“Metro has another sock boxoffice winner in An American in Paris. Film is one of the most imaginative musical confections turned out by Hollywood in years, spotlighting Gene Kelly, Oscar Levant, Nina Foch, and a pair of bright newcomers (Leslie Caron and Georges Guetary) against a cavalcade of George and Ira Gershwin’s music. While it may not achieve quite the record runs racked up this season by M-G’s “Great Caruso” and “Show Boat,” it will tag right behind them to help widen that new exhibitor smile even more.
Kelly is the picture’s top star and rates every inch of his billing. His diversified dancing is great as ever and his thesping is standout. But he reveals new talents in this one with his choreography. There’s a lengthy ballet to the film’s title song for the finale, which is a masterpiece of design, lighting, costumes and color photography. It’s a unique blending of classical and modern dance with vaude-style tapping, which will undoubtedly trailblaze new terp techniques for Hollywood musicals. British-made “Red Shoes” and “Tales of Hoffman,” of course, have initiated American art house patrons to such work but this one will hit the mass audience–and it’s going to hold ’em completely entranced.” – Variety, Aug 29, 1951
In English, French and German, with English subtitles.
