How this picture beat Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Vertigo (which wasn't even nominated) is thoroughly mind blowing. The voters that year must've gotten free trips to Paris or something. Mediocre music and the acting performances were sub par at best. Not a bad film but an Oscar winner- No way.
I found the songs in this to be stale and forgettable, compared to other musicals. Interestingly, "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" is one of Hugh Hefner's all-time favorite songs. If you like this film and are looking for similarly-themed movies, I suggest watching Lolita. The best thing this film has going for it is its lush cinematography.
Gorgeous cinematography: Paris has never looked better. Acting is so-so; songs are kind of stale (exception: "I Remember It Well"). Sleazy premise, but well-executed. They don't make 'em like this anymore, which may be a good thing.
The movie begins with a song about how little girls have "those little eyes so helpless and appealing, one day will flash will have you crashing through the ceiling" . Near the end we're treated to another creepy song where Gaston starts out singing about how Gigi is only a child and ends up talking about how good she looks in a dress." Of course the actress was in her 20's when this was made but, apparently the character was supposed to be about 16. the theme makes this pretty creepy or funny depending on your predilection
I Remember It Well, funniest and warmest scene of the movie. Vivid cinematography altogether, cute main actress.
The basic concept of the plot, the depicted society and the whole genre of corny color-saturated musicals from this era? Not exactly my thing ..
This is like My Fair Lady, but if the good acting, memorable songs, and sympathetic characters were replaced by glorifying rich people and the romanticization of grooming young girls to be trophy wives
Vincente Minnelli's movies are all just romantic comedy blockbusters. Hated 'em all. But Leslie Caron is stunningly beautiful in this one, just like an angel!
The screenplay is absolutely brilliant. Gaston's caustic wit, the numerous Wildian witticisms concerning society and gender relations, not to mention the very Proustian complexity of the language-it's all first rate. Very pretty, too.
The rest, however, is rather dull. Wouldn't watch again.
Edit: Having been a fan of Chevalier's chansons for some time now, I never realised just how old he was. I figured he was about fifty in this film, but he was seventy!
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Comments 1 - 15 of 17
rwj
It's a bore ;-)Woliver
This exactly the kind of shit that makes people disbelief in the oscars :)Thebigernied
How this picture beat Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Vertigo (which wasn't even nominated) is thoroughly mind blowing. The voters that year must've gotten free trips to Paris or something. Mediocre music and the acting performances were sub par at best. Not a bad film but an Oscar winner- No way.greenhorg
One of the worst 'best picture' winners. Came out the same year as Vertigo, which wasn't even nominated. Hitchcock snubbed again.Dawizz
What can I say about this movie ... Well every scene in Mamita living room was an eye surgery ... And very slow pace. How did this win 9 Oscars?!Louise_Dietrich
I don't know what it is with Vincente Minnelli. I loved The Band Wagon, I enjoyed The Pirate. I hated An American in Paris and Gigi.Jumping Elephant
I found the songs in this to be stale and forgettable, compared to other musicals. Interestingly, "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" is one of Hugh Hefner's all-time favorite songs. If you like this film and are looking for similarly-themed movies, I suggest watching Lolita. The best thing this film has going for it is its lush cinematography.Duke of Omnium
Gorgeous cinematography: Paris has never looked better. Acting is so-so; songs are kind of stale (exception: "I Remember It Well"). Sleazy premise, but well-executed. They don't make 'em like this anymore, which may be a good thing.Filmbuff77
Garbage, co-starring famous old Nazi collaborator Maurice Chevalier.drainojunkie
The movie begins with a song about how little girls have "those little eyes so helpless and appealing, one day will flash will have you crashing through the ceiling" . Near the end we're treated to another creepy song where Gaston starts out singing about how Gigi is only a child and ends up talking about how good she looks in a dress." Of course the actress was in her 20's when this was made but, apparently the character was supposed to be about 16. the theme makes this pretty creepy or funny depending on your predilectionTorgo
I Remember It Well, funniest and warmest scene of the movie. Vivid cinematography altogether, cute main actress.The basic concept of the plot, the depicted society and the whole genre of corny color-saturated musicals from this era? Not exactly my thing ..
mcmakattack
This is like My Fair Lady, but if the good acting, memorable songs, and sympathetic characters were replaced by glorifying rich people and the romanticization of grooming young girls to be trophy wivespatato
One if the most classist and sexist movies I've ever seen. About the oscar,nothing to say.Dieguito
Vincente Minnelli's movies are all just romantic comedy blockbusters. Hated 'em all. But Leslie Caron is stunningly beautiful in this one, just like an angel!acoltismypassport
The screenplay is absolutely brilliant. Gaston's caustic wit, the numerous Wildian witticisms concerning society and gender relations, not to mention the very Proustian complexity of the language-it's all first rate. Very pretty, too.The rest, however, is rather dull. Wouldn't watch again.
Edit: Having been a fan of Chevalier's chansons for some time now, I never realised just how old he was. I figured he was about fifty in this film, but he was seventy!
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