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Revision as of 21:50, 7 August 2022 by Cadavra8 (talk | contribs) (→Sequel: additional info)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) 1957 film directed by George Cukor| Les Girls | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | George Cukor |
| Screenplay by | John Patrick |
| Story by | Vera Caspary |
| Produced by | Sol C. Siegel |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Robert Surtees |
| Edited by | Ferris Webster |
| Music by | Cole Porter |
| Color process | Metrocolor |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date |
|
| Running time | 114 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $3.4 million |
| Box office | $3.9 million |
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Les Girls (also known as Cole Porter's Les Girls) is a 1957 American CinemaScope musical comedy film directed by George Cukor and produced by Sol C. Siegel, with Saul Chaplin as associate producer. The screenplay by John Patrick was based on a story by Vera Caspary. The music and lyrics were by Cole Porter.
It stars Gene Kelly, Mitzi Gaynor, Kay Kendall, and Taina Elg, and the cast also includes Jacques Bergerac, Leslie Phillips, Henry Daniell, and Patrick Macnee.
Premise
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 as Barry Nichols
- Mitzi Gaynor as Joy Henderson
- Kay Kendall as Lady Sybil Wren
- Betty Wand provides the singing voice of Lady 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
- Barrie Chase as 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. While it did not come to pass, it did inspire Harry's Girls, a sitcom starring Larry Blyden which ran on NBC for 15 episodes in the fall of 1963.
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". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18. 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 AFI Catalog of Feature Films
- Les Girls at the TCM Movie Database
- 1957 films
- 1957 musical comedy films
- American musical comedy films
- Best Musical or Comedy Picture Golden Globe winners
- Films based on works by Vera Caspary
- Films directed by George Cukor
- Films featuring a Best Musical or Comedy Actress Golden Globe winning performance
- Films produced by Sol C. Siegel
- Films scored by Cole Porter
- Films that won the Best Costume Design Academy Award
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
- 1950s English-language films