Gigi (1949)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Jacqueline Audry

Writers:

Colette (novel)
Pierre Laroche (adaptation)

Release Date:

5 October 1949 (France)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Gilberte is a sixteen year old girl raised by her aunt and grandmother to be a demimondaine. But she's not ready for that yet...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel | Character Name In Title

Cast

Gaby Morlay	...	Tante Alicia
Jean Tissier	...	Honoré
Yvonne de Bray	...	Mamita
Franck Villard	...	Gaston
Paul Demange	...	Emmanuel
Madeleine Rousset	...	Liane d'Exelmans
Pierre Juvenet	...	Monsieur Lachaille
Michel Flamme	...	Sandomir
Colette Georges	...	Minouche
Yolande Laffon	...	Madame Lachaille
Hélène Pépée	...	Andrée
Danièle Delorme	...	Gilberte dite 'Gigi'

Also Known As:

Gigi (USA)

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Studios Eclair, Epinay-sur-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, France

Company:

Codo Cinéma

Trivia:

The main theme that permeates the score was not composed by the film's credited composer, but by F.D. Marchetti, who wrote it in 1932. It was the basis for the popular song, "Fascination", with English lyric by Dick Manning. The song's copyright was renewed in 1945 and again in 1954. It was used to great effect, resulting in its most successful run on the hit parade, in the film Love in the Afternoon (1957).

Movie Connections:

Version of Gigi (1958)

Soundtrack:

Fascination

A real delight!

This delightful film succeeds because of the talents of all who contributed to it, but mostly because of the fresh, light performance of Daniele Delorme in a role that could have been so much less. The young girl's mother and aunt expend extraordinary efforts to develop her into a high class mistress (without letting her in on the plan). This sordid idea is handled with a sure, light touch, succeeding because of the direction, writing and performances, especially that of Delorme, who is sweet but not too sweet, innocent but not too innocent, and above all bright, fresh and unaffected. Conventionally made, but surefooted, deft and captivating. (Not a musical, and not to be confused with the later slick Hollywood version.)

The TCM print (the same shown theatrically in recent years) has the old-fashioned subtitles that fade away completely when the scene has a white background. If you don't know French you may too frustrating to be worth watching.