GIGI [1958 / 2010] [Blu-ray] [USA Release] A Stylish Triumph From Start To Finish! The First Lerner-Loewe Musical since My Fair Lady!
Home, motorcar, servants, and the latest fashions: man-about-town Gaston Lachaille [Louis Jordan] offers them all to Gigi [Leslie Caron]. But Gigi, who’s gone from girlish gawkiness to cultured glamour before our eyes, and yearns for something that money can’t buy. Producers Arthur Freed, director Vincente Minnelli and a cast rife with Gallic charm join this lavish winner of Nine Academy Awards®, including Best Picture. Its Alan Jay Lerner and Fredrick Loewe songs sparkle like “The Night They Invented Champagne” or caress with title-tune tenderness. “I Remember It Well,” where Maurice Chevalier sings to Hermione Gingold. You’ll remember ‘GIGI’ forever! New digital transfer from restored picture and audio elements.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1958 National Board of Review, USA: Win: NBR Award for Top Ten Films. 1959 Academy Awards®: Win: Best Picture for Arthur Freed. Win: Best Director for Vincente Minnelli. Win: Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium for Alan Jay Lerner. Win: Best Cinematography and Color for Joseph Ruttenberg. Win: Best Art Direction and Set Decoration in Black-and-White or Color for E. Preston Ames, F. Keogh Gleason, Henry Grace and William A. Horning. William A. Horning's nomination and win was posthumously, as he died after completing his work on Gigi (1958) and in the midst of the production on Ben-Hur (1959) and North by Northwest (1959); the last two films would earn him Oscar nominations and a win (for Ben-Hur alone) the next year. Win: Best Costume Design, Black-and-White or Color for Cecil Beaton. Win: Best Film Editing for Adrienne Fazan. Win: Best Music and Original Song for Frederick Loewe (music) and Alan Jay Lerner (lyrics) for the song "Gigi." Win: Best Music and Scoring of a Musical Picture for André Previn. 1959 Golden Globes: Win: Best Motion Picture for a Musical. Win: Best Supporting Actress for Hermione Gingold. Win: Best Director for Vincente Minnelli. Nominated: Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical for Leslie Caron. Nominated: Best Actor for a Comedy or Musical for Maurice Chevalier. Nominated: Nominated: Best Actor for a Comedy or Musical for Louis Jourdan. 1959 David di Donatello Awards: Win: Best Foreign Production (Migliore Produzione Straniera). 1959 Directors Guild of America: Win: DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for Vincente Minnelli and George Vieira (assistant director) (plaque). 1959 Grammy Awards: Win: Best Soundtrack Album, Dramatic Picture Score or Original Cast for André Previn. 1959 Laurel Awards: Win: Golden Laurel Award for Top Musical. Win: Golden Laurel Award for Top Female Musical Performance for Leslie Caron. Nominated: Golden Laurel Award for Top Female Musical Performance for Hermione Gingold [4th place]. Nominated: Golden Laurel Award for Top Male Musical Performance for Louis Jourdan. Nominated: Golden Laurel Award for Top Male Musical Performance for Maurice Chevalier. Nominated: Golden Laurel Award for Top Song for Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe for the song "Gigi." Nominated: Golden Laurel Award for Top Cinematography in Color for Joseph Ruttenberg. 1959 Photoplay Awards: Win: Gold Medal for the film ‘GIGI.’ 1959 Writers Guild of America: Win: WGA Award (Screen) for Best Written American Musical for Alan Jay Lerner. 1960 BAFTA Awards: Nominated: BAFTA Film Award for Best Film from any Source for Vincente Minnelli [USA]. 1991 National Film Preservation Board, USA: Win: National Film Registry for the film ‘GIGI.’
FILM FACT No.2: The film title design uses the artwork of Georges Goursat, but better known as Sem and his work for the “Belle Époque.” Following completion of the film ‘GIGI,’ it was previewed in Santa Barbara. Audience reaction was overwhelmingly favourable, but Alan Jay Lerner and Fredrick Loewe were dissatisfied with the end result. Alan Jay Lerner felt it was twenty minutes too long and most of the action too slow. The changes he proposed would cost an additional $300,000, money Arthur Freed was loath to spend. The song writing team offered to buy 10% of the film for $300,000 and then offered $3 million for the print. Impressed with their belief in the film, M-G-M executives agreed to the changes, which included eleven days of considerable reshooting, putting the project at $400,000 over budget. At a preview in Encino, audience reaction changed from "appreciation to affection" and Alan Jay Lerner felt the film finally was ready for release. It premiered at the Royale Theatre, a legitimate theatrical venue in New York City, on the 15th May 1958.
