Gigi (1958)

Director:

Vincente Minnelli
(more)

Writers:

Alan Jay Lerner (screenplay)
Colette (novel)

Release Date:

4 August 1958 (Brazil)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

The First Lerner-Loewe Musical Since "My Fair Lady"

Plot:

Weary of the conventions of Parisian society, a rich playboy and a youthful courtesan-in-training enjoy a platonic friendship, but it may not stay platonic for long.

Plot Keywords:

Playboy | 1900s | Cheating At Cards | Jewelry | Memory

Awards:

Won 9 Oscars. Another 15 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Leslie Caron	...	Gigi
Maurice Chevalier	...	Honoré Lachaille
Louis Jourdan	...	Gaston Lachaille
Hermione Gingold	...	Madame Alvarez
Eva Gabor	...	Liane d'Exelmans
Jacques Bergerac	...	Sandomir
Isabel Jeans	...	Aunt Alicia
John Abbott	...	Manuel
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marie-Hélène Arnaud	...	Girl at Maxim's (uncredited)
Jack Ary	...	Waiter at "Palais de Glace" (uncredited)
Richard Bean	...	Harlequin (uncredited)
Cecil Beaton	...	Gentleman in park (uncredited)
Jacques Bertrand	...	Maitre d'Hotel Maxim's (uncredited)
Hubert de Lapparent	...	Gaston's private secretary (uncredited)
Cilly Feindt	...	Girl on horseback at Pré Catelan (uncredited)
Edwin Jerome	...	Charles - Alicia's butler (uncredited)
Corinne Marchand	...	Young lady with white sunshade (uncredited)
Maurice Marsac	...	Prince Berensky (uncredited)
Anne-Marie Mersen	...	Girl at Maxim's (uncredited)
Bernard Musson	...	Guest at Maxim's (uncredited)
Dorothy Neumann	...	Designer (uncredited)
Jean Ozenne	...	Monsieur Lachaille (uncredited)
Maruja Plose	...	Mannequin (uncredited)
Roger Saget	...	Pierre (uncredited)
Pat Sheehan	...	Blonde (uncredited)
Marilyn Simms	...	Redhead (uncredited)
Lydia Stevens	...	Simone (uncredited)
Jack Trevan	...	Coachman (uncredited)
François Valorbe	...	Henri - Gaston's butler (uncredited)
Monique van Vooren	...	Showgirl (uncredited)
Betty Wand	...	Gigi (uncredited) (singing voice)
Leroy Winebrenner	...	Lifeguard (uncredited)

Directed by
Vincente Minnelli
Charles Walters		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Alan Jay Lerner		(screenplay)
Colette		(novel)

Original Music by
André Previn		(uncredited)
Conrad Salinger		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Joseph Ruttenberg
Ray June		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Adrienne Fazan

Production Design by
Cecil Beaton

Art Direction by
E. Preston Ames		(as Preston Ames)
William A. Horning

Set Decoration by
F. Keogh Gleason		(as Keogh Gleason)
Henry Grace

Costume Design by
Cecil Beaton

Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair stylist
Guillaume	....	hair stylist
Charles E. Parker	....	makeup artist (as Charles Parker)
William Tuttle	....	makeup artist
Robert J. Schiffer	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William McGarry	....	assistant director
William Shanks	....	assistant director
Noël Howard	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Hank Moonjean	....	assistant director: France (uncredited)

Art Department
Cecil Beaton	....	scenery

Sound Department
Wesley C. Miller	....	recording supervisor (as Dr. Wesley C. Miller)
Van Allen James	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Charles K. Hagedon	....	color consultant

Music Department
André Previn	....	conductor
André Previn	....	music supervisor
Conrad Salinger	....	orchestrator
Robert Tucker	....	vocal supervisor
Alexander Courage	....	additional orchestrator (uncredited)
Alexander Courage	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Maurice De Packh	....	additional orchestrator (uncredited)
Robert Franklyn	....	additional orchestrator (uncredited)
Albert Woodbury	....	additional orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Françoise Bouchez	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Alex Romero	....	assistant choreographer (uncredited)

