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An American In Paris [1951]
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DVD Technical Information:
RRP: £13.99
Our Price: £2.48 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
The plot of An American in Paris is mostly an excuse for director Vincente Minnelli to pool his own extraordinary talent with those of choreographer-dancer-actor Gene Kelly and the artists behind the screenplay, art direction, cinematography, and score, creating a rapturous musical not quite like anything else in cinema. An American GI (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 final section of the film comprises a 17-minute dance sequence that took a month to film and is breathtaking. Gershwin songs specially arranged for the film include "'S Wonderful", "I Got Rhythm", and "Love is Here to Stay". --Tom Keogh
Editorial
DVD Description
DVD Special Features:
Editorial
Special Features
English
Region 2
Editorial
Synopsis
One of the greatest of 1950s screen musicals is a happy collaboration between the grace and athleticism of Gene Kelly and colourful palette of Vincente Minnelli. An American G.I. lingers in Paris after the war to study painting and soon falls in love with Caron, an engaged mademoiselle, much to the chagrin of his romance-minded benefactress. Features a seventeen-minute, avant-garde ballet choreographed by Kelly to George Gershwin's unbeatable melodies. Academy Award Nominations: 8, including Best Director. Academy Awards: 6, including Best Picture, Best Story and Screenplay. Kelly won a special Oscar for his achievements.
Still some nice moments, but a film best kept treasured in our memories
Review date: 2007-07-29 Rating: 8 out of 10
When I first saw An American in Paris, years ago, I thought it was great and I agreed with all the rave reviews. Now...well, let's say I don't think it has aged well. For me, more than any other factor, it's Gershwin's music that gives the film the charm it retains. Even then, the music has to fight against Minnelli's and Kelly's desire to establish that the film is "significant" and that Jerry Mulligan is a heckuva guy. The result, looking at the film fifty-five years later, is to be caught a little off guard at how pretentious it feels. Prominent in the credits are the words "And Presenting The American In Paris Ballet." How much nicer and more trusting of the audience if they'd let us discover the ballet for ourselves. That air of "look at what we're doing; aren't we great?" creeps in far too often. "I Got Rhythm," for instance, is in my opinion a number which reeks of being precious...all those little French tykes and Mulligan's grinning byplay with them comes across now as a calculated effort to provide a "wow" number for Kelly. That wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing except for the Kelly persona of a man who flips a switch for charm and looks like he flips the switch off as soon as the number is in the can. Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music deals with a lot of equally over-adorable little children when she sings "Do Re Mi," but there it doesn't appear quite so calculated because Andrews' charm and enjoyment seem genuine. However, when Minnelli and Kelly are willing to take a step back and trust the audience, the results can be high quality. "Love Is Here to Stay," for instance, is sung and danced quietly. It becomes a moment of genuine feeling without a hint of pretension.
I suppose nowadays most of us come to the movie looking forward mainly to the American in Paris ballet. It still can hold our attention with all that style (the look of Dufy, Toulouse-Lautrec and such), the action and the color...and, above all, the music. I'm not one who thinks Kelly was an outstanding choreographer. I think he was a first-class dancer but not the person or the choreographer he thought he was and wanted to be. It's the spectacle of the ballet that is still worth watching. The one place where Kelly's choreography and talent as a dancer meet perfectly is in the Toulouse-Lautrec sequence. Here's Kelly in a tight apache outfit taking a pose, then strutting with his butt out, shaking his shoulders, staring at the camera. It's a great moment and I wish the rest of the dance numbers measured up to it.
For the rest of it, I think Caron is unformed but a likable gamin. Levant gets a little tiresome. I'm never quite sure whether to smile at him or call 911. His Concerto in F sequence seems to be just more of Minnelli and Kelly wanting to make sure we all know the movie is high quality stuff. George Guetary may be a light weight talent, but he's good natured and good company. His "Stairway to Paradise" number is is a highlight. And although Nina Foch plays a maneater, she's one of the best things about the movie. She was a fine and under-rated actress.
An American in Paris still has a number of things to enjoy, but I think it's at its best in our memory. The film needs a better DVD transfer than what is now available. Considering the film's importance when it came out, there should be a serious commentary track and some in-depth extras dealing with the Gershwins, Minnelli and Kelly.
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Reviews
Great George Gershwin so so Kelly
Review date: 2007-04-02 Rating: 6 out of 10
Jerry Mulligan (Gene Kelly) ex-GI stays in Paris to practice painting. There he is patronized by a jealous Milo Roberts (Nina Foch). Mean time he is trying to make time with a store clerk that is more than she appears to be (Leslie Caron).
Not one of Kelly's best but passable. However even at his best one has to have a taste for that sort of thing. He is sort of a Danny Kay type. His high-water pants are his signature and really looks out of place. He can not sing worth beans. However he did do a good job in "What a Way to Go."
Even though this film is not a notable movie it was directed by Vincente Minnelli (1903-1986.) He directed some great movies and some that you would never suspect such as "The Long Long Trailer."
Wonderful Musical Film!
Review date: 2006-12-16 Rating: 10 out of 10
Director Vincente Minnelli was one of the greatest film directors of Hollywood's golden age.Among his best films are the musicals and no doubt "An American in Paris" is a true classic. Wonderful set design, beautiful score, great coreography and perfect performances by Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron and Oscar Levant make this a film to be enjoyed over and over again. Who can forguet musical numbers like "I got Rithm" or " Hour love is here to stay" ? And what can we say of the classic ballet finalle? It's pure entertainment! pure talent! pure Art! Just enjoy it.
The dvd edition is ok..but im sure a special edition with remastered sound and picture its already being planed. And if it's half as good as the S.E of Minnelli's "The Band Wagon" ill buy it.
An American in Paris
Review date: 2005-05-17 Rating: 10 out of 10
The freed 'A team' have produced another breathtaking musical. Ok the story of an ex GI who stays on in paris to become a painter and falls in love with a women already engaged to another man, isnt the strongest storyline in history but it allows a perfect backdrop to great songs and dance.
The classic scores Ive got rythm, and s wonderful along with Kellys fantastic tap, and Carrons amazing ballet (especially in the sequence at the end) make this movie the ultimate in escapism!. Its hardly suprising this film won 6 accadamy awards.
Oscar Levant Is In Fine Form
Review date: 2003-03-31 Rating: 10 out of 10
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS is one of my favorite Gene Kelly movies. It has so much going for it - great music, dancing and cast. The music is by George and Ira Gershwin and of course it never hurts to have Vincente Minelli as director.
The film marks the Hollywood debut of Leslie Caron and she makes the most of it. Oscar Levant is mostly himself with several memorable lines such as this particularly self-deprecating one: "It's not a pretty face, I grant you, but underneath its flabby exterior is an enormous lack of character."
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Story and Screnplay, Color Cinematography, Color and Direction, Score for a Musical Picture and Color Costume Design. The main competition for awards in 1951 came from THE AFRICAN QUEEN, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE and A PLACE IN THE SUN.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Georges Guétary
Oscar Levant
Leslie Caron
Nina Foch
Gene Kelly
Creators:
Gene Kelly (Primary Contributor)
Leslie Caron (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900562737
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2003-06-02
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 108 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1952-12-24
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: French (Original Language)