Gigi - Leslie Caron
Gaston Lachaille - Louis Jourdan
Honoré Lachaille - Maurice Chevalier
Madame Alvarez - Hermione Gingold
As pure entertainment, this movie is a delight. The transformation of Gigi from an innocent, tomboyish school girl to elegant looking young lady is a wonder. Even though Leslie Caron was 31 when filming she indeed was convincingly impish in her portrayal of a young Gigi.
On the other hand, watching it now is difficult as I better understand exactly what the goal is. Having seen this movie many times it wasn't until recent years that I thoughtfully considered the story line.
After her mother "squandered" her life singing as an extra in operas, Gigi's grandmother (Hermione Gingold) is determined that Gigi not go down the same foolish artistic path.
Gigi is a young girl. Lovely yet playful who goes to her Aunt Alicia for lessons each week for lessons on becoming a lady ("Slowly Gigi, the racing season is over" her aunt admonishes upon her arrival for her lesson). She especially enjoys time with her good, and older, friend Gaston (Louis Jourdan who is only 11 years Caron's senior). Gaston portrays the bored socialite bachelor very well. It's only when he visits Gigi and her grandmother that he enjoys life whether just playing cards or traveling to the coast.
She doesn't stay young though and at the insistence of her Aunt Alicia, it is determined that Gigi be trained as a courtesan—for Gaston. An elegant and socially acceptable term for what is essentially an escort or prostitute.
Aunt Alicia and Grandmama are attempting this because they view it as Gigi's financial security. We're not privy to much of their history but Grandmama was at one time the courtesan for Gaston's uncle (Maurice Chevallier). That is, until he was tempted to marry her at which point he promptly left. Now that Grandmama ages alone, one wonders how she sees that as an advantage.
The problem with their plans, Gigi the fun-loving tomboy has other ideas. "Can't we just remain friends?" she begs Gaston. First of all, she's a young girl (when she's introduced to the viewer, Chevallier is singing "Thank God for Little Girls") who wants nothing to do with men, love and all that accompanies adulthood. Then too, her Aunt once taught her, "Wait for the first class jewels. Hold on to your ideals." A dichotomy obviously missed on Aunt Alicia.
After repeated rebellious outbursts, she calls for Gaston. "Gaston, I've been thinking. I would rather be miserable with you than without you." How many women have settled for a life of misery thinking, if not saying, the very same thing. A sad commentary for so many women in past eras. Hollywood has glammed up this story in a way that the viewer can forget what is actually happening.
The movie is very well done. The music is fun and light hearted. One of the songs encapsulates the aging mind so well. "You wore a gown of gold." "I was dressed in blue" "Ah yes, I remember it well." The songs are delightful and singalong easy.
A fact that I find lovely, and especially ironic for this movie, is that Louis Jourdan who convincingly plays the debonaire and often callous playboy is still married to his only wife after 66 years. Rare in today's America not to mention in Hollywood. And in France, it's becoming rare that couples marry at all.
The costumes in this movie were done by Cecil Beaton who was also the movie's scenery and production designer. Mr. Beaton also designed the gowns for My Fair Lady, another Pygmalion story. His touch is evident in the beautiful gowns that are showcased throughout the movie. At a couple of places it seemed that the scene was taken from My Fair Lady. Even though it was filmed after "Gigi," "My Fair Lady" was on stage from 1956 to 1962 so the scenes may have been been inspired by the stage version.
The book was written by Colette who recommended that Audrey Hepburn star just as she had on stage. Alan Lerner agreed but Miss Hepburn was unable. One is reminded of the hubbub when Miss Hepburn starred in "My Fair Lady" instead of Julie Andrews...but that's another review.
Don't let the ASPCA know, but in order to be included in scenes, the cat had to be heavily drugged. A point that my husband noted, "The cat looks dead!" For some reason it reacted violently to working with Miss Caron but Vincent Minnelli (director) insisted so the cat was "mellowed out."
Another bit of trivia: Lerner and Lowe collaborated on many musicals including "Gigi." However in this one, Alan Jay Lerner wrote the screen play as well.
Honoré Lachaille - Maurice Chevalier
Madame Alvarez - Hermione Gingold
As pure entertainment, this movie is a delight. The transformation of Gigi from an innocent, tomboyish school girl to elegant looking young lady is a wonder. Even though Leslie Caron was 31 when filming she indeed was convincingly impish in her portrayal of a young Gigi.
