Gigi

A film review by Christopher Null - Copyright © 2001 Filmcritic.com

Why doesn't Gigi disturb more people?

The premise: a wealthy Parisian (Louis Jourdan) is training a young girl (Leslie Caron) to be his mistress. He and his ribald uncle (Maurice Chevalier) even sing songs like "Thank Heaven for Little Girls." It's a musical about pedophilia -- and this is one of Hollywood's most glorified song-and-dance films. Even more bizarre is that Caron was 27 when she was tapped to play young Gigi. She looks like she's about 16.

I suppose people get caught up in the famous songs like "Ah Yes, I Remember It Well," the colorful location photography of Gay Paree, and zee out-RAY-juss Frahnch accents. Sad to say, Gigi is all style, and nothing in the way of substance.

The new two-disc DVD includes commentary from a film historian with Caron, classic shorts and cartoons, and remastered sound. Disc two includes the rare 1949 French version of Gigi (not a musical), plus a new, additional documentary about the film.

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Rating

2.0 out of 5 Stars

Cast and Crew

  • Director: Vincente Minnelli
  • Producer: Arthur Freed
  • Screenwriter: Alan Jay Lerner
  • Stars: Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier, Louis Jourdan, Hermione Gingold, Eva Gabor
  • MPAA Rating: PG