by John Hart
WHAT FILM IS THAT?
It’s AN AMERICAN IN PARIS. MGM,1951. Starring Gene Kelly and directed by Vincente Minnelli,
Note. AMERICAN IN PARIS is Included in a DVD Box Set, MAGICAL MOVIES, 2014
“A bold breathtaking and original love letter to the Great American Musical.” The London Telegraph, 2014
Why choose this musical classic for study? Because here in this superb film is found ( what a discovery ) every category the film student needs or wants to know about film technique:
With superb direction by Vincente Minnelli, our film displayed some of the best Set Designs in the history of film executed by AA winner, Preston Ames.
Winner of 8 Academy Awards, I strongly feel AIP is an obvious choice for a truly stunning visual / learning experience for the film student.
Ted Sennet in his, , GEAT HOLLWYOOD MOVIES, states, ‘Gene Kelly ( AA for choreography) Leslie Caron ( Kelly’s dance discovery from Paris ) dance in a Rousseau-like square in the unprecedented ballet ( 17 minutes ) that closes the film,..
Sets designed by Preston Ames and Irene Sharif and directed by Vincente Minnelli, the ballet was an uprecedented tour-de- force.’ It casts a glow that never fades after many viewings.’
( ILLUST )
Academy Awards: ( ILLUST.S ) OF GENE KELLY AND LESLIE CARON, INTEGRATING DANCING/CHOREOGRAPHY WITH DYNAMIC KINETIC CAMERA MOVEMENTS.
PARAPATETIC CAMERA MOVEMENTS,
BLENDING WITH DANCERS CHOREOGRAPHIC MOVEMENTS OFTEN TOWARD CAMERA AND RECEDING FROM CAMERA.
Best Film
Best Story and Screenplay, Alan J. Lerner
Best Scoring, Johnny Green and Saul Chaplin
Best Set Design, Cedric Gibbons, Preston Ames, Edwin B. Willis
Best Costume Design, Orry-Kelly, Walter Plunkett, Irene Sharaff.
Best Cinematography, Alfred Gilks ( also photographed, John Ford’s, THE SEARCHERS ).
Plus, one’s eyes, ( Talk About Eye Candy ), are indundated with Technicolor imagery/visuals at its peak!
To add to the above:
Film Lighting Design for the the sets and the actors. ( ILLUST.)
Camera movement. ( IILLUST ) See below:
Close-ups. ( ILLUST.)