Thanks
Sem	....	acknowledgment: main title illustrations from drawings by

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents)
• Arthur Freed Production

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1958) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1958) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1958) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1959) (Japan) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1971) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (pan/scan)
• Mac Mahon Distribution (1997) (France) (theatrical)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (????) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Musée Jacquemant-André  grateful acknowledgement
• Maxim's  grateful acknowledgement
• Carrère's Auberge de la Moutière  grateful acknowledgement
• Palais de Glace  grateful acknowledgement

Also Known As:

The Parisians (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System) | Perspecta Stereo | Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-3 (new rating: 2001) | Finland:K-7/5 (new rating: 1982) | New Zealand:PG | USA:Approved (certificate #18763) (original rating) | Canada:PG (video rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Chile:TE | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Peru:PT | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:G (re-rating) (1975)

Filming Locations:

Auberge de la Moutière - 14 Rue Moutière, Montfort-l'Amaury, Yvelines, France

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

When the stage production of 'My Fair Lady' was trying out in Philadelphia, producer Arthur Freed tackled songwriter Alan Jay Lerner about doing a film musical for him. Lerner had a pre-existing contract with MGM and owed Freed another musical. After reading Colette's novel, he knew he had found the right material to fulfill that contract.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where Alicia is teaching Gigi about the jewels, in a shot, Alicia is facing Gigi, having her hands pointing up and Gigi is facing her, listening. In the very next shot, Alicia is playing with a string of pearls, facing away from Gigi. Gigi is sitting beside her but also not facing her but still looking at her.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[Honore walks through Paris and greets the viewer]
Honore Lachaille: Good afternoon! As you see, this lovely city all around us is Paris, and this lovely park is of course the Bois de Boulogne. Who am I? Well, allow me to introduce myself: I am Honore Lachaille. Born: Paris. When...
[laughs]
Honore Lachaille: ...not lately. This is 1900, so let's just say not in this century. Circumstances: comfortable. Profession: lover, and collector of beautiful things. Not antiques mind you, younger things.
[an elderly woman passes by]
Honore Lachaille: Yes, definitely younger. Married: what for? Now please don't misunderstand. Like everywhere else, most people in Paris get married, but not all. There are some who will not marry, and some who do not marry. But in Paris, those who will not marry are usually men, and those who do not marry are usually women.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: I Accuse My Parents (#6.7)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Waltz at Maxim's (She Is Not Thinking of Me)

Absolutely Charming

Having seen this film several times, I definitely have to rate Gigi as one of the most charming musicals ever made. The delightful score, by Lerner & Loewe, includes songs such as "I Remember it Well," "The Night They Invented Champagne," "Thank Heaven For Little Girls," as well as the title track, "Gigi," sung with surprising candor and earnestness by Louis Jourdan. Although reminiscent of their work on My Fair Lady, this score not only stands beautifully on its own but also grows in depth with each viewing.

The three principals, Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan, and Maurice Chevalier, along with the Paris locales helps maintain a distinctively French flavor, especially in the way the characters relate and interact.

For everyone who has commented on the political incorrectness of the story, a closer look will actually reveal the true feminist perspective of Colette's work which was groundbreaking for its time: 1) the story is a commentary and observation of the limited social and economic options for women outside of marriage during the turn of the century Paris, 2) Although Gigi (Caron) never fully masters her lessons and grooming, she is able to capture Gaston's (Jourdan) heart precisely because of her imperfections, and 3) most importantly, it is Gaston rather than Gigi who is forced to truly transform himself and defy the social conventions of the time to bring the story to its resolution.

Compare this to My Fair Lady, which offers similar social commentary but resolves itself in a more standard way: For example 1) Eliza Dolittle only becomes noticeable and lovable after transforming her outward appearance and speech patterns 2) Although Professor Higgins finally realizes his love for Eliza at the end, it is Eliza who is forced to submit her will by effecting a reconciliation that does nothing to resolve any of the issues raised in the scenes leading up to that point.

Definitely see Gigi and judge for yourself. (By the way, the widescreen version is sooooo much better. This is especially apparent in numbers such as "I Remember It Well" where entire characters are forced to be cut out of the screen.)