Gigi on DVD (1958)

Not as bad as I'd thought

beantrees from Bristol [Highly rated reviewer] , 21/07/2005

I wasn't sure what to expect with this one: I love musicals, but Minnelli's overblown direction isn't always to my taste. Arthur Freed's guiding hand seems to moderate him here, though, and the acting's not bad: Caron has come on in leaps and bounds since 'An American In Paris', and is very engaging here. There are a few songs to hum to, but 'Lerner' & 'Loewe' are no 'Cole Porter', and there's an astonishing absence of dance, so it's not really my kind of musical.

Worth a couple of hours of your time if you like this sort of thing - the costumes were great, and the plot quite sweet and entertaining - but don't expect the full-blown musical treatment. And skip the bits with 'Maurice Chevalier' in!

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Looks great but the songs and story aren't quite up to the same

McClennan from St Helens , 26/10/2005

Wonderfully put together MGM musical, with a most vibrant look to the film. Taking inspiration from impressionists (not the Bobby Davro type) and using it as a basis for the film aesthetics works exceedingly well when the film doesn't. A fairly average story with mixed songs (most of them distracting rather than adding to the film) is countered with some good acting performances. The story and songs, not good enough, but the look of the film is enough to make this a pleasure to watch.

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GIGI PURE PLEASURE

A customer from CHESTER ENGLAND , 28/01/2005

This is a timeless classic film. So nice to see it restored but shame it did not have 5.1 sound. Oh well cant have eveything I guess.I recall seeing it as a child and being entralled.No they certainly dont make them like this now! Rent it.

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Thank heaven for...Gigi

A customer from London, UK , 15/09/2004

This is one of my personal favouites. It's a good old fashioned musical with some cracking tunes.

Gigi tells the tale of a young girl being brought up to be a professional mistress but who ends up falling in love (you can guess the ending). There are some very touching moments and also some big laugh out loud moments.

The costumes are beautiful and the scenery, whilst obviouly painted on, is just as pretty.

Gigi is artistic and entertaining. Come at it with an open mind and little expectation and you will enjoy the ride.

Now, how do I get to Maxims....

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Not as bad as I'd thought

beantrees from Bristol [Highly rated reviewer] , 21/07/2005

I wasn't sure what to expect with this one: I love musicals, but Minnelli's overblown direction isn't always to my taste. Arthur Freed's guiding hand seems to moderate him here, though, and the acting's not bad: Caron has come on in leaps and bounds since 'An American In Paris', and is very engaging here. There are a few songs to hum to, but 'Lerner' & 'Loewe' are no 'Cole Porter', and there's an astonishing absence of dance, so it's not really my kind of musical.

Worth a couple of hours of your time if you like this sort of thing - the costumes were great, and the plot quite sweet and entertaining - but don't expect the full-blown musical treatment. And skip the bits with 'Maurice Chevalier' in!

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Tres charmant

RJNeb2 [Highly rated reviewer] , 27/03/2008

There's charm aplenty in this big Oscar winner from 1958 although the plotline is as thin as its waif-like heroine, here being groomed to enter turn-of-the-century Parisian high society. But the chief attractions are Cecil Beaton's hugely glamorous costumes and some wonderful tunes, including 'Thank Heaven for Little Girls' and 'I Remember It Well'. However, how it managed to beat 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' or 'The Defiant Ones' to the Best Picture Oscar is a bit of a mystery.

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