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By
NICK ZEGARAC
"An American in Paris" is the charming Arthur Freed musical Oscar winner about a painter, Jerry Mulligan (Gene Kelly). An ex-G.I., Mulligan is a starving artist until a wealthy playgirl, Margo (Nina Foch), takes an interest in both him and his work. But Jerry, seemingly oblivious to Margo's romantic advances, begins to fall for young Parisian, Lise Bouvier (Leslie Caron). The wrinkle of the plot occurs when Jerry learns that Lise is engaged to marry his best friend, Henri Baurel (Georges Guétary). The Gershwin score is among the finest produced for a musical with such indelible hits as "Embraceable You," "S'wonderful," "I Got Rhythm" and the immortal "American in Paris ballet."
It was Gene Kelly who discovered Leslie Caron while on a vacation. She was performing in a Paris ballet. He brought her to America to star in this film. Apart from the opening sequence, which sets up the film with vintage travelogue shots of Paris, the entire production was shot on a backlot at MGM. Reportedly, when Irving Berlin learned that Arthur Freed, Kelly and director, Vincente Minnelli were planning to end the film with a nearly 20 minute dance sequence and no dialogue, he curiously commented, "I guess you know what you're doing." Indeed they did. "An American in Paris" became the first musical to win Best Picture since "The Great Ziegfeld" made some twenty years before!
Warner Brothers Home Video has presented this film on DVD in an adequate looking transfer that is a direct import from the MGM/UA initial release. Colors are well defined, nicely balanced and fully saturated. Occasionally there is a noticeable change in the color depending on the film stock. Age related artifacts are tempered. There are very few instances of digital anomalies for an image that is generally smooth throughout. The audio is mono but nicely balanced. Occasionally, dialogue sounds a bit strident and the music carries a slightly muffled characteristic. But these are expected shortcomings for a soundtrack of this vintage. There are no extras. |
