Gigi is a coltish young girl growing up in turn-of-the-century Paris, where the war of the sexes is fiercely waged. Quite unlike our modern era, where the refined gentleperson is scandalized by the tabloid travails of Mlle Jennifer Aniston or M. Chris Brown, the ladies and gentlemen of the Belle Epoque would consider such affairs a bore.
In Gigi's day, to be counted a success in love a gentleman had to inspire at least two attempted suicides, and a spectacular lady might toss the gift of a diamond necklace into the face of royalty. All of Paris sought the perfect balance between worldly cynicism and romantic idealism. In l'amour - as in l'guerre - hypocrisy, deceit, artifice, treachery, cunning, why, even honest affection - could be utilized to win the battle!
Leslie Caron as Gigi
Our story centers around a wealthy and cultured man of fashion who discovers he is in love with a young Parisian girl. The adorable Gigi is willful, exuberant, and chafing under the strict tutelage of her elegant Aunt Alicia, a Grand Cocotte, or courtesan of some renown.
Courtesans like Gigi's Aunt Alicia were the most educated women in Belle Epoque France. They were trained in languages, philosophy and literature, and were frequently among the only women allowed into a library. Intelligent and charming, such women were meticulously taught to be well-mannered, alluring and entertaining.
Courtesans like Gigi's Aunt Alicia were the most educated women in Belle Epoque France. They were trained in languages, philosophy and literature, and were frequently among the only women allowed into a library. Intelligent and charming, such women were meticulously taught to be well-mannered, alluring and entertaining.
The finest courtesans were those that could win patrons that desired her company and wit more than her body. It is in this outrageous milieu, where love is bloodsport, that our young heroine comes into her own.
Marriage is not forbidden to us -
but instead of getting married 'at once',
it sometimes happens we get married 'at last'!
it sometimes happens we get married 'at last'!
Love, my dear Gigi, is a thing of beauty like a work of art,
and like a work of art it is created by artists!
The greater the artist, the greater the art! - Aunt Alicia
Gigi is based on a 1944 novelette by French writer Colette, who published close to 50 novels written in an intimate and explicit style, liberally sprinkled with autobiographical elements involving torrid flings and romantic obsession.
Colette
Controversial and glamorous, Colette flaunted her love affairs with the most scintillating men and women of her day. For a time she even worked in the Moulin Rouge, where her scandalous Egyptian-themed pantomime - which included an onstage lesbian kiss - caused a near-riot.
Gigi is directed by Vincente Minelli with music by Alan Jay Lerner (lyrics) and Frederick Loewe (music), conducted by André Previn. Costumes, scenery and production design are by Cecil Beaton. It stars then-unknown ballerina Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier, Louis Jourdan, Hermoine Gingold, Eva Gabor, Jacques Bergerac and Isabel Jeans.
Gigi won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture. In 1991, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant" and is considered the last great MGM musical.
If, gentle reader, you are prepared to put away your childish notions and learn something of real romance - of l'amour as it was understood by the ladies and gentlemen of the Belle Epoque - Gigi is for you!
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JustJuli
David Dean Bottrell
Shivaun Nestor
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Comments
Thanks for the recommendation. Tres Fabulous!
[You might want to add "open call" to your tags.]
WOOF
the thought of her does make me sigh
like the feel of lips upon my thigh...
How you, Monsieur!
I confess to being unimpressed by Colette, but perhaps it's because I have to read her in translation. Any recommendations on specific novels/translations by Colette by this distinguised group of romantics?
This was a fabulous movie! What a performance of a life time and the breathless style and femininity. Right on!
Stranded in the Barrens, a ransom for an intelligent conversation, eh Chariot?
Louis Jourdan was the quintessential handsome sexy Frenchman. Leslie Caron a study in innocence but a woman lurking over her shoulder. Brilliant choice my dear man. Another Absinthe for you?
In this wonderful film, Chevalier was the perfect example of gentleman of taste, style, diplomacy and 'old world' charm. He shows that romance is for all ages and always about love.
Grand choix de votre film préféré! Merci beaucoup
Rated for romantic style
Nevertheless, I shall endeavor to add a little romance to the discussion at hand. Gigi is indeed a lovely piece, and Leslie Caron was once an intense object of desire for me, even more so from her role in The L-Shaped Room.
For this who love the sort of elevated semi-seduction film typified by Gigi, I heartily recommend a little-seen favorite of mine available both in English and in French with subtitles -- "Ridicule".
I fell in love with Leslie Caron in my teen years while watching her in "The L Shaped Room." What an amazing actress (and what legs, too!).
“Gigi” was one of the first movies my parents took me to see when I was young. To this day I can remember Maurice Chevalier singing “Thank Heaven For Little Girls” as an ode to Gaston’s sudden revelation that Gigi was no longer a little sister type of friend.
Rated and appreciated.
thing? A box of chocolates and grapes to peel?
I do remember happy lifetime spent as a gay male in Paree
during the 19th Century. What a time it was.
(I LOVE GIGI, haven't seen it since childhood. Perhaps I'll
rent it for ce soir)
I was but a little girl when this movie came out, yet I was completely entranced by it even though much of it was completely over my head.
