Gigi [DVD] [1958] starring: Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier, Louis Jourdan, Hermione Gingold, Eva Gabor

Publisher: Warner Home Video
Release date: 2nd June, 2003
Media: DVD

Format

• Colour
• PAL

Similar Products

• An American In Paris - Special Edition [DVD] [1951]
• My Fair Lady [DVD] [1964]
• High Society [DVD] [1956]
• Easter Parade [DVD] [1948]
• Singin' In The Rain (2 Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [1952]
• See more...

Editorial Reviews

Vincente Minnelli's 1958 adaptation of Colette's story about a girl (Leslie Caron) groomed as a courtesan--but desired as a wife by a Parisian playboy (Louis Jordan)--won a lot of Oscars, but it also has the unusual distinction of being an MGM musical shot on location in the City of Lights. What a musical it is (by Lerner and Loewe): Maurice Chevalier and Hermione Gingold crooning "Ah, Yes, I Remember It Well", plus the songs "Thank Heaven for Little Girls", "Gigi", "I'm a Bore", and "She's Not Thinking of Me". Director Vincente Minnelli (Some Came Running, Meet Me in St Louis) makes a sumptuous, dreamy, almost laid-back affair of it all and the indispensable cast is forever etched into memory. Hollywood's long-running infatuation with continental grace and manners, the memory of a much earlier time imported to American movies through such immigrant directors as Ernst Lubitsch, may have finally come to a gentle end with this film. --Tom Keogh

Click here to add a review!

Average rating - (more reviews)

Rating: - Fabulous Blu-ray restoration of musical masterpiece!

One of my rare criticisms of Amazon would be their failure to distinguish between reviews of ordinary DVD's and that of a Blu-ray update. For many films they are worlds apart and Gigi is no exception. I have been a fan of Gigi for more years than I care to remember. As a young man I adored the film and would seek out cinemas to watch the film again and again. Imagine my disappointment when I bought the ordinary DVD to show on my new large projection screen home cinema! To some extent the quality was acceptable when viewed on a standard size television but the picture imperfections were clear as soon as it was magnified on an 8 foot screen! And then there was the problem of the lip synch.

To my amazement this is a problem that is rarely discussed in Amazon reviews or indeed anywhere else. I know that I am more susceptible to this problem than many others. However, in some cases on ordinary DVD's the sychronisation is out by nearly half a second. 'There's Something About Mary' and 'Prelude to a Kiss' are examples of bad lip synch and sadly the ordinary Gigi DVD is equally bad. I know that you can make slight adjustments on modern home cinema equipment but the synchronistion is often too far out to be corrected.

Eureka! Problem solved on every Blu-ray disc that I have bought and in particular with the Blu-ray version of Gigi. Last night we watched this wonderful film in the Blu-ray version. It was like watching a new film. Fabulous revitalised colours and a pin sharp picture for most of the time. Such detail! The sound quality had also been much improved although this was less obvious than the benefit in video quality. There are also some very interesting extras which include an early 'Tom & Gerry' carton, a complete version of the original 1949 French version of Gigi (non-musical) and a very informative film on the making of this version. This is filmed mainly in HD and includes interviews with Leslie Caron and others who made the film. Fascinating. The extras also include the original trailer for the film and this is a further illustration of the sea difference in quality between the different versions.

I admit that I hesitated for some months before I made this upgrade purchase. I am just so glad that I bought this upgrade. It is worth every single penny and more. What a wonderful restoration of this fabulous masterpiece.

Rating: - Trip down memory lane

Forgot what an easy going film this was. Just the thing for a wet afternoon curled up on the sofa would recommend it with a box of chocs!!!

Rating: - gigi

GIGI is a good old fashion musical with nice music and a story to match. come a wet day put your feet up a nice box of chocolate and put Gigi on and enjoy

Rating: - musical comedy

Ideal for my 90 year old husband, he adored it. Lovely to see it again.

Rating: - Gigi - the movie

Gigi - the movie

Released in 1958, this was the last great MGM musical of the 1950s and was a real treat. It received 8 Oscars that included Arthur Freed for best picture in his penultimate production, Alan Jay Lerner for the screenplay, created from a novel by Colette, and for the title song, Andre Previn as music director and Vincente Minnelli as film director. The story, set in late 19th century Paris, is that of a young girl (Leslie Caron), raised to follow family tradition as a courtesan, and her suitor, Louis Jordan. Maurice Chevalier had a substantial part as Jordan's grandfather. The songs were by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe - and there were lots of them, including the title song, `Thank heaven for little girls', `The night they invented champagne', `I remember it well' (carried off with aplomb by Chevalier with Hermione Gingold), `I'm glad I'm not young anymore', and still others. The song, dance and humour were all thoroughly entertaining.

Review Pages: 1 2 3 Next »

Browse Categories

• - Musicals
• - Classic
• - Film Musicals
• - DVDs from £4.97
• - All DVD Special Offers
• - DVD
• - PG
• - Standard Edition
• - Region 2
• - 1950 - 1959
• - English