He concludes that he has developed a romantic desire for Gigi. He realizes that Gigi has become a woman whose charm and wit have set his head spinning. Gaston, angered, storms out once again.Īs Gaston walks, he reflects about Gigi. Gigi’s grandmother refuses and tells Gaston that it may ruin her reputation to be seen unchaperoned with Gaston before her reputation has even begun. He tells Gigi that she looks lovely and says that he will prove it to her by taking her to tea at the Reservoir. He storms out, then realizes his folly and rushes back to apologize.
Gaston tells her that she looks like a giraffe, and that he misses her old costumes. When Gaston returns, he is surprised and discomfited when Gigi appears in her new, adult dress. Madame Alvarez, though dubious at first, agrees to let Gigi train around the clock to prepare for Gaston’s return. During this time, Gigi’s aunt and grandmother discuss the possibility of Gigi becoming Gaston’s mistress, thereby fulfilling their plans for her. Once Gigi and her grandmother return to Paris, Gaston goes to Monte Carlo. While other women at the resort are shown holding perfect poise and giving off an air of boredom and disdain for anything unfamiliar, Gigi pulls Gaston out of his depressive rut with her carefree attitude. Gaston and Gigi spend their hours having fun together, and Honoré and Madame Alvarez reminisce about their once-passionate affair. Gaston agrees, loses, and the three travel to Trouville. Gigi makes a wager during a card game with Gaston that if he loses, he must take her grandmother and her to the seaside with him when he goes on vacation. After this affair, Gaston plans to retreat to the country, but his uncle insists on his staying in Paris and attending more parties. In response, Gaston publicly humiliates her, resulting in her attempted suicide. Gaston’s latest mistress attempts to run off with her ice skating instructor. The whole of Paris watches his every move, and Parisian high society shows unrestrained judgment towards his mistresses and him. Like his uncle, Gaston is known as a wealthy womanizer. Remaining true to her girlish yet charming personality, she finds herself having the most fun when she is with Gaston, whom she regards as an older brother. To Alicia, love is an art and a necessary accomplishment for Gigi’s social and economic future, but Gigi disdains the trivial love that a man and his mistress share. The one thing Gaston truly enjoys is spending time with Madame Alvarez (Hermione Gingold), whom he calls Mamita, and especially her granddaughter, the precocious, carefree Gilberte, also called Gigi (Leslie Caron).įollowing the “family tradition”, Madame Alvarez sends Gigi to her great aunt Alicia (Isabel Jeans) to be groomed as a courtesan, a dignified word for a mistress of a wealthy man, to learn etiquette and charm. As a charming old roué, he remarks that in Paris, marriage is not the only option for wealthy young bon vivants like his nephew Gaston (Louis Jourdan), who is bored with life.
Set in La Belle Époque of the turn-of-the-19th-cum-20th century Paris, the film opens with Honoré Lachaille (Maurice Chevalier) surrounded by members of high society in the Bois de Boulogne. GRAMMY Best Sound Track Album, Dramatic Picture Score or Original Cast André Previn GOLDEN GLOBE Best Director – Motion Picture Vincente Minnelli GOLDEN GLOBE Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Hermione Gingold GOLDEN GLOBE Best Motion Picture – Musical OSCAR Song “Gigi” – Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loeweĭavid di Donatello Awards: Best Foreign Productionĭirectors Guild of America Awards: Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Vincente Minnelli OSCAR Scoring of a Musical Picture André Previn OSCAR Cinematography – Color Joseph Ruttenberg
OSCAR Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium Alan Jay Lerner Music adapted and conducted by: André Previn Starring: Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan, Maurice Chevalier, Hermione Gingold, Eva Gabor, Jacques Bergerac, Isabel Jeans What more do you want? It really is just a wonderful movie. Directed by Liza’s father, music conducted by Mia’s husband. Gigi went on to become the most Oscar winning film of all time. Sixty-three years ago today, the film Gigi premiered at the Royale Theatre in New York City to immediate affection.