GigiFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gigi is a 1944 novel by the French writer Colette about a wealthy cultured man of fashion who discovers he is in love with a young Parisian girl being groomed for a career as a grande cocotte and eventually marries her.
It has been made into several plays and films:
* Gigi (1948 film) - French musical film starring Danièle Delorme
* Gigi (1951 play) - Broadway stage play
* Gigi (1958 film) - Academy Award winning musical film starring Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan, and Maurice Chevalier
* Gigi (musical) - musical comedy play starring Alfred Drake, Daniel Massey, Agnes Moorehead, and Karin Wolfe.
The Broadway version of the play, adapted by Anita Loos, opened on November 24, 1951, starring little known actress Audrey Hepburn playing the lead character (the play ran for six months and led to Hepburn's American film debut in Roman Holiday). When the same play opened in the West End of London, Leslie Caron played the lead character and this helped to propel her as the star who would be selected for the 1958 movie version.
Gigi (Two-Disc Special Edition)Directed by Vincente Minnelli
Average customer review:
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #228 in DVD
- Released on: 2008-09-16
- Rating: G (General Audience)
- Formats: Color, DVD-Video, Original recording remastered, Restored, Special Edition, NTSC
- Original language: English
- Number of discs: 2
- Running time: 115 minutes
Amazon.com essential video
Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's 1958 direct-to-screen follow-up to their My Fair Lady was--miraculously--every bit as memorable as that stage smash. Set in fin-de-siècle Paris and based on a Colette story, Gigi also is about a girl (Leslie Caron) on a lower rung of society who blossoms into Cinderellahood before our eyes and ears. Thank heaven for Hermione Gingold and Maurice Chevalier as her mentors, and Louis Jourdan as her prince. The screenplay writer and lyricist Lerner always said that Gigi's title song was his favorite of all he'd written, and it's easy to see why--"Gigi" is a transcendent anthem to being transformed by love from an unexpected source. The entire score, including "Say a Prayer" (which had been cut from My Fair Lady), "I Remember It Well," "The Night They Invented Champagne," and "Thank Heaven for Little Girls," comprise a sparkling, rare soundtrack recording that stands alone and can be enjoyed and understood by those who have not yet seen the movie, deprived souls that they are. The winner of nine Academy Awards (plus a special Oscar for Chevalier), including Best Picture, Gigi was the last great MGM movie musical and one of the best. --Robert Windeler
Customer Reviews
50th Anniversary Edition of Gigi has many additions
Gigi won the Academy Award for best movie 50 years ago. This was the last of the great Arthur Freed MGM musical masterpieces.
You will not be dissapointed with this special 50th anniversary edition. In addition to the wonderful movie, it includes awesome extras. For example, Leslie Caron does a commentary. There is also a "Making of Gigi" documentary. Of particular interest is the original 1949 French movie of the original Gigi. This one is before the Lerner and Lowe score.
A Musical Must
This wonderful movie is a MUST HAVE for anyone who loves musicals and never tires of the delightful experience of viewing this great film. Wonderful music, sophisticated and witty dialog, gorgeous costumes and scenery are all brought together with consumate skill. The acting is outstanding, especially the performances of the uncle, Maurice Chevalier, and Gigi's grandmother, Hermione Gingold.
Although the film was released in 1958, it has a timeless appeal for audiences of all ages. I enjoyed it when it was first released, my children and grandchildren have seen and loved it. I highly recommend watching and re-watching Gigi, especially if you're into romance and beauty!
Most Of These reviews do not apply to this release
The Following is a comment on Amazon's providing correct info to purchasers.
Most of the reviews displayed here do not apply to this most recent, 2 disc release of Gigi. They can't possibly because this version is not yet available and isn't due out til Sep, 16. After doing a little research this release is in widescreen and the proper running time is
116 mins.
Amazon, you are great at providing a huge and updated selection of DVDs
to purchase, but your providing improper and incorrect info and not keeping the reviews separate as they pertain to each release of the same movie is probably costing you sales.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and to access reviews of movies because it greatly assists purchasers in more carefully selecting what they want, but each review needs to be kept specific to that particular version or release. At times, there are multiple releases of the same movie and, over time, each release gains many reviews. When a subsequent release of the same movie becomes available the reviews from the previous release or releases somehow end up in the ad for the newer one(sometimes even before it's released, as in the case of this edition of "GIGI") creating confusion among potential customers. The same also applies to the upcoming release of "How The West Was Won".
For more info on specs and extras concerning this latest release of "GIGI", please see review here by Dave "Davelandweb" posted July 21, 2008
Thanx for letting me use your orange crate.
Gigi (Two-Disc Special Edition)
