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An American In Paris


Date: 1951
Type: Musical / Romance
Rating: 4 Stars 4/5
Colour: Yes
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Producer: Arthur Freed

Comment/Synopsis

An American painter (Gene Kelly) in Paris is discovered by a welathy divorcee (Nina Foch ) whilst he falls in love with a with a woman (Leslie Caron) going out with one of his friends. This is one of the classic MGM musicals. It is a Hollywood version of Paris and the plot is nothing much, though Nina Foch brings some charm and elegance to the film and Leslie Caron brings her ballet skills. What makes the film are the song and dance numbers between Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron that reaches their height in the number where he his tap dancing and she is ballet dancing on her toes. There is a final scene with a long dance sequence that was very expensive to make but epitomises the MGM technicolour musical and led to winning the Best Picture Oscar.

Oscars

Won - Best Picture
Won - Writing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design and Music
Nomination - Best Director Vincente Minnelli
Nomination - Editing

Music and Lyrics
George and Ira Gershwin
Production
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
American In Paris