![]() ![]() She knows, as do the society columns, that this type of relationship is cyclical, just as it was for poor Liane. The refusal is given waveringly, as she confesses to love him, but she understands well that the life that lies before her is one of uncertainty. And so he asks Gigi to be his companion–and she refuses. After a pondering walk through Paris and a passionate, wondrous rendition of the title theme, he realizes he is in love with the woman Gigi has become. After such distressing affairs, Gaston finds Gigi’s girlish company refreshing and charming–so much so, that after returning from travels abroad and finding her wearing her hair up and her dresses long, he flies into a small temper. ![]() Gigi is in stark contrast to Gaston’s usual companions, typified by Eva Gabor’s showy but distracted Liane d’Exelmans, whom Gaston is astounded to find unfaithful to him. It is easy to suppose that it is this honesty that first attracts Louis Jourdan’s Gaston. Yet Gigi, taking such “love” at face value, voices her opinions with remarkable frankness and clarity. The dichotomy is striking the practice is spoken of in euphemisms and nods between Aunt Alicia and Gigi’s grandmother (Hermione Gingold). The girl Gigi is eager for fun, while yet being prepared for a future role of courtesan by her strict but savvy Aunt Alicia (Isabel Jeans). The vivacious title character, played by Leslie Caron, epitomizes this serious gaiety. As the narrator says in the film’s trailer, this is a “Paris that takes love so seriously and marriage so lightly.” Yet, this very lightness gives heightened contrast to the moments when the demands of true love are confronted. ![]() High society of that time, and the concept of mistresses for the elite, or courtesans, is treated with veiled humor, particularly in the character of Honoré, played sympathetically by Maurice Chevalier. This movie is beautiful to watch and tasty as eye and ear candy.Gigi, Vincente Minellie’s 1958 frolic, uses the color of 1890’s Paris and the music of Lerner and Loewe to build to a profound illustration of the equality of love in marriage. Maurice Chevalier also won a special Oscar for Lifetime Achievement.Īt the Golden Globes, Hermione Gingold won Best Supporting Actress, Leslie Caron won Best Actress, Louis Jourdan won Best Actor as did Maurice Chevalier. The movie won Best Song "Gigi", Best Musical Score by Lerner and Lowe, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Set Decoration, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, and Best Film Editing. None of the actors were nominated, but Vincente Minnelli won as Best Director, and the picture was Best Picture. ![]() This movie is compared to "My Fair Lady" and won 9 Academy Awards in every category that it was nominated in. And eventually, Gaston offers Gigi all the things that she would have as a courtesan. After a wonderful time there with chaperone Mamita, Gaston is amazed that Gigi is growing older, and she surprises him one day all dressed up like a grown woman. Gaston is basically bored with dating and as the movie progresses he loses a card game to Gigi with the bet being a trip to the seashore. Honore believes in having lots of women, and even at his advanced age is chasing skirts. He brings Gigi candy and champagne for Mamita.īut Gaston is dating other women and is being guided by his uncle Honore Lachaille (Maurice Chevalier)to become what we would call a gigolo. He is just a young man in Paris who visits her and enjoys playing cards with her granddaughter and eating Mamita's home-cooked meals. Mamita has a young grown male friend who happens to be rich-Gaston Lachaille (Louis Jordan), but she has no intention of forcing Gigi on him. Since a young girl's future is limited in 1900's Paris, Gigi is being raised to become a future courtesan-a mistress to some rich man who will give her a mansion, jewels, and all the other extras that a woman could want. Leslie Caron plays the title character-a young orphan being raised by her grandmother Mamita (Hermione Gingold). The Last Great MGM Musical by Vincente MinnelliĪ non-singing Broadway play brought brilliantly to the screen by Vincente Minnelli in 1958, "Gigi" is a delightful Best Picture winner. ![]()
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