Rated: NR
Starring: Gene Kelly, et al.
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Review
A GI (Gene Kelly) stays in Paris after the war to become
an artist, and has to choose between the patronage of a rich American
woman (Nina Foch) and a French gamine (Leslie Caron) engaged to an older
man. The plot is mostly an excuse for director Vincente Minnelli to pool
his own extraordinary talent with those of choreographer-dancer-actor
Kelly and the artists behind the screenplay, art direction,
cinematography, and score, creating a rapturous musical not quite like
anything else in cinema. The final section of the film comprises a
17-minute dance sequence that took a month to film and is breathtaking.
Songs include "'S Wonderful," "I Got Rhythm," and "Love Is Here to Stay."
--Tom Keogh
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Gene Kelly had been a Hollywood star for almost ten years
when he made this film, but his best work was just starting. "An American
in Paris" was a huge success upon initial release in 1951, winning six
Oscars, and a rating as one of the best musicals of all time. It is still
every bit as delightful today. That chemistry between Kelly and Leslie
Caron is still existant when they dance or act together, like in "Our Love
is Here to Stay". The wit of Oscar Levent is still every bit as
hysterical. The glory of George Gershwin's beautiful music still fills a
true music lovers soul with joy, especially in the thrilling (though
slightly overdone) 20 minute ballet at the film's conclusion. The
breathtaking locales in Paris are simply stunning for the eye to behold.
To top it off, where else are you going to go to see Kelly dance and
converse with cute French kids to the music of "I've Got Rythem"? While
this film can't compare to Kelly's massive triumph of the next year, "Singin'
in the Rain", it's still amazing. Stop reading this: GO GET IT!
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