Even though the plot is not entirely to my personal taste, "Gigi" is quite an enjoyable film, and definitely worthy of being included into a musical lover's collection. As a musical, it has great songs, which I've really enjoyed, and for which one would want to play it repeatedly: "Thank Heaven for Little Girls," "It's a Bore," "The Night They Invented Champagne," "Gigi," "Ah, Yes, I Remember It Well," "I'm glad I'm Not Young Anymore" are a few notable examples of lovely and catchy tunes, with lovely, lovely lyrics. They are also skilfully integrated within the plot, setting off the characters' state of mind or even stages in their emotional growth. "Gigi," for example, besides being a great song, also marks the moment when Gaston realizes that she is not a little girl anymore and that he has feelings for her. The decors are rich and colourful - I have especially noted the deep red of the grandmother's living room, and the Paris settings. Costumes are also lavish, from Gigi's dress to the suits of clothes worn by Gaston and his uncle.

Louis Jourdan plays a handsome Gaston, set off by his bachelour uncle, played by Maurice Chevalier. Leslie Caron does a good job in the title role, though I couldn't help the feeling that Audrey Hepburn, who was offered the role but declined, would have done better. Hepburn had a seemingly natural talent at playing young girls who go unnoticed and who eventually surprise everyone by becoming the quintessence of elegance. Caron is lovely, but I was sorry that she wasn't Hepburn. As it is, however, the movie is enjoyable, and certainly one that I will want to rewatch. I gave it 4 stars simply because I feel it isn't on the same par with other great pieces of the genre, of which "My fair lady" is the most obvious example. Incidentally, the short extra featurette on the DVD informs us that soon after its release, "Gigi" was advertised as the story of "a new fair lady," "as popular on screen as 'My Fair Lady'is on the stage."

All in all, I have seen better plots, and yet, I do recommend "Gigi." The plot may not shine, but it is a happy one, and the songs are very good, so I've enjoyed it and I think I'll enjoy it even more on a second viewing.

Undiluted pleasure
Review date: 2003-08-13 Rating: 10 out of 10

Whilst I really shouldn't give this a five star rating, every time I tried to reduce it I found I couldn't. Having just watched the film, I'm still too full of the pleasure of watching something so riotously happy. The reason I shouldn't give it 5 stars is because of the quality of the DVD itself. It looks more like video than DVD, with some quite serious scratch/flicker, particularly at the beginning and during one number.
With the impossibly handsome Louis Jourdan, Leslie Caron doing her sweet little girl act, and the incomparable Maurice Chevalier (try watching Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast and I think you might see where that came from!), the cast couldn't be better. The LernerLoewe songs are all hum a long, the script witty and the costumes wonderful, making the whole film very easy on the eye.
Not surprising then that the film won 9 Oscars, including best picture, director, cinematography, costume design, and song.
Worth forking out for provided you don't mind the DVD quality issues. Personally, don't regret it in the least

Innocent Young Girl Pursued By Eligible Bachelor
Review date: 2003-03-26 Rating: 10 out of 10

GIGI was the hit movie of 1958 - a story about an innocent young girl (Leslie Caron) being courted in Paris by one of the city's most elegible bachelors (Louis Jordan). This was probably not very remarkable but glittering performances by the likes of Maurice Chevalier, Hermione Gingold, Eva Gabor and Jacques Bergerac made this film pure entertainment at its best. The movie was shot in Paris.

GIGI received Academy Awards for Best Picture, Director (Vincent Minnelli), Color Cinematography, Art Direction, Song ("Gigi"), Scoring of a Musical Picture, Editing and Costume Design.

Created in the most delightful way
Review date: 2002-11-05 Rating: 10 out of 10

Few successful musicals have been put directly on screen, without first appearing as a stage musical. Gigi is one of them. It was a stage play but not a musical one until after the film was made. It won 9 out of 9 Oscars including Best Picture. Anyone fond of classic film and musicals or just any film lover at all must watch. The beautiful on location filming, costumes and music make it somewhat lavishly operatic. The acting is brilliant. Leslie Caron, although her songs were dubbed, is charming as Gigi, Louis Jourdan plays Gaston splendidly and Maurice Chevalier gives a superb performance as Honore, singing the memorable 'Thank Heaven For Little Girls'. With such a film like this, it is no wonder that 'I Remember It Well'.

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