest and the best of Hollywood musicals, Gigi was its last hurrah as the studio system broke down while trying to adapt to the changing tastes of a new modern generation.

Gigi was also considered to be the crowning jewel of the Freed Unit, which was the legendary collaborative team at MGM headed by producer Arthur Freed, They were responsible for dozens of hit films during the studio's heyday, many of them in collaboration with Gigi director Vincente Minnelli.

Shot mostly on location in Paris, Gigi uniquely captures the spirit and beauty of the City of Light during the turn of the century. Director Vincente Minnelli shot many scenes at authentic French locales such as Maxim's, the Bois du Boulogne, and the Palais des Glaces and used the work of several French artists as inspiration for the visual look of the film. As a result, Paris itself becomes a rich character within itself in Gigi.

A tremendous box office success that was loved by both critics and moviegoers alike, Gigi was nominated for 9 Academy Awards including Best Picture and won all of them. This victory set an Academy Award record at the time, beating previous films that had won 8 Academy Awards including Gone With the Wind (1939), From Here to Eternity (1953), and On the Waterfront (1954).

by Andrea Passafiume