If I recall, didn’t Colette basically get Audrey Hepburn the role of Gigi on Broadway, helping get her career off the ground? I think she (Hepburn) was also offered the role in the film before Leslie Caron – but said no because of commitments w/Funny Face.
Thanks for a romantic, musical post, Monsieur!
However, Maurice Chevalier singing when "Thank Heaven For Little Girls” always seemed like a pedophile to me.
And to think, I've wasted all these years on porn! Is there a biography on Colette? Does is Amazon have it? And will they send it in a plain brown wrapper?
Sir, I wait for your answers with panted-breath and sweaty, hairy-pams.
My dear Mme Think ~ I did feel I had to do a bit of research to make sense of this great film. There is an odd quality to it, as if there were a big, naked elephant in the parlor and everyone is attempting to hide it with bouquets of posies. An understanding of Colette and the role of the courtesan are two reasons why I think the film would benefit from a more knowing, perhaps slightly edgier remake.
This link takes you to a solid review of Colette's work. http://www.nytimes.com/books/99/10/17/specials/colette.html#reviews
I love her 'Letters', as well as 'Cheri', 'Break of Day', and 'The Blue Lantern'. But of course, that's just me.
Peruse the list, read the reviews, read a taste online perhaps, and then find the one that starts to click for you.
Enjoy!
Consider Gigi the newest addition to the REAL ROMANCE section of my collection. (no anistons here)
As for her fiction, I would recommend The Gentle Libertine to start, translated from the French by Rosemary Benet (I think that's her name - the authorship appears on the book as R.C.B. By Colette.)
Bon Chance!!!!
Mme Stellaa ~ Add that to the accusation that Chevalier was a Nazi-sympathizer.
As are you, of course...kisses!
So who would you pick to play Gigi in the remake?
You and your OS fans might enjoy the book: Wild Girls by Diana Souhami. It is a fantastic historical romp through the saphic Paris in the 20's. I was page-flipping and note-taking and other-book-ordering because this book opens a treasure chest of gossip.
My book is LITTERED with post-its!
If Paris romance is your thing, this book will delight you.
(I apologise in advance since this book will suck up vital brain space and there is danger of it being a procrastination springboard!)
It's not that the writing is exceptional(I find it so) but the way Souhami delivers a staggering amount of history, gossip and facts in a way which makes one crazy to know about all the other friends, lovers and players who so famous, notorious, rich, wild, etc.
I really wish someone would make a movie.
On a personal note, Monsieur Chariot, I read your posts eagerly, looking to soak up as much of the je ne sais quoi that a boulevardier and bon vivant such as yourself offers so graciously to a poor boy from the mean streets of Brooklyn such as myself.
Carry on with the Great Work of making the world a little more civilized.
~
promenading through,
with love, light and wit,
doth Salon imbue!
Mercí!
....................................
For the remake I was imagining the following:
Honoré Lachaille (formerly Chevalier): Gerard Depardieu
Gaston Lachaille (formerly Jourdan): Olivier Martinez
Aunt Alicia (formerly Jeans): Isabel Adjani or Fanny Ardant
The role of Gigi is a difficulty, because the actress would have to be quite young and therefore a relative newcomer. Were she younger, perhaps Audrey Tautou?
She would let me sleep cuddled up next to her, my head on her belly. And yet she too was scandalous. Often the guys (note I'm not calling them gentlemen) at the near-by golf course would call to say, Gigi is here. Much fun read M. Chariot. And I can't count how many of Colette's novels I've read.
All that said, I loved the movie and enjoyed it again, watching with my son and his wife - despite a new perspective on Chevalier as a creep.
So I very much support your idea of a remake. I'd like to see a post-postmodern version with, dare I suggest here, Sean Penn in the Chevalier role? This is not the movie you envision, but perhaps both yours and mine would be fun to see. I'll watch yours if you'll watch mine.
It was surprisingly empty theater we found. I couldn't help wondering at its emptiness. It was a matinee, but, this was Gigi. And George Hamilton.
And what was that piano doing on stage? Shouldn't it have been in the orchestra pit, which looked mysteriously empty from where we sat.
No one dared voice their doubts. Dad looked entirely confident that any minute now, all questions would be resolved. Any minute now, the orchestra members would troop in, take their seats and begin the overture. Any minute now . . .
The curtain went up without benefit of the overture, or of an orchestra. The onstage piano began to tinkle a tune. George Hamilton strode out, to our family's great releif. Dad was looking stricken.
It went on that way for an eon. There were no songs sung. No dancing girls. We sat in stunned silence as the truth finally dawned: What we were seeing was an adaptation of the original Colette story. A French bedroom farce, by the look of it.
At intermission, we all but ran to the lobby and out into the summer afternoon where I remember grabbing a parking meter by its silvery head and using it to support myself as I howled with laughter. There was no helping it. All the build-up, all the humming and the anticipatory playing of the album had come to this. Tears streamed down my face. Everyone was laughing. And laughing hardest of all -- or maybe second-hardest of all -- was my father, who knew a good joke when he saw one, even if he was at the center of it.
Thanks for triggering a treasured memory, M.