Gigi (1958)

We will begin our Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe collection with one of my ultimate favorite musicals. Gigi started out as a novel by the famous French author, Colette, and was adapted for film by Anita Loos and in 1958 won 9 Academy Awards including Best Picture! It did not become a Broadway musical until the '70s, hard to believe!

Romantic comedy is at its best as Gaston, the wealthy hero, goes through life chasing frivolous women, without realizing that the little obnoxious Gigi (played by Leslie Caron) is blossoming into an enchanting woman. Thank goodness for little girls. Without them what would little boys do? These are the words sung by Maurice Chevalier, the narrator and Gaston's flirtatious Uncle. Hermione Gingold and Eva Gabor lead the wonderful supporting cast.

This music is absolutely enchanting! While I was attending BYU, this became our "Sunday film", and we would watch it, as we got ready for church. Since we lived in a studio apartment, everyone would watch it. My favorite songs are: "Thank Heavens for Little Girls", "The Night They Invented Champagne" (since my family plays a great deal of cards, this scene is hilarious; we do play poker, but we don't cheat), "Gigi" (this beautifully composed music is quite famous; I was shocked when I heard it playing in the background of the teenybopper comedy, Clueless), and "Say a Prayer for Me Tonight' (I adore Leslie Caron who plays Gigi). Phenomenal movie!