Gigi

Rating:
Summary: As bewitching as the Trouville sunset.
Review: The real surprise for me is in the film's understatement: it takes a group of eccentric-at-best characters and presents them with sophistication and even sentiment. The radiant Leslie Caron is the title character who reveals to her already shocked family that she's not as naive as they seem to think in the ways of courtship and will not give herself to a man that she doesn't actually love. (Remarkably ahead of its time, when you think about it.) There is also a saving grace in Maurice Chevalier, who is not only a 'bon vivant,' but- let's face it- a dirty old man. After more than an hour of boasting about female companions who could be his granddaughters, he does a kind of about-face when he begins a twilight terrace scene with 'grandmama' Hermoine Gingold. In their summer white suits, they reminisce about their own love affair (was she the real love of his life?) and contribute the film's finest moment in the duet "I Remember It Well (visually breathtaking against a lovely, burnt-orange sunset)." The DVD, set to widescreen, is the only way to enjoy something like this.

Rating:
Summary: Parisians in Love
Review: Who doesn't love Gigi? The musical, the girl, the story. Add to that, Paris, and you've got the makings of the great movie. This is one of the few musical that can give Singin' in the Rain a run for its money as best musical. It is any wonder this won a slew of Oscars, Golden Globes, and a Grammy?

Gigi, the adolescent child in a family of former courtesans, is being prepped by her great-aunt for a life of a kept woman. Great-aunt Alicia has been particularly successful and trains the girl in manners, choosing jewels and clothes, and pampering her future patron. Gigi, a lanky tomboy, is anything but a diligent student. Actually, she's a world-class klutz, something you don't really see former ballerina Leslie Caron as. To her credit, Gigi is a mess.

And that's how her protective grandmother and family friend, Gaston, like her - sweet, childlike, frank. She's bubbly and warm, a little heedless, and loaded with charm (watch her cheat at cards). As she learns more of the world and her intended place in it, the transformation is something to behold. Oddly enough, she triumphs by being true to herself, and somehow to everyone else's expectations too. Quite a coup for the underestimated heroine.

A subplot involves her grandmother, Gaston, and Gaston's uncle, Honore. Amusingly, Honore is like Aunt Alicia in trying to make Gaston into himself. Honore meets with more success, but he doesn't seem to be helping his nephew much. It's so obvious who runs the show (and world) here! Even silly Liane (played by diva Eva Gabor) gives Gaston the run-around.

Leslie Caron is perfect as Gigi, as are her co-stars Louis Jourdan, Maurice Chevalier, and Hermione Gingold. They all sing wonderfully - although Caron's voice is dubbed by a charming Betty Wand. The top-notch Lerner and Loewe (of My Fair Lady fame) songs include:
Thank Heaven for Little Girls (classic)
The Parisians (views of Paris with the adorably exasperated Caron)
The Night They Invented Champagne (a romp of a song)
I Remember It Well (grand duet)
Gaston's Soliloquy (Paris in twilight)
Gigi (more Paris)
I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore (charming Chevalier number)
Say a Prayer for Me Tonight (beautiful and haunting)

It's colorful and brilliantly alive. Paris looks amazing, as do the actors, no little thanks to the lovely period costumes. Caron is heavenly in this role - it seems to have been made for her (I can't imagine the divine Audrey Hepburn, who originated the role, as any better). Jourdan is impossibly handsome and plays befuddled so well, Chevalier's role fits him like a kid glove. Gingold is at turns, dignified, lovingly frazzled, and conflicted over the life Gigi is being raised for. Pure movie magic.

Rating:
Summary: Aw yes, i remember it well.
Review: I'm a sap for old musicals. I own most of them and have been in several during my life.When it comes to "Gigi" the best way to discribe it is fairy tale of innocent love. This is a wonderful musical with ageless songs. Songs that you'll remember as a kid and songs that will you hum after the movie is over. If you happen to have a 5.1 sound system it will be even more of a thrill. The sound on this DVD is like hearing it in a theatre that had magnetic Stereo Sound System. IT IS FLAWLESS. This movie is also headed by a wonderful talented cast of likes that will not ever grace the screen again. Pop the popcorn, open a can of soda, dim the lights and relax to one of our greatest screen musicals ever made.

