Great songs, great acting, a real 'feel good' movie
Disadvantages:
Lack of additional material on the DVD
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Another great MGM musical, directed by Vincent Minnelli.
The story An American in Paris is a film about a G.I., Gerry Mulligan (Gene Kelly) who stayed in Paris to paint after the war. Despite not being filmed on location, the film starts out with views of the famour sights of Paris, with Kelly introducing himself and his love of Paris:
"Brother if you can't paint in Paris, you might as well give up and marry the boss's daughter!"
He is struggling financially and selling his art on the street when a rich lady stops to buy his paintings and becomes somewhat of a sponsor to him. She has ideas of romance with him, but while out for a drink with her, he has an episode of love at first sight with another girl (played by Leslie Carron).
I don't want to give the ending away, but the film comes to a delightful conclusion after an excellent dance sequence based on famous French paintings.
The acting Gene Kelly is his usual cheery, athletic dancing self. His co-star Oscar Levante is a great supporting actor and gives a good balance to Kelly's singing and dancing with his excellent piano playing. This was Leslie Carron's first Holywood film, having been discovered in Paris by Kelly and she shines marvellously throughout. Nina Foch is great as the society woman after Kelly's heart. Georges Guetary stars also, singing alongside Kelly.
The songs Popular Gershwin tunes were used throughout the film, including S'wonderful, Our Love is Here to Stay and I Got Rhythm. They are well performed, and Kelly's choreography creates the amazing dance numbers we are used to.
The DVD I would prefer more extras provided on the DVD as I enjoy watching all the background information about films. As it is, there is only one disc which has no extras on.
Overall, a great film and another great musical from the Arthur Freed unit at MGM.
More details
Story
Good
Special Effects
Standard
How does it compare to others by the same director?
Outstanding
Value for Money
Excellent
What format are you reviewing?
DVD
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Second World War. Keen to sample some of the city's legendary romantic lifestyle he becomes an art student and joins a colony of painters living in a Montmartre garr...
![An American In Paris [1951]](http://picnic.ciao.com/uk/65337806.jpg)