Cast: Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier, Louis Jourdan, Hermione Gingold, Eva Gabor, Jacques Bergerac, Isabel Jeans, John Abbott, Marie-Hélène Arnaud (uncredited), Jack Ary (uncredited), Daniel Aubé (uncredited), Richard Bean (uncredited), Cecil Beaton (uncredited), Jacques Bertrand (uncredited), Paul Cristo (uncredited), Hubert de Lapparent (uncredited), Cilly Feindt (uncredited), Edwin Jerome (uncredited), Corinne Marchand (uncredited), Maurice Marsac (uncredited), Anne-Marie Mersen (uncredited), Bernard Musson (uncredited), Dorothy Neumann (uncredited), Jean Ozenne (uncredited), Maruja Plose (uncredited), Roger Saget (uncredited), Pat Sheehan (uncredited), Marilyn Simms (uncredited), Lydia Stevens (uncredited), Jack Trevan (uncredited), François Valorbe (uncredited), Monique van Vooren (uncredited), Betty Wand (Gigi singing voice) (uncredited) and Leroy Winebrenner (uncredited)
Directors: Vincente Minnelli and Charles Walters (uncredited)
Producer: Arthur Freed (uncredited)
Screenplay: Alan Jay Lerner (screenplay), Colette de l'Académie Goncourt (based on the novella) and Niven Busch (uncredited)
Composers: André Previn (uncredited) and Conrad Salinger (uncredited)
Cinematography: Joseph Ruttenberg, A.S.C. (Director of Photography), Georges Barsky (uncredited) and Ray June (uncredited)
Costume Design: Cecil Beaton
Image Resolution: 1080p (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 (CinemaScope)
Audio: English: 5.1 Dolby TrueHD Audio
English: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
French: 2.0 Dolby Digital Audio
Spanish: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
German: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
Italian: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Português, Japanese, German, Italian, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish
Running Time: 115 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Warner Home Video
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: Some have called ‘GIGI’ [1958] a French version of ‘My Fair Lady,’ and the comparison makes sense, to a degree. Both musicals were written by the legendary team of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe; both were adapted from well-regarded literary works by Colette and George Bernard Shaw, respectively; and both detail the transformation of an awkward, unrefined duckling into a graceful, sophisticated swan. Eliza Doolittle was groomed by Henry Higgins to be a lady, whereas Gigi [Leslie Caron] is tutored by her elderly Aunt Alicia [Isabel Jeans] to be a courtesan or mistress and a woman of quality who gives her man undivided attention, companionship, and, yes, her body in return for economic security, travel, and a high-class lifestyle. When her lover tires of her, and he most assuredly will, she finds another man, then another, and another. As her dowager Aunt Alicia tells the impressionable Gigi, "Instead of getting married at once, it sometimes happens we get married last."
That's a bitter pill for a teenager to swallow and a heavy weight to hang on a musical, but the magic of ‘GIGI’ is its ability to gloss over such tawdry details and concentrate on the charming characters, engaging songs, and glorious Parisian locations of Vincente Minnelli's OSCAR® winning film. As bubbly as a champagne cocktail and sumptuous as Foie gras, 'GIGI' is the last of the great M-G-M musicals, and though it's far from my personal favourite, there's no denying its beauty, style, and lyrical grace. To enter the world of 'GIGI' is to be transported to turn-of-the-century Paris and immersed in its intoxicating culture. From the Bois de Boulogne to the Place de la Concorde to Maxim's iconic restaurant, 'GIGI' celebrates the City of Light like few other films. And as seen through the eyes of bon vivant extraordinaire Maurice Chevalier as Honoré Lachaille, the story adopts an irresistible airy quality that belies its underlying substance. The wink on the cover art says it all.
Gigi lives with her flighty mother (who remains an unseen presence throughout the film) and wise, practical grand-mère Madame Alvarez [Hermione Gingold] in a modest Paris apartment reflective of their limited means. Twice a week, the effervescent teen meets her dour, well-to-do Aunt Alicia for lunch, where Gigi learns how to eat exotic food, pick out cigars, and distinguish real pearls from those that are "dipped" and all in preparation for her future responsibilities. Occasionally, the obscenely rich and quite eligible Gaston Lachaille [Louis Jourdan], an old family friend, takes a break from his tedious schedule of fancy parties and ritzy social engagements to drop by their humble abode and enjoy the simple bourgeois pleasures of chamomile tea and a spirited game of cards with Gigi. Though she's several years his junior, Gigi connects with Gaston Lachaille like none of his hot-to-trot girlfriends, and as Gigi grows up, their bond solidifies, ultimately prompting a business proposal that will alter their relationship forever.