Rating:
Summary: A sparkling film! GIGI shines through the years!
Review: Being a Cecil Beaton [My Fair Lady's costume designer] fan, I watched this to see the costumes and the settings, thinking that was going to be the best thing about the film. Turns out I was very wrong! A delightful story and wonderful songs, Lerner and Lowe truly did create another 'My Fair Lady'.

Leslie Caron as the diamond-in-the-rough Gigi was excellent! I myself am a teenager and I thought she was very convincing as a young girl. She had the charm and vitality that a young girl has even though she was much older! Louis Jourdan plays the constantly bored and snobbish playboy perfectly. The films title song won an Oscar and Jourdan sings and acts it very well. But my favourite in the film was Maurice Chevalier. All of his songs were the best! I cannot stop listening to "Thank Heaven for Little Girls"! It's such an adorable song. Chevalier is the driving force in the film, although his character is somewhat secondary. This film stayed true to Colette in a sense that the main three actors I mention above are actually French!

The costumes are brillaint, as always, by Beaton. I find them somewhat even more charming than My Fair Lady's. The Ascot dress in My Fair Lady has become so recogniseable as an image, it is no longer 'breath-taking' when Audrey Hepburn enters the scene. In GIG however, when Leslie Caron enters the scene in her white gown with black accents on the shoulders it is breath-taking! Her transformation from giggly young girl to enchanting woman is amazing.

The magnetism about this film is the charcter of Gigi. She captures Gaston's heart as well as everyone's! This is a wonderfully painted picture of turn-of-the-centruy Paris with an even more beautiful story. Oh, and one really shouldn't compare this to MFL so much because GIGI stands in a class of it's own.

Rating:
Summary: The Last Great Golden-Age Musical
Review: Although MGM and other studios would continue in the genre for several more years, GIGI is the last great musical of Hollywood's golden age. It is also one of the few titles consistently mentioned when critics dispute which film should be considered the single finest musical ever created by Hollywood, a film that rivals the likes of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN and MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS. Based on a novella by Colette, GIGI tells the story of a French family of the belle epoch--a family, it seems, of women who have made their living from the favors of famous men. Still something of a gawky schoolgirl, Gigi (Leslie Caron) is being trained to become a courtesan, and when she suddenly blossoms she captures the heart of Paris sophistocate Gaston Lachaille (Louis Jourdan.) But much to her family's horror, when the arrangements are completed Gigi suddenly declines!

The cast is absolutely flawless. Caron was born to play Gigi, and is as charming as the awkward youth as she is as the suddenly beautiful young woman; Jourdan's appeal as the worldly and world weary Gaston is tremendous. But the real joy of the cast is in its supporting cast, which includes Maurice Chevalier as Gaston's uncle; Hermione Gingold and Isabel Jeans as Gigi's grandmother and great aunt; and Eva Gabor as Gaston's current mistress. Chevalier and Gingold play their roles with precisely the right mixture of charm and severity, and their duet "I Remember It Well" is among the highlights of the film, while Jeans and Gabor give such memorable comic turns that their small roles become as memorable as the leads.

The Learner & Lowe score is equal their great Broadway success MY FAIR LADY, and offers such enjoyable and memorable songs as "Gigi" and "The Night They Invented Champagne," and the script equals and merges with the music to considerable effect. Filmed largely on location in Paris, the look of the film is incredibly rich, and director Vincent Minnelli maintains a sprightly sense of humor with just enough darkness behind the bubbles to make us aware of the seriousness of the tale. Mixing intimacy with tremendous surface splash, GIGI is a cultural treasure, a film to enjoy and cherish forever and certainly a worthy contender for that disputed title of "Hollywood's finest musical." A personal favorite and highly, highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: "GiGi" - 9 Oscars / Best Pix 1958 now on WideScreen DVD!!
Review: MGM's "Gigi" was their last big Musical production. MGM won 9 Oscars including; Picture of the Year (1958), Best Director - Vincent Minnelli, Best Song - "Gigi", Best Cinematography, Art & Set Design, Best Costumes.

