fliXposed: nina foch

"This is Paris. And I'm an American who lives here" - Gene Kelly (as Jerry Mulligan in 'An American in Paris')

'An American in Paris' is a 1951 MGM musical comedy starring Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Georges Guétary, Oscar Levant, Nina Foch and Hayden Rourke.

Jerry Mulligan (played by Kelly) is an American painter living in Paris. His friend, Adam Cook (played by Levant) is a struggling concert pianist, and an associate of French entertainer, Henri Baurel (played by Guétary). Henri is in a relationship with Lise Bouvier (played by Caron), however things are complicated when Jerry falls in love with Lise. Meanwhile, society woman Milo Roberts (played by Foch) is interested in Jerry.

In 1993, the film was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry for being culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.

Watch the trailer:

Musical program

"Embraceable You" (Instrumental) - danced by Leslie Caron
"Nice Work If You Can Get It" - Georges Guétary
"By Strauss" - Gene Kelly, Georges Guétary & Oscar Levant
"I've Got Rhythm" - Gene Kelly
"Bidin' my Time" (Instrumental)
"Someone to Watch Over Me" (Instrumental)
"Tra-La-La (This Time It's Really Love)" - Gene Kelly & Oscar Levant
"Our Love Is Here To Stay" - Gene Kelly (with Leslie Caron)
"I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise" - Georges Guétary
"Concerto in F for Piano and Orchesta" - Oscar Levant & the MGM Orchestra
"S'Wonderful" - Gene Kelly & Georges Guétary
"An American in Paris Ballet" - Gene Kelly & Leslie Caron

Gene Kelly also recorded "I Got a Crush On You", which was deleted from the film.

Clip from 'I Got Rhythm' - Gene Kelly & the children

Song: "I'll Build A Stairway to Paradise" - Georges Guétary

Song: "By Strauss"

Song: "S'Wonderful" - Gene Kelly & - Georges Guétary

The American in Paris Ballet

In the stunning 18 minute 'An American in Paris' ballet, Kelly & Minnelli create a lavish showcase for classical ballet, tap dancing and athletic exuberance, set against the backdrop inspired by classic impressionist paintings and the amazing music of George Gershwin.

A ballet on this scale had never before appeared in an American film. The British film 'The Red Shoes' had attempted something similar a few years earlier. The ballet cost half a million dollars to stage, and took over a month to film.

I love this ballet so much, I had to include a selection of images showing its many magical moments...

Introducing Leslie Caron in her first film

Introducing Leslie Caron

'An American in PAris' was Leslie Caron's first film. While travelling in Paris, Gene Kelly noticed Leslie Caron dancing, and convinced her to return to Hollywood with him. The ironic thing was at the time Leslie Caron didn't know who Gene Kelly was.

Did you know...

Leslie Caron

Fred Astaire was also considered for the role of Jerry Mulligan
Maurice Chevalier was considered for the role of Henri Baurel
Celeste Holm was considered for the role of Milo Roberts
Cyd Charisse was considered for the role of Lise Bouvier, however she became pregnant
Marge Champion was offered the role of Lise Bouvier, however she declined as she did not want to appear without her husband, Gower Champion
Nina Foche contracted chicken pox, which put a hold on filming - this led to the idea of 'An American in Paris Ballet'
George Guetary for 2 and a half years younger than Gene Kelly, and had to have his hair greyed
Leslie Caron's film debut
Ira Gershwin sold the title of 'An American in Paris' to Arthur Freed, on the condition every song in the film must come from the Gershwin song catalogue
No dialogue is spoken in last 20-21 minutes of this film
At age 38, Gene Kelly was 19 years older than his co-star Leslie Caron
A stage adaptation followed in 2008, featuring many of the film's songs, as well as other Gershwin standards such as "They All Laughed", "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" and "Love Walked In"

Awards and nominations

Academy Award winner for Best Picture
Academy Award winner for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Color)
Academy Award winner for Best Cinematography (Color)
Academy Award winner for Best Costume (Color)
Academy Award winner for Best Music, Scoring of a Picture
Academy Award winner for Best Writing, Story & Screenplay
Academy Award nomination for Best Director
Academy Award nomination for Best Film Editing
BAFTA Award nomination for Best Film from any Source
Cannes Film Festival nomination for Grand Prize of the Festival
Directors Guide of America Award nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
Golden Globe winner for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Golden Globe nomination for Best Director
Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture Actor - Musical or Comedy (Gene Kelly)
National Board of Review Award winner for Top Ten Films
Writers Guild of America Award winner for Best Written American Musical

Gene Kelly was also awarded an honorary Academy Award for his "versatility as an actor, singer, director and dancer, and specifically for his brilliant achievements in the art of choreography on film" - it would be his only Oscar.

Closing remarks

A joyous celebration of ballet, French impressionist painting and Gershwin music. 'An American in Paris' is one of MGM and Gene Kelly's greatest achievements. There's not much else I can say about this film but go and watch it!

Scaramouche (1952)

Star Birthday... Janet Leigh

Janet Leigh was born on 6 July 1927, and is the mother of actress Jamie Lee Curtis.

Janet's love for film began during her childhood. Her immigrant parents would take her to the movies and leave her there all day while they worked, as it was cheaper than a babysitter. In 1945 she was discovered by actress Norma Shearer, who helped secure her a contract with MGM.

Janet enjoyed a prolific career saw her co-star opposite almost every many popular leading man including Van Johnson, Van Heflin, Anthony Perkins, James Stewart, Robert Ryan, Tom Drake, John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Errol Flynn, Walter Pidgeon and Tony Curtis, who she would later marry.

Janet Leigh is most remembered for playing the ill-fated Marion Crane, murdered in the shower in Alfred Hitchcock's film, 'Psycho' (1960).

Janet Leigh died on 3 October 2004 after suffering a heart attack.

Recommended viewing

The famous image of Janet Leigh screaming in 'Psycho'

Scaramouche (1952)

Scaramouche is a 1952 romance adventure film directed by George Sidney and starring Stewart Granger, Eleanor Parker, Janet Leigh, Mel Ferrer, Richard Anderson, Nina Foch, Lewis Stone and John Litel.

The swashbuckler is based on the historical novel by Rafael Sabatini. The 8 minute sword-duel scene took 8 weeks of preparation, features 87 fencing passes and is the longest sword fight in film history.

Watch the trailer:

The plot

Janet Leigh as Aline

In France, just before the French Revolution, Queen Marie Antoinette (played by Foch) asks her cousin, Noel, the Marquis de Maynes to find and stop dangerous rebel known as Marcus Brutus. Meanwhile Andre Moreau (played by Granger), the bastard son of a French nobleman, prevents his beloved Lenore (played by Parker) from marrying another man, and agrees to marry her.

Andre soon meets Aline de Gavrillac de Bourbon (played by Leigh), and falls in love with her, but sadly determines she is his long-lost half sister. Aline does not know this.

Marquis tracks down Marcus Brutus, who happens to be Andre's best friend, Philippe de Valmorin (played by Anderson). After Philippe is killed, Andre vows to get revenge upon the villainous Marquis.

Stewart Granger disguised as Scaramouche holds
Eleanor Parker as Lenore

Shortly after Andre hides out in a commedia dell'arte performance troupe, where he disguises himself as the character Scaramouche.