LES GIRLS (DVD/MAKING OF DOC/RARE VINTAGE SHORT SUBJECTS/5.1 AUDIO) DVD

Les Girls
Les Girls is the Rashomon of MGM musicals. The film is told in flashback, as Mitzi Gaynor and Taina Elg, two-thirds of a popular cabaret trio, attempt to legally block the third, Kay Kendall, from writing her memoirs. Each of "Les Girls" has her own interpretation of the group's previous professional and amorous escapades. To make sense of these wildly diverse recollections, the court must rely upon a fourth party to straighten things out. Enter Gene Kelly, the dancing star who organized "Les Girls" in the first place. But can Kelly be believed? The "truth" of the many reminiscences in Les Girls is secondary to the dazzling beauty of its female stars, and to the delightful musical numbers, the best of which is an extended Marlon Brando parody titled "Why Am I So Gone About That Gal?" This was Gene Kelly's last musical effort for MGM, the studio he joined way back in 1943; the film was the inspiration for the short-lived 1963 TV series Harry's Girls, which starred Larry Blyden, Susan Silo, Dawn Nickerson and Diahn Williams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast Gene Kelly as Barry Nichols Mitzi Gaynor as Joy Henderson Kay Kendall as Sybil Wren Taina Elg as Angele Ducros Jacques Bergerac as Pierre Ducros Leslie Phillips as Sir Gerald Wren Henry Daniell as Judge Patrick Macnee as Sir Percy Stephen Vercoe as Mr. Outward Philip Tonge as Associate Judge

Crew Gene Allen - Art Director William Horning - Art Director Jack Cole - Choreography Orry-Kelly - Costume Designer George Cukor - Director Ferris Webster - Editor Cole Porter - Composer (Music Score) Adolph Deutsch - Musical Direction/Supervision Robert Surtees - Cinematographer Sol C. Siegel - Producer Saul Chaplin - Producer Edwin B. Willis - Set Designer Wesley C. Miller - Sound/Sound Designer John Patrick - Screenwriter Vera Caspary - Short Story Author

Les Girls
Gene Kelly's last musical under his contract at MGM, Les Girls on the surface seems like an opportunity for a magnificent star turn by the screen's most athletic hoofer; after all, he's the sole leading man among the four stars. Surprisingly, it turns out to be an ensemble piece, and a rather delightful one at that. Also surprisingly, it doesn't feel like a real musical. The "offstage" character numbers -- fine though they are -- could easily have been replaced with dialogue and there would have been little lost in terms of story, character development and emotional impact. This is probably testament to the strength of the script, which -- while decidedly light -- is nonetheless engaging. (Structurally it is flawed, in that the denouement that is supposed to set all things right really doesn't, but the viewer is happy to overlook this.) George Cukor's direction is smooth as silk, and Jack Cole's choreography (supplemented by Kelly) is always interesting and occasionally fiery. Kelly's dance duets with each of the girls are highly enjoyable, with special mention going to his and Mitzi Gaynor's "Why Am I So Gone About That Gal?" Gaynor is a delight, much more appealing than in South Pacific, and Taina Elg is a treat. Best of the ladies is delicious Kay Kendall, especially in her memorable drunk scene. Kelly has never been better, excelling at playing a character that is rougher and less charming than most of his roles. Production values are high; mention also must be made of the intriguing and bizarre geometric setting for the Kelly-Elg "rope dance." An enjoyable bauble, Les Girls is fizzy and frothy fun. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
 

Edwin B. Willis: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Art Direction (nominated) Gene Allen: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Art Direction (nominated) George Cukor: Directors Guild of America, Best Director (nominated) Kay Kendall: Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or C (winner) Orry-Kelly: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Costume Design (winner) Richard A. Pefferle: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Art Direction (nominated) Taina Elg: Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or C (nominated) Wesley C. Miller: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Sound (nominated) William Horning: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Art Direction (nominated)

Golden Globe, Best Picture - Musical or Comedy (winner)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, French Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish Sound Processing: DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel DD1: Dolby Digital Mono Additional Features: cc All-new digital transfer Soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 Taina Elg hosts "Cole Porter in Hollywood: Ca C'Est l'Amour" Vintage cartoon Flea Circus Interactive menus Behind-the-scenes notes Theatrical trailer Scene access Languages: English & Français Subtitles: English, Français, Español, & Português DVD Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1: Cinemascope MPAA Rating: NR DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 114 min Part of Series: Classic Musicals Collection   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 1. Credits [1:48] 2. Spicy Book Trial [3:26] 3. Sybil and Joy [2:39] 4. Angèle [3:13] 5. Her Little Things [2:27] 6. Les Girls [5:37] 7. Rope Number Rehearsal [4:10] 8. Strictly Business [3:08] 9. Bonjour, Pierre [2:24] 10. Ca C'est l'Amour [3:41] 11. One Man to Another [3:41] 12. Ladies in Waiting [4:10] 13. Rope Number Fiasco [3:10] 14. What Is Truth? [4:14] 15. Cheerio, Gerald [3:22] 16. Tipsy Turvy [:21] 17. Barry to the Rescue [1:54] 18. Heating Up [5:43] 19. You're Just Too, Too! [2:16] 20. Talking Business [2:05] 21. Not Lovers, Pow! [3:19] 22. High Spirits [3:16] 23. Angèle's Version [3:48] 24. New Witness [2:58] 25. Kinda Lonely Guy [3:12] 26. Discomfort and Joy [2:47] 27. Men With a Plan [5:54] 28. Why Am I So Gone About That Gal? [2:15] 29. Birthday Breakup [6:51] 30. Getting the Picture [6:43] 31. Double Discovery [4:18] 32. Three Fine Marriages [2:43]