Gigi: A Delightfully Charming Musical Romance (Blu-ray)

The Film:

In 1944, French writer Colette published her novella "Gigi," which was first adapted into a French film starring Daniele Delorme in 1949, and then a Broadway play in 1951, starring a then-unknown Audrey Hepburn. However, it wasn't until 1958 that this story of a young Parisian girl getting groomed in the ways of being a lady truly exploded into popularity when it was adapted into a movie musical by director Vincente Minnelli, screenwriter Alan Jay Lerner, and composer Frederick Loewe.

In fact, the film was so popular that it ended up not only receiving critical acclaim, but also swept all nine of its categories at the Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. To this day, it remains just as beloved as it ever was, and as it approaches its 70th anniversary, Warner Bros. is celebrating this wonderful classic by re-issuing the special edition Blu-ray that came out way back in 2009, making it the perfect time for a revisit to see why this gorgeous production has remained so well-liked after almost seven decades.

Taking place in Paris in the year 1900, we meet Honore Lachaille (Maurice Chevalier) and his nephew, the young & wealthy Gaston (Louis Jourdan), who is rather bored with life, but gets some pleasure out of spending time with Madame Alvarez (Hermione Gingold) and her granddaughter Gigi (Leslie Caron), who is currently being trained for her place in society as a dutiful wife by her Aunt Alicia (Isabel Jeans). When Gaston catches his latest mistress having an affair, he humiliates her and plans to leave town for a while, but his uncle insists that he stay and try to find someone new. After he takes Madame Alvarez and Gigi on a weekend getaway to the sea, the former decides to plot with her sister to groom the latter to be Gaston's mistress. It seems only natural given how much the two enjoy each other's company, but will their little scheme work, or is this a pairing that's not meant to be?

So what is it about "Gigi" that has made this little musical endure for nearly 70 years? First and foremost, it's simply a delightful & charming tale that has quite a lot to offer over the course of its two hours. Its story may not hold any surprises, but this sweet romance keeps you entranced with its intriguing characters, who are brought to life by a marvelous ensemble of talented stars like Maurice Chevalier, Leslie Caron, and Louis Jourdan, all of whom play their parts to perfection.

Then, of course, there's the wonderful music, featuring an Oscar-winning score that's filled with a plethora of memorable songs, including "Thank Heaven for Little Girls," "It's a Bore," "The Night They Invented Champagne," "I Remember It Well," and "Gigi," which won the Oscar for Best Song. These are the kind of songs that you'll find yourself singing/humming long after the film is over, which is exactly what one would want from a great musical, and only goes to show how talented the team of Lerner & Loewe was.

On top of all of that, the film is simply gorgeous, a visual feast for the eyes that features dazzling costumes, art direction, and cinematography, which makes it absolutely no surprise that it won Oscars for all three. Its ninth Oscar was for its remarkable Film Editing, which, for a musical, is certainly no easy task, but editor Adrienne Fazan deftly assembles the film, musical numbers and all, with tremendous skill, allowing it to flow in a beautiful manner.

In the end, it's really not that hard to see why it was so immensely popular at the time, and why it continues to be so well-liked now. "Gigi" may be set at the start of the 20th century, but its romantic tale is rather timeless. Sure, the "societal training" that Gigi undergoes is not commonplace anymore, but the search for love, and all the struggles, misunderstandings, and confusion that comes with it, never grows old, and for that, it will always remain a relatable tale that audiences will continue to enjoy for a long time to come.

Video/Audio:

"Gigi" comes to Blu-ray in a 2.4:1, 1080p High Definition transfer of excellent quality. The image is beautifully bright & vibrant throughout the film's entire two-hour duration, highlighting its extraordinary production design & costumes. Likewise, the 5.1 Dolby TrueHD audio track is wonderful, giving you all of the dialogue and, of course, the classic songs & score in outstanding quality. Overall, Warner Bros. has done a marvelous job in both areas for the re-release of this beloved musical.

Special Features:

Commentary by Historian Jeanine Basinger and Star Leslie Caron

Thank Heaven! The Making of Gigi (36 Minutes): A fascinating look behind the scenes of the making of the film, featuring interviews with Leslie Caron and Vincente Minnelli.

Gigi (1949 Version) (83 Minutes): The non-musical first screen version of the story, starring Daniele Delorme and directed by Jacqueline Audry.

The Million Dollar Nickel (10 Minutes): A vintage MGM short.

The Vanishing Duck (7 Minutes): A classic CinemaScope cartoon.

Conclusion:

For nearly 70 years, Vincente Minnelli's "Gigi" has been delighting audiences with its delightful & charming romantic tale, which features wonderful music & songs, a marvelous ensemble, and stunning costumes, art direction, and cinematography, making it easy to see why the nine-time Oscar-winning film was so popular way back then and why it continues to be so beloved now.

Score: 4.5/5

Now available on Blu-ray.

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