Gigi (film)

• Release Date: 1958
• Director(s): Vincente Minnelli
• Writer(s): Alan Jay Lerner
• Principal Actors and Roles: Leslie Caron (Gigi); Maurice Chevalier (Honoré Lachaille); Louis Jourdan (Gaston Lachaille); John Abbott (Manuel); Eva Gabor (Liane d'Exelmans); Hermione Gingold (Madame Alvarez); Isabel Jeans (Aunt Alicia)
• Book / Story Film Based On: Gigi by Colette

Gigi, the last of MGM’s great studio musicals, was based on the 1945 novelette of the same name. The novelette, written by Sidonie Gabrielle Colette (usually referred to simply as Colette), tells the story of a young Parisian girl who is being raised to become a courtesan. Over the course of the story, young Gigi attracts not only the interest but the love of a high society man who finally woos and wins her hand in marriage.

At the time the film was made, Colette’s novelette had already been used as the basis for a French film and Broadway play. While there had been interest in making an American film from the book, Hollywood’s production code stood in the way. Minor revisions to the storyline, however, satisfied critics, and the high-cost, extravagant musical was made.

While Gigi was not explicitly based on the recently-completed film My Fair Lady, many of the same people were involved with the production, and many elements were similar. Arthur Freed, who had produced My Fair Lady, also produced Gigi. Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Lowe were asked to create the music and book. Cecil Beaton, who designed costumes for My Fair Lady, was also costume designer for Gigi. Louis Jourdan, in the role of Gigi’s lover Gaston, sings his songs in the same "patter-song" style used by Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady. Audrey Hepburn, who played the lead role in My Fair Lady, was the first choice to play the lead in Gigi, though she was unavailable at the time. With all these similarities, however, New York Times reviewer Bosley Crowther noted in his 1958 review: "Perhaps Messrs. Lerner, Loewe and Beaton have stolen Gigi from themselves, but they have no reason to regret or disguise it."

Gigi, despite its difficult origins, became a major classic film. It broke all records for Academy Awards at the time (its record was not broken until 2003), and has won Golden Globes and other major recognitions.

Plot

The story of Gigi is narrated by the character of Honore Lachaille, an older man who appreciates the finer things of life—including wine, women, and song. He introduces the viewer to young Gigi, a teenaged tomboy living with her grandmother, Mme. Alvarez, in turn-of-the-century Paris. He also introduces his nephew, Gaston. Gaston is a playboy who has become bored of the game of romance. Gaston can relax only at the home of Mme. Alvarez, and in the company of young Gigi, whom he regards as a younger sister.

As the story begins, Gigi has been sent to her Aunt Alicia to be taught the family trade. That is, she is to be trained in the art of love in order to become a courtesan. Gigi is taught to select and light a cigar, to walk and sit with grace, and to recognize the worth of gentlemen’s gifts of jewellery. Despite her family connections, Gigi is too young to fully understand the life for which she is being prepared.

Gaston has dropped by and invites Gigi to accompany him to the ice skating rink. There, the two encounter Gaston’s present mistress, Lianne, accompanying the skating instructor. Later that evening, at a nightclub, Gaston realizes that Lianne has lost her charm for him. Honore suggests that if Gaston is to leave Lianne, he should do so with flair, and so Gaston publically pays off her skating instructor and then ends their relationship.

Eager to show that the breakup has had no emotional impact, Gaston continues to attend society events but finds himself bored. He arrives at Mme. Alvarez’s home with chocolates and spends the evening playing cards with Gigi. Gigi hears that Gaston is headed for the seaside. She convinces Gaston to take her along if she wins at cards—and so Gaston, Gigi, and Mme. Alvarez take a trip to Trouville-by-the-Sea.

At the seaside, Gaston and Gigi have a marvelous time enjoying the ocean, riding donkeys, and otherwise having innocent fun. Meanwhile, Honore and Mme. Alvarez accidentally meet and reveal that they were once lovers.

Back in Paris, Mme. Alvarez and Aunt Alicia, discussing Gaston’s interest in Gigi, decide that it’s time to prepare the girl for the possibility of a liaison. Gigi, dressed and behaving like an elegant lady, greets Gaston. Gaston is appalled and storms out, only to return to ask Gigi to tea at a society restaurant. Mme. Alvarez forbids this, saying that Gigi is too old to be seen with a man in public unchaperoned.

Gaston makes an offer for Gigi as a courtesan, which Mme. Alvarez accepts on Gigi’s behalf. When Gaston repeats his offer to Gigi herself, however, he is refused. Gigi explains that, while she loves him, she is not interested in a relationship that is expected to end when Gaston tires of her.

After Gaston leaves, however, Gigi changes her mind. She joins Gaston for an evening at Maxim’s, and behaves just as a courtesan should. Gaston presents Gigi with a beautiful emerald bracelet, and Honore congratulates Gaston on finding such a lovely mistress.

At Honore’s words, Gaston realizes what he is doing to the woman he loves, and takes Gigi home. He walks the streets confused before returning to Gigi’s home and asking for her hand in marriage.

Significance

Gigi was the last of the great MGM studio musicals, and, in 2015, a stage version opened on Broadway. In 1958, it won a record nine Academy Awards: best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, best art direction, best cinematography, best costume design, best film editing, best original score, and best original song. It also won three Golden Globe awards and was nominated for three more.

Additional awards included the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Musical, the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing—Feature Film, and the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture.

Awards and nominations

Won

• Academy Award (1958) Best Art Direction
• Academy Award (1958) Best Cinematography (Color)
• Academy Award (1958) Best Film Editing
• Academy Award (1958) Best Original Score
• Academy Award (1958) Best Original Song
• Academy Award (1958) Best Picture
• Academy Award (1958) Best Director: Vincente Minnelli
• Academy Award (1958) Best Screenplay (Adapted): Alan Jay Lerner
• Academy Award (1958) Best Costume Design: Cecil Beaton
• Golden Globe (1959) Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy)

Bibliography

Colette, Gabrielle Sidonie. Gigi. 1944. France: Livre de Poche, 1972. Print.

Croatto, Peter. "History Lesson! Learn How Colette, Audrey Hepburn, Leslie Caron & Vanessa Hudgens Transformed Gigi." Broadway.com. Broadway.com, 6 April 2015. Web. 8 Dec. 2015.

Crowther, Bosley. "‘Gigi,’ Fair Lady of Filmdom; Leslie Caron Stars in Colette Title Role Chevalier and Jourdan Support in Style." New York Times. New York Times, 16 May 1958. Web. December 8, 2015.

"Gigi." TCM. Turner Entertainment Networks, 2015. Web. 8 Dec. 2015.

Wiley, Mason. Inside Oscar: The Unofficial History of the Academy Awards. New York: Ballantine, 1996. Print.