Released – October, 1951 

Directed By - Vincente Minnelli

Starring – Gene Kelly (Jerry Mulligan), Leslie Caron (Lise Bouvier), Oscar Levant (Adam Cook), Georges Guetary (Henri “Hank” Baurel), Nina Foch (Milo Roberts).

Description – Free-spirited American expatriate Jerry Mulligan is trying to make a name for himself painting in Paris. It looks as though good luck has finally come his way when he is “discovered” by society woman Milo Roberts.

However, looks can be deceiving as Milo is interested in more than Jerry’s paintings. Unaware, or possibly just ignoring her advances, Jerry meets and falls in love with Franch girl Lise whom he meets at a restaurant. While Lise would like to return those feelings she is already involved with Henri to whom she feels indebted for having saved her family during the war.

A wonderfully enjoyable musical ride to true love.

NOTABLE: In 1993 this film was selected for inclusion in the United States National Film Registry.

In 2006 the American Film Institute ranked this as #9 in their list of 100 Years of Musicals.

This motion picture won six Academy Awards that included Best Picture, Best Writing, Story and Screenplay, Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture, Best Costume Design, Color, Best Cinematography, Color, and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color. There were two more nominations for Best Director (Vincente Minnelli), and Best Film Editing.

In addition, Gene Kelly received an honory Academy Award for “his versatility as an actor, singer, director and dancer, and specifically for his brilliant achievements in the art of choreography on film.”

Actress Cyd Charisse was originally cast in the role of Lise Bouvier but had to be replaced when she discovered she was pregnant.

This film was the first for Leslie Caron who was discovered performing in a ballet by Gene Kelly while vacationing in Paris.

The beautiful climatic 17-18 minute dance sequence cost $500,000. and took a whole month to film.

Personal Comment: Over the years I have gone back and forth in my personal opinion as to who was the better dancer – Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly. I finally realized I was comparing apples with oranges. Fred Astaire exuded sophistication and class, while Gene Kelly added the elements of athleticism and sensuality. They were both the best at what each did.

An American in Paris (Two-Disc Special Edition)

An American in Paris [Blu-ray]

Gene Kelly Collection (Singin’ in the Rain / An American in Paris / On the Town / Anatomy of a Dancer)

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Released – August, 1951 

Directed By - George Stevens

Starring – Montgomery Clift (George Eastman), Elizabeth Taylor (Angela Vickers), Shelley Winters (Alice Tripp), Anne Revere (Hannah Eastman).

Description – Adapted from Theodore Dreiser’s 1925 novel ‘An American Tragedy,’  this is the story of industrialist Charles Eastman’s nephew George and his entanglement with two women and murder.

After taking a job at his wealthy uncle’s factory, George Eastman begins to date fellow employee Alice Tripp who works on the assembly line. As their dating continues, Alice becomes pregnant and hopes to marry George.

Around the same time, George gets his first exposure to high society where he meets the beautiful and sophisticated Angela Vickers. George is immediately infatuated with Angela and begins to lose interest in Alice.

Alice threatens to tell Angela of their affair unless George agrees to marry her. While out on a boat with George, Alice is killed in what appears to be a boating accident. Or, was it murder?

NOTABLE: In 1991 this film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

This motion picture won six Academy Awards; Best Director (George Stevens), Best Writing, Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Music, and Best Costume Design. It was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Montgomery Clift), and Best Actress in a Leading Role (Shelley Winters).

Although Technicolor filming was becoming increasingly popular, Director George Stevens felt the storyline and overall tone of this movie would be more appropriate filmed in black and white.

A Place in the Sun

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