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An American in Paris Overview:

An American in Paris (1951) was a Musical - Romance Film directed by Vincente Minnelli and produced by Arthur Freed and Roger Edens.

SYNOPSIS

One of the greatest of 1950's screen musicals is a happy collaboration between the grace of athleticism of Kelly and the colorful palette of Minnelli. An American G.I. lingers in Paris after the war to study painting and soon falls in love with Caron, an engaged mademoiselle, much to the chagrin of his romance-minded benefactress. Features a seventeen-minute, avant-garde ballet choreographed by Kelly to George Gershwin's unbeatable melodies.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

An American in Paris was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1993.

Academy Awards 1951 --- Ceremony Number 24 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Art DirectionArt Direction: Cedric Gibbons, Preston Ames; Set Decoration: Edwin B. Willis, Keogh GleasonWon
Best CinematographyAlfred Gilks; Ballet Photography by John AltonWon
Best Costume DesignOrry-Kelly, Walter Plunkett, Irene SharaffWon
Best DirectorVincente MinnelliNominated
Best Film EditingAdrienne FazanNominated
Best Music - ScoringJohnny Green, Saul ChaplinWon
Best PictureArthur Freed, ProducerWon
Best WritingAlan Jay LernerWon
See More Oscar Winners

An American in Paris BlogHub Articles:

Musical Monday: An American in Paris (1951)

on May 1, 2023 From Comet Over Hollywood

It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals. In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals. This week’s musical: American in Paris (1951)... Read full article

Review: An American in Paris (1951): Gene Kelly’s Love Letter to France

By 4 Star Film Fan on Jun 15, 2020 From 4 Star Films

It’s no secret that Gene Kelly had a deep abiding affection for France. He was fluent in the language also becoming the first American ever bestowed the honor of arranging a show for the Paris Opera. He would be honored with the Chevalier of the Legion d’Honneur in 1960 and, of course, m... Read full article

Win Tickets to see “TCM Big Screen Classics: An American in Paris” (Giveaway runs now through Jan 5)

By Annmarie Gatti on Jan 2, 2020 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Win tickets to see “An American in Paris” on the big screen!In Select Cinemas NationwideSun Jan 19 and Wed Jan 22 “I got rhythm, I got music…who could ask for anything more” CMH continues into our 5h year of our partnership with Fathom Events – with the 1st of our 15 movie tick... Read full article

An American in Paris (1951, Vincente Minnelli)

By Andrew Wickliffe on Feb 20, 2018 From The Stop Button

For most of An American in Paris, Gene Kelly’s charm makes up for his lack of acting ability. Even after it turns out the story’s about him stalking Leslie Caron until she agrees to go out with him. It’s okay after that point because she falls immediately in love with Kelly once she does. He m... Read full article

Ticklish Business Episode #25 – An American in Paris (1951)

on Aug 16, 2017 From Journeys in Classic Film

I’ve got rhythm! I’ve got music! And I’ve got guest Debbie Elias here to talk with me about Gene Kelly’s 1951 musical An American in Paris. Want to support the podcast? Consider leaving an iTunes rating and review, or becoming a Patron via Patreon https://www.podbean.com/m... Read full article

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An American in Paris Quotes:

Adam Cook: I'm a concert pianist. That's a pretentious way of saying I'm... unemployed at the moment.
Jerry Mulligan: Hey, uh, how'd you come by all these worldly possessions? A rich husband or a rich father?
Milo Roberts: Father.
Jerry Mulligan: Civilization has a natural resistance to improving itself.
Jerry Mulligan: She's one of those third year girls who gripe my liver... You know, American college kids. They come over here to take their third year and lap up a little culture... They're officious and dull. They're always making profound observations they've overheard.
Adam Cook: [Jerry, Henri Baurel and Adam are at the café, talking. Adam desperately tries to prevent the other two men from revealing to each other they love the same woman by distracting them] Did I ever tell you about the time I gave a command performance for Hitler?
See More Quotes from An American in Paris
An American in Paris Facts
Oscar Levant's dream sequence may be a tribute to Buster Keaton. In the opening sequence of The Play House, Keaton also played every role - conductor, every member of the orchestra, stage hand, all nine actors on stage, and each member of the audience.
Vincente Minnelli first wanted Maurice Chevalier in the Georges Guétary part, and Celeste Holm in the Nina Foch part. But Chevalier wasn't available; Minnelli was pleased with Foch's reading, and she got the part.
Leslie Caron had suffered from malnutrition during WWII and was not used to the rigorous schedule of filming a movie. Because she would tire so easily, she was only able to work every other day.
A major reason Gene Kelly suggested Leslie Caron as the female lead was because he felt this movie needed a "real" French girl playing Lise, not just an American actress playing one.
The ballet sequence was almost cut because the shooting was behind schedule, but MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer stood by Arthur Freed, Vincente Minnelli and Gene Kelly in withholding the release of the movie because he felt the movie wouldn't be effective without it.
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