Last night I watched, for the umpteenth time, Vincente Minnelli’s production of Gigi starring Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan, Maurice Chevalier, and Hermione Gingold. I saw it for the first time when it came out in 1958, no doubt at the drive-in. As I watched it yet again a number of thoughts occurred to me and I thought I’d pass them on.
Leslie Caron is, of course, charming in it. She’d appeared in the 1951 Anita Loos play adapted from Colette’s novella and the show was, essentially, written as a vehicle for her—something to help her get out of the waif image in which the megahit Lili (which I also saw at the drive-in) had put her. However, what struck me is that if it’s Gigi’s story, it is told through Gaston’s, Louis Jourdan’s, eyes. I’d need to prove it with a stop watch but I believe he has the most screen time of any character, substantially more than Gigi.
Consider the movie in context. Lerner and Loewe had a Broadway hit with My Fair Lady; it was still running. Gigi is also a vaguely Pygmalianish story, this time set in France rather than England, with tableaux of boulevardiers rather than a chorus of cockneys. They clearly wanted to reproduce their hit. However, I think that Jourdan succeeds where Harrison failed: he makes a thoroughly unpleasant character delightful. Despite his leading man good looks he was essentially a character actor and, I think, quite a skilled one. It may not be giving Harrison enough credit. I’ve mentioned before that personalities tend to come over the footlights to me. I believe that’s the reason I find Marilyn Monroe or Buster Keaton simply too sad to watch despite their talents.
BTW, Louis Jourdan is still alive. He’s over 90, living in France with his wife of 65 years.
The movie was also something of a swan song for Maurice Chevalier. He got to, probably was enouraged to, do all his old music hall shtick. He was seventy when he made it although IMO his best acting job was yet to come as Panisse in Fanny. Note, especially, the marvelous scenes with the old pros, Hermione Gingold or John Abbott (the valet). Their timing, style, and delivery are simply delicious—qualities that I think only come with experience.
Like many Minnelli shows it’s a high concept movie and visually stunning. So much attention to aesthetic detail.
It’s certainly one of the great Hollywood musicals. I wouldn’t mind seeing it on the big screen again.
