GIGI: Best Picture 1958

GIGI (Musical - G) PRODUCER: Arthur Freed ABOUT THE FILM Set in 1900, this story centers around a young Parisienne tomboy who is resisting her aunt's efforts to train her as a courtesan, in the end... the family tradition is upset. DIRECTED BY: Vincent Minnelli (who also won the Oscar for direction).

THE CAST INCLUDES Leslie Caron (AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, LILI, DADDY LONGLEGS, FANNY, THE L-SHAPED ROOM, FATHER GOOSE, IS PARIS BURNING?, THE MAN WHO LOVED WOMEN) Louis Jourdan (THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN, CAN-CAN, THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, THE VIPS, SWAMP THING, OCTOPUSSY) Maurice Chevalier (THE LOVE PARADE, LOVE ME TONIGHT, THE MERRY WIDOW, CAN-CAN, PEPE, FANNY) With Hermione Gingold, Eva Gabor, Jacques Bergerac, Isabel Jeans, and John Abbott. ABOUT THE PRODUCER American Arthur Freed (1894 - 1973), who did many MGM musicals, produced two Best Pictures: AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (51) and GIGI (58). Freed's other works include: BABES IN ARMS, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, ZIEGFELD FOLLIES, ON THE TOWN, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, SHOWBOAT, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, KISMET, and BELLS ARE RINGING. Arthur J. Freed was honored with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. NOTES & TRIVA Alan Jay Lerner received the Screenplay (based on material from another medium) Oscar. While Joseph Ruttenberg was awarded the Oscar for Color Cinematography. Adrienne Fazan received the Oscar for Editing.Andre Previn received the Music (Scoring Musical) Oscar. In addition, Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner won for Best Song; and Cecil Beaton won for Costume Design. Based on a spicy novelette by French writer Colette; which first became a French play, then a French movie, then a Broadway play with Audrey Hepburn. Because of the French movie, it became the first "remake" to win the Best Picture Oscar. Maurice Chevalier received a "special Oscar" for career achievement. This musical had two classic songs: "Gigi" and "Thank Heaven for Little Girls". OTHER NOMINATIONS Direction (*) Writing (*) Cinematography (*) Art Direction (*) Editing (*) Sound (*) Music (*) Costume Design (*) OTHER "BEST PICTURE" NOMINATIONS AUNTIE MAME CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF THE DEFIANT ONES SEPARATE TABLES GO TO: Next Year

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