'Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer" is a 2002 documentary, narrated by Stanley Tucci.
Featuing interviews with Betsy Blair, Leslie Caron, Cyd Charisse, Betty Comden, Nina Foch, Betty Garrett, Adolph Green, Arthur Laurents, Fayard Nicholas, Andre Previn, Debbie Reynolds,
The documentary begins with his childhood, and early dance training, which took him to Broadway, where he featured in musicals 'Leave it to Me', 'The Time of Your Life' and the leading role in 'Pal Joey'.
The documentary features some of the only known footage of Gene dancing in 'Pal Joey', as well clips from two early appearances in 'The Kelly Brothers' (1932) and 'The Cap and Gown Revue' (1932).
Many films from throughout Gene's career are represented including:
For Me and My Gal (1942) - features the song 'For Me & My Gal'
Thousands Cheer (1943) - features the song 'Let Me Call You Sweetheart'
Cover Girl (1944) - features the song 'Long Ago and Far Away' & 'Alter Ego'
Anchors Aweigh (1945) - features the song 'I Begged Her' & 'The Worry Song'
Ziegfeld Follies (1945) - features the song 'The Babbit and the Bromide'
Words and Music (1948) - features the song 'Slaughter on Tenth Avenue'
The Pirate (1948) - features the songs 'The Pirate Ballet' & 'Be A Clown'
Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949) - features the songs 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' & 'Strictly USA'
On the Town (1949) - features the songs 'New York, New York', 'On the Town' & 'A Day in New York Ballet'
Summer Stock (1950) - features the songs 'You Wonderful You', 'Dig-Dig-Dig- Dig for Your Dinner'
An American In Paris (1951) - features the songs 'I Got Rhythm' & 'An American In Paris Ballet'
Singin' in the Rain (1952) - features the songs 'Singin' in the Rain', 'Moses Supposes', 'Dreaming Of You', 'Would You?', 'Good Morning' & 'The Broadway Melody Ballet'
Invitation to the Dance (1956) - features excerpts from all 3 dance segments
Brigadoon (1953) - features the song 'Heather on the Hill'
It's Always Fair Weather (1955) - features the songs 'March, March', 'The Binge', 'I Like Myself'
Omnibus (1958) (TV Series) - features a clip from episode 'Dancing: A Man's Game'
Hello Dolly! (1969) - features the song "Before the Parade Passes By"
That's Entertainment! (1974) - features a clip from Kelly's narration
"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!
'Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer" is a 2002 documentary, narrated by Stanley Tucci. Featuing interviews with Betsy Blair, Leslie Caron, Cyd Charisse, Betty Comden, Nina Foch, Betty Garrett, Adolph Green, Arthur Laurents, Fayard Nicholas, Andre Previn, Debbie Reynolds, The documentary begins with his childhood, and early dance training, which took him to Broadway, where he featured in musicals 'Leave it to Me', 'The Time of Your Life' and the leading role in 'Pal Joey'. The documentary features some of the only known footage of Gene dancing in 'Pal Joey', as well clips from two early appearances in 'The Kelly Brothers' (1932) and 'The Cap and Gown Revue' (1932). Many films from throughout Gene's career are represented including:
For Me and My Gal (1942) - features the song 'For Me & My Gal'
Thousands Cheer (1943) - features the song 'Let Me Call You Sweetheart'
Cover Girl (1944) - features the song 'Long Ago and Far Away' & 'Alter Ego'
Anchors Aweigh (1945) - features the song 'I Begged Her' & 'The Worry Song'
Ziegfeld Follies (1945) - features the song 'The Babbit and the Bromide'
Words and Music (1948) - features the song 'Slaughter on Tenth Avenue'
The Pirate (1948) - features the songs 'The Pirate Ballet' & 'Be A Clown'
Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949) - features the songs 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' & 'Strictly USA'
On the Town (1949) - features the songs 'New York, New York', 'On the Town' & 'A Day in New York Ballet'
Summer Stock (1950) - features the songs 'You Wonderful You', 'Dig-Dig-Dig- Dig for Your Dinner'
An American In Paris (1951) - features the songs 'I Got Rhythm' & 'An American In Paris Ballet'
Singin' in the Rain (1952) - features the songs 'Singin' in the Rain', 'Moses Supposes', 'Dreaming Of You', 'Would You?', 'Good Morning' & 'The Broadway Melody Ballet'
Invitation to the Dance (1956) - features excerpts from all 3 dance segments
Brigadoon (1953) - features the song 'Heather on the Hill'
It's Always Fair Weather (1955) - features the songs 'March, March', 'The Binge', 'I Like Myself'
Omnibus (1958) (TV Series) - features a clip from episode 'Dancing: A Man's Game'
Hello Dolly! (1969) - features the song "Before the Parade Passes By"
That's Entertainment! (1974) - features a clip from Kelly's narration
Thursday, 5 July 2012
Chandler (1971)
Star birthday... Warren Oates
Star birthday... Warren Oates
Warren Oates was born on 5 July 1928 in Depoy, Kentucky. He began his career appearing in plays for the University of Louisville Little Theatre Company in the early 1950s before being selected to appear in an episode of TV's 'Studio One' in 1957. After appearing in a number of TV shows, he made the transition to film. He had a prolific film career over 25 years before his death from a heart attack on 2 April 1982.
Hardboiled detective Chandler (played by Oates) is hired to watch and protect a missing government witness, who happens to be beautiful French woman, Katherine Creighton (played by Caron). Chandler becomes a dead man walking as he and Katherine learn no one can be trusted, not even the government.
Closing remarks
Sadly the film is very slow and dull. It pretty much goes nowhere, and the most exciting part of the film is at the 85 minute mark, when it finishes. The film is so bad, the director later apologized for it, and alleged he was denied access to the editing process, where it was recut without his permission, adding in scenes he intended to delete, and removing others.
The concept of the film was good, and with a better script could have become a popular film franchise.
Leslie Caron was born in France on 1 July 1931, and began her career as a ballerina. She was discovered by film legend Gene Kelly, who brought her to Hollywood and cast her in 'An American in Paris' (1951), making her an International star overnight.
She is one of few classic Hollywood stars who are still active in their profession, appearing in the 2011 short film 'L'age Parfait'.
Hardboiled detective Chandler (played by Oates) is hired to watch and protect a missing government witness, who happens to be beautiful French woman, Katherine Creighton (played by Caron). Chandler becomes a dead man walking as he and Katherine learn no one can be trusted, not even the government.
Closing remarks
Sadly the film is very slow and dull. It pretty much goes nowhere, and the most exciting part of the film is at the 85 minute mark, when it finishes. The film is so bad, the director later apologized for it, and alleged he was denied access to the editing process, where it was recut without his permission, adding in scenes he intended to delete, and removing others.
The concept of the film was good, and with a better script could have become a popular film franchise.
