Gigi

Rating: 2.5/5

Gigi was such a disappointment. I had somewhat high hopes for it, given that it was directed by Vincente Minelli and also starred Leslie Caron, but my hopeful expectations were far from met.

Yes, at times Gigi's cinematography is really great and the use of color and costume is wonderful. Minelli has a clear knack for making his films incredibly bold and vibrant. But none of that could make up for the awful story that this musical tells. It unfolds the tale of a young girl, full of life and spunk, openly defying the "sophisticated young lady" expectations that everyone keeps trying to force her to be. But instead of a triumphant story, where the heroine gets to remain her lively and unique self, you get a story where the plot's resolution is that breaking the spirit of originality and taming the "inelegant" ways of a woman is a triumph. A round of applause for male chauvinism and dated ideals of a woman's role in the world.

There are a fair share of musicals that have won the title of Best Picture, and many of them are wonderful, but Gigi certainly is not.

1958 Best Picture Winner - Gigi

1958 Best Director Winner - Vincente Minnelli

1958 Best Writing, Screeplay Based on Material from Another Medium Winner - Alan Jay Lerner

1958 Best Cinematography, Color - Joseph Ruttenberg

1958 Best Art Direction - Set Direction, Black-and-White or Color Winner - William A. Horning, E. Preston Ames, Henry Grace & F. Keogh Gleason

1958 Best Costume Designm Black-and-White or Color Winner - Cecil Beaton

1958 Best Film Editing Winner - Adrienne Fazan

1958 Best Music, Original Song Winner - "Gigi"

1958 Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture Winner - Andre Previn