Opulence defines Vincente Minnelli's musicals, and ‘GIGI,’ for which the director won a well-deserved OSCAR® and is arguably his trademark film. Sets and costumes are meticulously designed and coordinated to produce eye-filling images, and the simply staged songs grow naturally out of the story. No production numbers or overblown fantasy ballets disrupt the leisurely flow, and though not a lot of plot transpires, the mood and structure Vincente Minnelli creates sustains the film.
As does Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe’s delightful score, which includes such gems as “Thank Heaven for Little Girls,” the melodic title tune, Maurice Chevalier's jaunty “I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore,” the buoyant “The Night They Invented Champagne,” and the priceless duet, I Remember It Well, performed with wit and warmth by Hermione Gingold and Maurice Chevalier, who wryly recall their past love affair. Though Leslie Caron's vocals are dubbed and Louis Jourdan speaks-sings his numbers á la Rex Harrison, both performers possess such charisma, we forget their limitations.
If you count the special OSCAR® Maurice Chevalier received for his "contributions to the world of entertainment," ‘GIGI’ garnered a total of 10 Academy Awards® [see information above]. Yet even such effusive industry praise couldn't save the old-style M-G-M musical. Changing audience taste and the demise of the studio system conspired to make 'GIGU' the last of its breed, but thanks to the artistry of Vincente Minnelli, producer Arthur Freed, and their peerless creative team, the era ended on a high note.
GIGI MUSIC TRACK LIST
THANK HEAVEN FOR LITTLE GIRLS (uncredited) (Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner) (Music by Frederick Loewe) [Performed by Maurice Chevalier]
IT’S A BORE (uncredited) (Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner) (Music by Frederick Loewe) [Performed by Maurice Chevalier, Louis Jourdan and John Abbott]
THE PARISIANS (uncredited) (Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner) (Music by Frederick Loewe) [Performed by Leslie Caron] (dubbed by Betty Wand)
GOSSIP (uncredited) (Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner) (Music by Frederick Loewe) [Performed by Chorus]
WALTZ AT MAXIN’S (She Is Not Thinking of Me) (uncredited) (Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner) (Music by Frederick Loewe) [Performed by Louis Jourdan]
THE NIGHT THEY INVETED CHAMPAGNE (uncredited) (Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner) (Music by Frederick Loewe) [Performed by Leslie Caron (dubbed by Betty Wand), Hermione Gingold, and Louis Jourdan]
I REMEMBER IT WELL (uncredited) (Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner) (Music by Frederick Loewe) [Performed by Maurice Chevalier and Hermione Gingold]
GASTON’S SOLILOQUY (uncredited) (Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner) (Music by Frederick Loewe) [Performed by Louis Jourdan]
GIGI (uncredited) (Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner) (Music by Frederick Loewe) [Performed by Louis Jourdan]
I’M GLAD I’M NOT YOUNG ANYMORE (uncredited) (Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner) (Music by Frederick Loewe) [Performed by Maurice Chevalier]
SAY A PRAYER FOR ME TONIGHT (uncredited) (Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner) (Music by Frederick Loewe) [Performed by Leslie Caron] (dubbed by Betty Wand)
THANK HEAVEN FOR LITTLE GIRLS (Finale) (uncredited) (Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner) (Music by Frederick Loewe) [Sung by Maurice Chevalier and Chorus]
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Blu-ray Image Quality – 'GIGI' was long overdue for a high definition makeover, especially with its wonderful 1080p image and especially enhanced with a 2.40:1 (CinemaScope) aspect ratio and has been given a major improvement over the banged up, scratch-ridden print that graced Warner's previous standard-definition inferior DVD format. Vincente Minnelli's film certainly has never looked better, and fans should be quite pleased with this rendering, which really brings out all the joie de vivre of the Paris locations and fine details of the film's impeccable production design. Despite the use of single-strip Metrocolor, hues burst forth and, for the most part, look realistic. The one exception might be the plush red that envelops Gigi's apartment; it's intentionally garish and the transfer pushes it to the limit, but it resists bleeding. The cloudless Parisian skyline are often breath-taking, and no banding breaks up the sea of deep blue, while the pastel costumes exhibit plenty of vibrancy and texture. Flesh tones can look a little ruddy, but blacks are luxuriously rich, and nice depth and delineation distinguish the lovely exterior night scenes. Clarity is quite good, with background elements