On the other hand, watching it now is difficult as I better understand exactly what the goal is. Having seen this movie many times it wasn't until recent years that I thoughtfully considered the story line.
After her mother "squandered" her life singing as an extra in operas, Gigi's grandmother (Hermione Gingold) is determined that Gigi not go down the same foolish artistic path.
Gigi is a young girl. Lovely yet playful who goes to her Aunt Alicia for lessons each week for lessons on becoming a lady ("Slowly Gigi, the racing season is over" her aunt admonishes upon her arrival for her lesson). She especially enjoys time with her good, and older, friend Gaston (Louis Jourdan who is only 11 years Caron's senior). Gaston portrays the bored socialite bachelor very well. It's only when he visits Gigi and her grandmother that he enjoys life whether just playing cards or traveling to the coast.
She doesn't stay young though and at the insistence of her Aunt Alicia, it is determined that Gigi be trained as a courtesan—for Gaston. An elegant and socially acceptable term for what is essentially an escort or prostitute.
Aunt Alicia and Grandmama are attempting this because they view it as Gigi's financial security. We're not privy to much of their history but Grandmama was at one time the courtesan for Gaston's uncle (Maurice Chevallier). That is, until he was tempted to marry her at which point he promptly left. Now that Grandmama ages alone, one wonders how she sees that as an advantage.
The problem with their plans, Gigi the fun-loving tomboy has other ideas. "Can't we just remain friends?" she begs Gaston. First of all, she's a young girl (when she's introduced to the viewer, Chevallier is singing "Thank God for Little Girls") who wants nothing to do with men, love and all that accompanies adulthood. Then too, her Aunt once taught her, "Wait for the first class jewels. Hold on to your ideals." A dichotomy obviously missed on Aunt Alicia.
After repeated rebellious outbursts, she calls for Gaston. "Gaston, I've been thinking. I would rather be miserable with you than without you." How many women have settled for a life of misery thinking, if not saying, the very same thing. A sad commentary for so many women in past eras. Hollywood has glammed up this story in a way that the viewer can forget what is actually happening.
The movie is very well done. The music is fun and light hearted. One of the songs encapsulates the aging mind so well. "You wore a gown of gold." "I was dressed in blue" "Ah yes, I remember it well." The songs are delightful and singalong easy.
A fact that I find lovely, and especially ironic for this movie, is that Louis Jourdan who convincingly plays the debonaire and often callous playboy is still married to his only wife after 66 years. Rare in today's America not to mention in Hollywood. And in France, it's becoming rare that couples marry at all.
The costumes in this movie were done by Cecil Beaton who was also the movie's scenery and production designer. Mr. Beaton also designed the gowns for My Fair Lady, another Pygmalion story. His touch is evident in the beautiful gowns that are showcased throughout the movie. At a couple of places it seemed that the scene was taken from My Fair Lady. Even though it was filmed after "Gigi," "My Fair Lady" was on stage from 1956 to 1962 so the scenes may have been been inspired by the stage version.
The book was written by Colette who recommended that Audrey Hepburn star just as she had on stage. Alan Lerner agreed but Miss Hepburn was unable. One is reminded of the hubbub when Miss Hepburn starred in "My Fair Lady" instead of Julie Andrews...but that's another review.
Don't let the ASPCA know, but in order to be included in scenes, the cat had to be heavily drugged. A point that my husband noted, "The cat looks dead!" For some reason it reacted violently to working with Miss Caron but Vincent Minnelli (director) insisted so the cat was "mellowed out."
Another bit of trivia: Lerner and Lowe collaborated on many musicals including "Gigi." However in this one, Alan Jay Lerner wrote the screen play as well.
Set and filmed in Paris, the movie is a fun watch as long as you don't take it too seriously.
In my head, I've always had Audrey Hepburn in this role....even without knowing she was originally considered. And the cat!!! That's too funny.
ReplyDeleteI love old flicks like this one. Great Review! Another one I'm going to watch. I really am shaping up to be a total convert. :)
a convert would be nice. going to start some self promoting. she hesitantly says.
ReplyDeleteI love this!!! Sorry it has taken me SO long to get over here. I'm behind on writing and reading blogs. What about that cat??? I have to rewatch this movie. I remember the plot sort of waving over me when I was a teenager. But I loved Leslie Caron (I saw American in Paris first). Great review!
ReplyDeleteI am so blessed to have such great friends. :) Thank you both for your encouragement.
ReplyDelete