Gigi (1958) Review

Title: Gigi
Year: 1958
Director: Vincente Minnelli 
Country: US
Language: English

Vincente Minnelli's last notable work, Gigi (1958) was a critical and commercial success at the time of its release. It won nine Oscars at the Academy awards, including Best Director and Best Picture. In present time Gigi is fairly morally suspect, especially with a song like "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" headlining the picture. Much of the film will not date well with time. 

Weary of the conventions of Parisian society, a rich playboy (Louis Jordan) and a youthful courtesan-in-training (Leslie Caron) enjoy a platonic friendship which may not stay platonic for long.

Gigi is as charming as it is creepy. On one hand we are treated to lavish production, gorgeous costuming and remarkable cinematography. Its use of color, which was used sparingly at the time, was beautiful. On the other hand this is a story about a middle aged man grooming a 16 year old mistress. The only memorable song "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" comes across as quite predator. 

Gigi was able to hold my attention with its miraculous interpretation of 1900's Paris. It had a better sense of the time period than Moulin Rouge (2001). I found Gigi herself quire endearing, her character arc was fairly satisfying albeit I highly doubt women presently would consider her empowering. 

Like Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady, the men in this picture are quite unlikable, don't dance and talk-sing their way through musical numbers. Gigi is a hard film to review because it's a very problematic - yet entertaining picture. For better and for worse "They don't make them like this anymore!"