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First it was a novel, written by French novelist Colette. Then, in 1949, it was a French comedy. But, in 1958, when director Vincente Minnelli turned it into a musical, Gigi hit Oscar gold.
Gigi is the story of a young French girl named Gilberte—or Gigi for short. Gigi (Leslie Caron) lives in a Parisian flat with her grandmother (Hermione Gringold) and her opera-singing mother—and, each week, her Aunt Alicia (Isabel Jeans) tries to teach her to be a lady. But tomboy Gigi wants nothing to do with Parisians’ obsession with love.
Meanwhile, Gaston Lachaille (Louis Jourdan), a rich and famous friend of the family, is dealing with his own problems with love. When he discovers that his girlfriend has been cheating on him, he ends their relationship. All he wants is to stay home and enjoy the time alone, but his playboy uncle, Honoré (Maurice Chevalier), instructs him to go out and paint the town red—with a new young woman on his arm every night.
Since Gigi’s on the verge of becoming a lady—and Gaston’s once again unattached—the women in Gigi’s family decide that it’s time to make themselves a match.
With its charming settings and gorgeous costumes, this 50-year-old musical is definitely a sight to behold. Just about everything about Gigi is bold and colorful—from the gowns on the women strolling through the park to Gigi’s small but sumptuous flat to the characters’ personalities. The writing is both smart and silly—with plenty of comical moments that are presented in overdone French accents. And the memorable singalong songs—like “Thank Heaven for Little Girls” and “I Remember It Well”—are magnificent.
Caron is adorable as the tomboyish, headstrong duckling who eventually turns into a beautifully cultured and grown-up swan. Yet, as with another classic musical, My Fair Lady, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for poor Gigi in the end—despite the film’s supposedly happy ending. And I often felt a bit troubled by the old-fashioned story. I had to keep reminding myself that this 50-year-old film takes place more than a century ago—back when it was perfectly natural to try to match your granddaughter with a much-older family friend who’s always been like a big brother to her. Back then, I suppose, that wasn’t quite as creepy as it seems now. Ah, those outrageous turn-of-the-century Parisians!
So while the characters in Gigi are lovably eccentric and the Oscar-winning cinematography truly is spectacular, the story still keeps it off my list of favorite old movies. It’s an entertaining (and pretty) film to watch every once in a while, but it’s not one that I pull off the shelf whenever I’m in the mood for a classic click flick. I still prefer Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
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