1h 54min | Drama, Musical, Romance | 26 August 1951 (London)
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Stars: Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant, Georges Guétary, Nina Foch.
Gene Kelly ... choreographer
Jeanne Coyne ... dance-in (uncredited)
Carol Haney ... assistant dance director (uncredited)
Gene Kelly ... director: Lise introduction dance sequence (uncredited)
Alex Romero ... assistant choreographer (uncredited)
In the Tap! Appendix for Gene Kelly.
Nominated for 8 Oscars, won 6, including Best Picture.
Songs performed (27 chapters with menu; Wikipedia):
- ch3. "Nice Work If You Can Get It" – Sung by Georges Guétary
- ch4. "Embraceable You" – Danced by Leslie Caron
- ch5. Fascinating Rhythm, Played by Oscar Levant on Piano
- ch5. "By Strauss" – Sung by Gene Kelly, Georges Guétary, and Oscar Levant (dubbed by Mack McLean)
- ch8. "I Got Rhythm" – Performed by Gene Kelly and children
- ch14. "Tra-la-la (This Time It's Really Love)" – Performed by Gene Kelly (vocal and dance) and Oscar Levant (vocal and piano)
- ch16. Our Love Is Here to Stay, Sung by Gene Kelly, Danced by Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron
- ch17. "I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise" – Sung and Danced by Georges Guétary in his show
- ch19. Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra – Played by Oscar Levant and The MGM Symphony Orchestra conducted offscreen by Johnny Green, and onscreen by Oscar Levant
- ch22. " 'S Wonderful" – Sung and Danced by Gene Kelly, Sung, Whistled, and Hummed by Georges Guétary
- ch26. An American in Paris Ballet – Danced by Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, and Ensemble
Gershwin meets Impressionism meets Gene Kelly & Vincente Minnelli, with Oscar Levant's personality and piano work, Leslie Caron's dancing, Georges Guétary singing, and with all the experts behind the scenes. What's not to like?
OK, here's a quibble: I don't think LC is pretty enough for GK to fall for her in the jazz club. If he had seen her move, yes, but just based on her face, no. But her dancing is a big asset, so I agree with her being here.
The featurette on disc 2 is worth watching even if you've listened to the commentary track.
MGM, dir. Minnelli; 10