possessing good detail levels, but because of the wide aspect ratio, close-ups seem a bit remote and don't flaunt all the 1080p HD facets that would lend the transfer more dimensionality. Warner Home Video deserves kudos for maintaining the original look and feel of this 50-year-old film, and not resorting to edge enhancement and digital noise reduction to obtain a sleeker, more "modern" look. Still, the amount of grain present in the picture really surprised me, especially for a movie from the late 1950s. From the opening credits onward, grain is very noticeable, but it blends well into the image, lending it a slight antiquated quality that suits the period setting. Best of all, every single blemish afflicting the previous transfer has been erased. No more nicks or grit dot the print, and all those annoying vertical lines, bleach spots, and reel change markers that previously obscured the beauty of this Oscar-winning film have been removed. A few brief shots betray a jarring softness, but on the whole, this is another solid effort from Warner Home Video.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Warner Home Video pulls out all the audio stops, supplying 'Gigi' with both 5.1 Dolby TrueHD and 5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks. Of the two, the TrueHD audio option is the clear winner, offering clean, clear, well-balanced, and substantive sound. Vocals are nicely prioritized, so all the lyrical patter is crisp and distinct, and dialogue comes through without any impediments. Subtle accents, such as the horse hooves and the crunching of the delicate birds Gigi must consume for lunch at Aunt Alicia’s, add punch to the track, and a slight fidelity increase lends the musical numbers welcome oomph. The orchestrations enjoy terrific tonal depth and fine stereo separation, but unfortunately don’t bleed into the rear channels. Despite calling it multi-channel, this is still a front-centred audio affair. Once again, Warner Home Video technicians have scrubbed away any age-related defects, such as pops, crackles, and hiss. This isn’t a flashy audio track, but it delivers very well, and those who appreciate the genius of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe will enjoy hearing this high-definition mix.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Audio Commentary by Historian and Archivist Jeanine Basinger with Leslie Caron: Film historian/archivist Jeanine Basinger, with a slight assist from actress Leslie Caron, provides a serviceable commentary that hits all the appropriate points, but lacks the sparkle of some of her previous efforts. Jeanine Basinger obviously possesses great affection for 'GIGI,' but tends to repeat herself and spends too much time describing the action on screen. On the plus side, she divulges some interesting production details, examines the censorship hurdles the film had to scale, and touches upon the background of principal cast and crew members, but insight is rather slim and anyone who's at all familiar with the film won't find much enlightening information here. I was really looking forward to some extensive remarks from the lively Leslie Caron, but her very brief, separately recorded comments, which sounded like they were lifted from the interview Leslie Caron gave for the documentary described below, and are only interjected a mere five times throughout this almost two-hour discussion.
Special Feature: Thank Heaven! The Making of ‘GIGI’ [2008] [1080p] [1.78:1] [36:00] ‘GIGI’ has been called the "crowning achievement of the Arthur Freed Unit at M-G-M," and this slick, absorbing documentary chronicles its history, production, and enthusiastic reception. Employing a wealth of varied interviews, rare still photos, and film clips, the piece examines Colette's original novel and the 1949 French film it inspired, the censorship issues the musical faced, the challenges of location shooting in Paris, the contributions of designer Cecil Beaton, and the film's splashy, unorthodox Broadway premiere. Leslie Caron shares a host of colourful recollections, calling Maurice Chevalier "morose" and Louis Jourdan "finicky," and we also get to hear snippets of her wisely abandoned original vocal tracks. Archival reminiscences from Vincente Minnelli, who explains his musical philosophy, are also a highlight. Contributors include: Drew Casper [Author of Vincente Minnelli and the Film Musical], Diane LeBow [Author and Colette expert], Vincente Minnelli [Director] (archive footage), Leslie Caron [Gigi], Hugh Fordin [Author of M-G-M's Greatest Musicals: The Arthur Freed Unit], Gene Lees [Lerner and Loewe biographer], Gary Giddins [Music and Film Historian], Cary Grant [Actor] (archive footage), Maurice Chevalier [Honoré Lachaille] (archive footage), Ingrid Bergman [Actress] (archive footage) and Mildred Kaufman [Former secretary to Arthur Freed] (archive footage).
