This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Sc2353 (talk | contribs) at 05:40, 18 August 2020 (removed Category:1950s musical comedy films; added Category:1957 musical comedy films using HotCat). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 05:40, 18 August 2020 by Sc2353 (talk | contribs) (removed Category:1950s musical comedy films; added Category:1957 musical comedy films using HotCat)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) 1957 American film| Les Girls | |
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 Original movie poster | |
| Directed by | George Cukor |
| Written by | John Patrick Vera Caspary (story) |
| Produced by | Sol C. Siegel Saul Chaplin (associate producer) |
| Starring | Gene Kelly Kay Kendall Mitzi Gaynor Taina Elg Jacques Bergerac Leslie Phillips |
| Cinematography | Robert Surtees |
| Edited by | Ferris Webster |
| Music by | Cole Porter (music and lyrics) |
| Color process | Metrocolor |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date |
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| Running time | 114 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $3,384,000 |
| Box office | $3,865,000 |
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Les Girls, also known as Cole Porter's Les Girls, is a 1957 musical CinemaScope comedy film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by George Cukor and produced by Sol C. Siegel, with Saul Chaplin as associate producer. The screenplay was by John Patrick, based on a story by Vera Caspary. The music and lyrics were by Cole Porter.
It stars Gene Kelly, Kay Kendall, Mitzi Gaynor and Taina Elg, and the cast also includes Jacques Bergerac, Leslie Phillips, Henry Daniell and Patrick Macnee.
Storyline
After writing a tell-all book about her days in the dance troupe "Barry Nichols and Les Girls", Sybil Wren (Kay Kendall) is sued for libeling her fellow dancer Angele (Taina Elg). A Rashomon-style narrative presents the story from three points of view. Sybil accuses Angele of having an affair with Barry (Gene Kelly). Angele insists that it was actually Sybil who was having the affair. Finally, Barry gives his side of the story.
Cast
- Gene Kelly – Barry Nichols
- Mitzi Gaynor – Joy Henderson
- Kay Kendall – Sybil Wren
- Taina Elg – Angele Ducros
- Jacques Bergerac – Pierre Ducros
- Leslie Phillips – Sir Gerald Wren
- Henry Daniell – Judge
- Patrick Macnee – Sir Percy
- Stephen Vercoe – Mr. Outward
- Philip Tonge – Associate Judge
- Barrie Chase – Dancer
Background notes
- The story by Vera Caspary was inspired by an article which appeared in The Atlantic – a reminiscence of a dancer's touring years. Miss Caspary's version turned the memoir into a point of dispute and raised questions about the nature of truth. As only the title was used from Miss Caspary's story for the screenplay, she joked that she was the highest paid writer in the world, as she was paid $80,000 for writing just two words – "Les Girls"
- Les Girls was Gene Kelly's last musical under his contract at MGM which began in 1942.
- Les Girls was the last film score by Cole Porter and the next-to-last score of his career.
- The film's original female leads were to have been played by Leslie Caron, Cyd Charisse, Jean Simmons and Carol Haney.
Awards and honors
- Les Girls won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for Orry-Kelly and was nominated for two other awards, Best Art Direction (William A. Horning, Gene Allen, Edwin B. Willis, Richard Pefferle) and Best Sound (Wesley C. Miller).
- The film won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Musical/Comedy and for Best Actress, Kay Kendall and Taina Elg together.
- 2006: AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals – nominated
Sequel
Immediately after the film was released tentative plans were announced for a sequel called Les Boys.
Box office
According to MGM records the film made $2,415,000 in the US and Canada and $1,450,000 elsewhere, but because of its high production cost lost $1,635,000.
Choreography
Les Girls was a major vehicle for choreographer Jack Cole, and one of the first films to feature the role of choreographer in the opening credits.
See also
References
- ^ The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
- Les Girls (1957) – Plot summary
- p.249 McGilligan, Patrick George Cukor: A Double Life London: Faber and Faber 1992
- Parish, James Robert, Mank, Gregory W, Picchiarini, RichardThe Best of MGM: The Golden Years (1928–59) 1981 Arlington House
- "The 30th Academy Awards (1958) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
- "NY Times: Les Girls". NY Times. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
- "AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-08-13.
- Scheuer, Philip K. (Nov 18, 1957). "Sequel Slated for 'Les Girls': Two Leads Proffered Newman; Janet Poised on 'Precipice'"". Los Angeles Times. p. C11 – via ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
External links
- Les Girls at IMDb
- Template:AllMovie title
- Les Girls at the TCM Movie Database
- Les Girls at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
- 1957 films
- 1957 musical comedy films
- American films
- American musical comedy films
- Best Musical or Comedy Picture Golden Globe winners
- English-language films
- Films directed by George Cukor
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
- Films featuring a Best Musical or Comedy Actress Golden Globe winning performance
- Films that won the Best Costume Design Academy Award
- Films scored by Cole Porter
- Films produced by Sol C. Siegel
- Films based on works by Vera Caspary
- 1957 comedy films