An American in Paris

by Sue Harris

Overview

An American in Paris (1951) was a landmark film in the careers of Vincente Minnelli, Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. A joyous celebration of George Gershwin's music, French art, the beauty of dance and the fabled City of Light, the film was heralded as a rare example of entertainment 'for mass and class alike'. Choreographed by Kelly at the height of his career, it gave new stature to the Hollywood musical, and showcased as never before the artistic ambition, technical skills, creative imagination and collaborative ethos of MGM's pioneering Arthur Freed Unit.

Sue Harris draws on archival material to trace the film's development from conception to screen. Offering new insights into the design process in particular, she shows how An American in Paris established the cinematic template for a city with which Hollywood would become increasingly infatuated in the decades to follow.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781844574711
Publisher:	BFI Publishing
Publication date:	05/19/2015
Series:	BFI Film Classics Series
Edition description:	2015
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	809,454
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.40(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Sue Harris is Professor of Film Studies at Queen Mary University of London, UK. She is an Associate Editor of French Cultural Studies, the author of Bertrand Blier (2001), An American in Paris (2015) and co-editor of France in Focus: Film and National Identity (2000) and From Perversion to Purity: The Stardom of Catherine Deneuve (2007), among other titles.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments.- 1. 'Who knows, it may even put Paris on the map'.- 2. The Building Blocks of Production 1507.- 3: Paris, Culver City.- 4. Camaraderie, Community and Romance.- 5. The Ballet.- 6. Promotion, Reception, Legacy.- Conclusion.- Notes.- Credits.- Bibliography.