The Colorful Metrocolor WideScreen production was directed by Vincent Minnelli - Oscar Winner!! Lerner & Loewe provide us with the great lyrics & music. Gigi title song won an Oscar! Another favorite is Maurice Chevalier's singing of "Thank Heaven For Little Girls".

Summary: We are in the Summer of 1900 Paris. Leslie Caron as "Gigi" was perfectly cast as the young Parisian grand daughter being groomed & refined to be the socialte wife for a rich to do gentlemen. Gigi is infactuated with her Grandmothers (Herimone Gingold)ex's nephew Gaston (Louis Jourdan) a rich playboy who befriends the young rough around the edges, Gigi. As this story developes Gaston's has numerous public affairs that continue to fail & his only joy is being with Gigi. As the story evolves we have lush & colorful sets and lavish scenes of 1900 Paris & a complex love story begins. Hollywood Happy endings, prevail!

This DVD has a Full Screen & WideScreen (LetterBox) version. the movie is 116 minutes long. Excellent Quality picture & Color. Only extra is a trailer. Very delightful family movie.
Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Didn't deserve Oscar Best Picture. Totally plain movie.
Review: They titled themselves as The Second My Fair Lady. This movie has not a bit of My Fair Lady's qualities at all. With My Fair Lady you will get Freudian points of view regarding her adaption and others, but this one there is no psychology at all. It is all just about plain love, which for me is too flat and going nowhere, and the songs here are not to sing after, the lyrics are again too flat. The actors performance are at the next-lowest level, I cannot figure why this movie received Oscar at all, maybe through lobbying?...

Rating:
Summary: Romantic Musicals Don't Come Any Better Than This
Review: There are a great deal of fine musicals MGM has done in the past. But the 1958 Lerner and Lowe "Gigi" based on the French novella is exquisite, romantic and intimate. Beautiful, youthful Gigi (Leslie Caron) is trained by her grandmother to be a courtesan and to attract the attentions of the extremely wealthy and popular Gaston Lachaille (Jordain). Chevalier makes a terrific performance as the elderly and noble Honore, who sings "Thank Heavens For Little Girls" and "I remember it well". The title song "Gigi" and the music, conducted and arranged by the excellent Andre Previn, provides the film with a sumptuous French flavor. The film is heartwarming and romantic. Few musicals capture a simple, fresh love story like this one, without many of the usual complications. A five star movie and musical. If you want the soundtrack, go and get it. It makes an excellent companion to the movie. Leslie Caron is a knock-out. With Audrey Hepburn, she was the most beautiful and sophisticated personas to grace the screen in the fifties, coming as close to royalty as film actresses could get. And suprisingly, both actresses look somewhat similar. Vincente Minneli, Liza Minelli's father, directs a wonderful musical, and has forever made a name for himself. Five stars. Viva Minelli! Viva Maurice Chavalier and Viva Leslie Caron!

Rating:
Summary: Technical review of the DVD (not the lovely content)
Review: Why Warner Home Video didn't give the classic GIGI a better DVD release is beyond my comprehension. I am writing merely on a technical level, as so many other posts have touched on the film's artistic merits. Gigi is a lovely, vibrant and colorful film. We are not given an anamorphic widesreen transfer (nor a dual layer disc). Because of this, the image suffers from overly bright reds, shimmering and a lot of pixelation. There is quite a bit of artifacting present. At times the colors tend to bleed and seem washed out. The source print used for this DVD shows some wear, which is surprising considers the stature GIGI has maintained for decades. Here the print looks somewhat neglected, with some jumps, scratches (especially at the end) and blotches. The soundtrack is also a disappointment. It suffers from aged fidelity-with periods of noise and distortion. GIGI is in need of restoration. Hopefully this classic muscial will receive just that in the future. A DVD of a restored GIGI would be a most welcome replacement for this.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing DVD version
Review: GiGi is a timeless story that deserves better than it's given with this DVD edition from Warner. Most of the advantages and improvements available to the DVD format are ignored with this release - no widescreen format, no Dolby, no extras, etc...

I bought this sight unseen, and regret it. I am already on the hunt for the MGM version which has most of the enhancements that make DVD such a pleasure.