1h 43min | Comedy, Musical, Romance | 13 February 1957 | Color, WS
Director: Stanley Donen
Stars: Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire, Kay Thompson.
Stanley Donen ... song staging
Fred Astaire ... choreographer
Eugene Loring ... choreographer
Jeanne Coyne ... assistant dance director (uncredited)
Patricia Denise ... assistant dance director (uncredited)
Sam Ledner ... dance coordinator (uncredited)
Dave Robel ... assistant dance director (uncredited)
To me, Kay Thompson is the star of this film, and it's really her only starring role in film (4 credits total). The featurette on disc 2 about her is worthwhile.
Songs performed (19 chapters with useless menu), written by Gershwin, except * by Edens:
- ch1. Overture: Funny Face/'S Wonderful/Think Pink!, Performed by Fred Astaire
- ch2. Think Pink!*, Sung by Kay Thompson and Girls, including Virginia Gibson
- ch5. How Long Has This Been Going On?, Sung by Audrey Hepburn
- ch7. Funny Face, Sung by Fred Astaire, Danced by Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn
- ch8. Bonjour, Paris!*, Sung by Fred Astaire, Audrey Hepburn and Kay Thompson
- ch10. Let's Kiss and Make Up, Sung and danced by Fred Astaire
- ch12. He Loves and She Loves, Sung by Fred Astaire, Danced by Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn
- ch13. On How to Be Lovely*, Sung by Audrey Hepburn and Kay Thompson
- ch16. Clap Yo' Hands, Sung and Danced by Fred Astaire and Kay Thompson
- ch19. 'S Wonderful, Sung and Danced by Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire
The story is fun, with AH more interested in visiting her philosophic hero than becoming a fashion model. But reality reveals itself, and priorities change. AH is such an old soul that the romance with FA doesn't bother me too much, but there is 30 years between them.
Pretty colors and locations, wonderful creativity from Donen & Avedon, glorious Gershwin tunes, cute dances.
Paramount, dir. Donen; 8+
