Les Girls (1957)

After writing a tell-all book about her days in the dance troupe "Barry Nichols and Les Girls", Sybil Wren (Kay Kendall) is sued for libeling her fellow dancer Angele (Taina Elg). A Rashomon... See full summary »

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

John Patrick (screenplay), Vera Caspary (story)

Stars:

Gene Kelly, Mitzi Gaynor, Kay Kendall

Won 1 Oscar. Another 7 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gene Kelly	...	Barry Nichols
Mitzi Gaynor	...	Joanne 'Joy' Henderson
Kay Kendall	...	Lady Sybil Wren
Taina Elg	...	Angèle Ducros
Jacques Bergerac	...	Pierre Ducros
Leslie Phillips	...	Sir Gerald Wren
Henry Daniell	...	Judge
Patrick Macnee	...	Sir Percy
Stephen Vercoe	...	Mr. Outward
Philip Tonge	...	Associate Judge

Storyline

After writing a tell-all book about her days in the dance troupe "Barry Nichols and Les Girls", Sybil Wren (Kay Kendall) is sued for libeling her fellow dancer Angele (Taina Elg). A Rashomon-style narrative presents the story from three points of view. Sybil accuses Angele of having an affair with Barry (Gene Kelly), while Angele insists that it was actually Sybil who was having the affair. Finally, Barry gives his side of the story.

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Plot Keywords:

dance | dancer | audition | told in flashback | obsession | 

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Taglines:

They're the most vivacious...vexacious...flirtatious personalities in gay Paree!

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 December 1957 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Cole Porter's Les Girls

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sol C. Siegel Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints) (Westrex Recording System) Mono (35 mm optical prints)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

On the DVD, Taina Elg says the original cast was supposed to include Cyd Charisse as the American girl, Leslie Caron as the French girl and Kay Kendall as the English girl. Cyd Charisse decided to do Silk Stockings instead, so Mitzi Gaynor took her part. At one point, Kay Kendall didn't want to do the film and Taina Elg was tested for her part. Ms. Kendall took the part after all, but then Leslie Caron withdrew. Tania Elg was tested for THAT part and received her first major film role.

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Goofs

When Barry walks away from Joy after he first fakes heart problems at the outside market, Joy's voice can be heard telling the salesperson in French that she wants celery. But as she is turning her head to watch Barry leave, you can clearly see that her mouth is not moving.

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Quotes

Joy Henderson: Would you like a glass of water?
Barry Nichols: Why, do you want to soak your feet?

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Connections

Referenced in Have Gun - Will Travel: Les Girls (1959)

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Soundtracks

"Zampa"
(excerpt)
by Louis Joseph Hérold

User Reviews

Kay Kendall makes it a delight

This would have been an enjoyable film without the enchanting comic actress Kay Kendall, but with her it's hilarious. It's a musical comedy version of "Rashomon"; a trial for libel where all the principals give wildly different versions of the same events. Gene Kelly, Taina Elg, and even Mitzi Gaynor are all fun, but it's Kendall who carries the show. She is one of those rare performers who can make you laugh with just a look on her face, but when given something like a drunk scene she can make you weep with laughter. Who cares if she could neither sing nor dance. Good score, too.

Sadly, Kendall made only two more films before her untimely death, what a loss to the world.