1958--Gigi, Vincente Minnelli

1958--Gigi, Vincente Minnelli
Nominated: Auntie Mame, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Defiant Ones, Separate Tables
Should Have Won: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Be Sure to See: The Fly, Touch of Evil, Vertigo
"The only people who make love all the time are liars."--Gaston Lachaille

     The only good things to be said about Gigi is the sets were elaborate, the costumes were great and Leslie Caron is beautiful. Beyond that, Gigi is one of the worst movies to win best picture. Breaking the fourth wall, we are told by, um, I don't remember who he was that it is 1900 Paris and young Gigi (who is 15 in the novel, I assume she is not much older than that in the film) forms a friendship with Gaston, the wealthy man in town who offers her lavish things, though she longs for things money can't buy. Her grandmother educates her to be a lady and wants the pair to be together (even though that is a little pervy). 

     There are a few songs in the movie but none really stand out. There is one where Gaston sings by a pond with swans in it and there is a little fence in the pond that is completely unnecessary to the plot. The fence's soul purpose is as a prop to keep the swans in the foreground for us to see instead of swimming deeper into the pond.  This is obvious as the swans keep trying to swim through it to get to the other side. Just something I noticed and I must say it was the best part of this horrible movie for me. Oh, yeah, I didn’t mention the song. It is about how Gigi is just a child and a brat but then the song turns sweet...then sour again...then sweet again. Afterward, of course, he ends up proposing. 

     Another song in this movie is “Thank Heaven for Little Girls” which is also, I might add, in one of the worst movies ever made, My Father The Hero. I'm not sure how many movies have featured this song but it is 0-2 in the ones I've seen. The movie is terrible but if you must see it, look for the sets and the costumes; they are nice.

     

     Leslie Caron must have been a hot ticket for a time landing roles in to Oscar winning movies in the decade, though neither were particularly any good. Fans of Johnny Depp might remember her as Madame Audel in Chocolat, another best picture nominee that I didn't see. I like Johnny Depp and I can dig a chick flick if it is good, but Leslie Caron hasn't delivered for me so far so I think I'll pass. And you should pass on Gigi unless you are determined to see it.