Some classics never die and An American in Paris is one of those
Golden Age Hollywood classics that was perfectly directed by Vincente Minnelli
in 1951 which is still one of the greatest musical productions of
this era.
It was critically acclaimed by the Academy and managed to
win six Academy Awards and even today, has dated quite well. The
movie itself is based on Gershwin's 1928 symphonic composition, "An
American in Paris" and revolves around a former US solider called
Jerry Mulligan (Gene Killy) who decides to retire in France and
become an artist.
As fate intervenes, Jerry meets and falls in love
with an assistant in a perfume store called Lise (Leslie Caron) who
is engaged to an older man, all the while trying to avoid a wealthy
American patriot called Milo (Nina Foch). It's a complex love
triangle that director Minnelli uses drama, romance and comedy to
progress. But where the movie does shine is through the spectacular
music and dance that showcases the talents of all those involved,
especially the quick feet of Kelly.
Some of the dance scenes are
truly fabulous and even though some "modern" movies have
attempted to recreate the glamour of Hollywood's Golden Age, many
have failed. If you are a fan of movies from yesteryear or love
musicals than An American in Paris is a timeless tale that can be
enjoyed by everyone.
The transfer to Blu-ray is quite remarkable
and contains vibrant colours, sharp images thanks to the
restoration techniques of Warner Bros. It's amazing that a film of
this age can look so good after these so many years from deep blacks
and extremely clear pictures.
Although the sound has been remixed
and restored to an extent, it only supports Dolby Digital which is
still impressive and does sound crystal clear throughout the movie.
When it comes to extras, enthusiasts will enjoy the audio
commentary, rare interviews with the director and the casts, behind
the scene documentaries and various other tidbits to give you a true
insight into the making and phenomena of An American in Paris.
Let's dance!