Special Feature: ‘GIGI’ [1949] The Original French Black-and-White version of ‘GIGI’
Cast: Gaby Morlay, Jean Tissier, Yvonne de Bray, Frank Villard, Paul Demange, Madeleine Rousset, Pierre Juvenet, Michel Flamme, Colette Georges, Yolande Laffon, Hélène Pépée, Danièle Delorme, Alexa (uncredited), Marcel Arnal (uncredited), Mireille Carral (uncredited), Geneviève Chambry (uncredited), René Marjac (uncredited), Léo Massart (uncredited), Philippe Noiret (uncredited), Marcel Rouzé (uncredited), Louis Siccardi (uncredited), Muriel Taylor (uncredited), Georgette Tissier (uncredited) and John Van Dreelen (uncredited)
Director: Jacqueline Audry
Producer: Claude Dolbert
Screenplay: Colette de l'Académie Goncourt (novel) and Pierre Laroche (adaptation)
Composer: Marcel Landowski
Cinematography: Gérard Perrin (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 480i (Black-and-White)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: French: 1.0 LPCM Mono Audio
Subtitles: English
Running Time: 82 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Codo Cinéma
This Original French version of ‘GIGI’ [1949] Starring Daniele Delorme and Directed by Jacqueline Audry. This interesting, non-musical curio parallels the 1958 version fairly closely, but keeps Gigi very much an awkward teen until the final minutes. Jacqueline Audry directs with a light touch, but never trivializes the material, and though a slim budget precludes any ornate sets, she still evokes the atmosphere of turn-of-the-century Paris. In her film debut, Daniele Delorme makes an engaging, if plainer, Gigi, and Franck Villard nicely expresses the chronic ennui afflicting Gaston. But it's Gaby Morlay and Yvonne de Bray who grab most of the attention as Aunt Alicia and Gigi's grandmother, respectively. Warner Bros. alerts viewers to the film's unfortunate state of disrepair, especially its nicks, scratches, missing frames, and rough audio abound, but we're lucky the film exists at all, and it's interesting to compare it to Vincente Minnelli's much more lavish interpretation. The biggest visual issue is the white-printed subtitles, which require intense concentration to closely follow the dialogue. They often bleed into the image, making conversations unintelligible and keeping us so focused on deciphering their meaning, it becomes difficult to absorb the entire picture.
Special Feature: Vintage Short: ‘The Million Dollar Nickel’ [1952] [480i] [1.37:1] [10:00] A clever bit of democratic propaganda, and this 1952 title of this short refers to the 5-cent stamp required to send a letter overseas from the USA. In the war against Communism, these letters are worth a million dollars, because they counter Soviet dis-information against the United States and emphasises the power of the written word, and how letters extolling the virtues of American freedom and sent to overseas relatives living in Communist countries for a mere nickel in postage and can help stem the Communist threat in Eastern Europe. Immigrants are urged to send letters to their families and friends back in their native countries, describing their experiences in the USA. If they tell the truth in these letters, people will know that the anti-USA propaganda is untrue. A quartet of M-G-M's foreign Hollywood stars, especially Pier Angeli, Ricardo Montalban, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and Leslie Caron, speaking in their native languages, urge their fellow countrymen to get involved in this effort and use their native tongues to press the point.
Special Feature: Vintage Classic M-G-M Cartoon: The Vanishing Duck [1957] [1080p] [2.40:1] [7:04] This Classic M-G-M Technicolor CinemaScope Tom and Jerry cartoon where George brings home a singing duckling for Joan, and follows the exploits of a baby duck, but when George and Joan leave to go to a show, Tom tries to eat him. As the chase ensues, the duckling and Jerry tries to outfox a hungry Tom by using vanishing cream to scare Tom, but he soon finds some himself and gets revenge. It was the penultimate Tom and Jerry M-G-M cartoon. Cast: Red Coffey (Little Quacker voice) (uncredited), June Foray (Joan voice) (uncredited) and George O'Hanlon (George voice) (uncredited). Directors: Joseph Barbera and William Hanna. Producers: Joseph Barbera and William Hanna. Screenplay: Joseph Barbera (story) (uncredited), William Hanna (story) (uncredited) and Michael Maltese (story) (uncredited). Composer: Scott Bradley. Jack Stevens (Director of Photography) (uncredited).
Theatrical Trailer [1958] [480i] [1.37:1] [3:00] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘GIGI.’ Unfortunately, Warner Home Video has not seen fit to restore the ‘GIGI’ theatrical trailer, so it's presented in standard definition in window box format.
Finally, 'GIGI' is one of M-G-M's most beloved musicals and this charming, sophisticated tale of Parisian life and manners in the early 1900s of Paris looks and sounds better than ever, thanks to a spanking new transfer culled from restored picture and audio elements, and a nice array of supplements. One of the most pictorially ravishing and most melodically invigorating musicals ever made, ‘GIGI’ gets its definitive home video release in this splendid Blu-ray package. Excellent picture and sound quality and some worthwhile bonus features make this a release that earns my overwhelming endorsement. Fans waiting to upgrade need not hesitate, and those who haven't yet discovered the allure of ‘GIGI’ should definitely check out this stellar classic release from Warner Home Video and that is why I had no hesitation in getting this wonderful and beautiful Classic Hollywood Musical and has now gone pride of place in my Blu-ray Collection. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
