Gigi (1958)
Tagline:
« The New Screen Musical in Gorgeous Color by the Composer of “My Fair Lady” »
Actors:
Gigi
Honoré Lachaille
Gaston Lachaille
Madame Alvarez
Liane d’Exelmans
Rating:
(25’062 votes)
(25’062 votes)
Quotes:
[last lines]
[after a long while, Gaston returns to Madame Alvarez's apartment]
« Gaston Lachaille: May I come in?
»
[Gigi shrinks into a corner, hoping to be spared]
« Madame Alvarez: Please, Gaston… no papers… no scandal.
»
« Gaston Lachaille: Madame, will you do me the honour, the favour… give me the infinite joy of bestowing on me… Gigi's hand in marriage?
»
[Gigi, filled with relief and joy, draws to Gaston's side]
« Madame Alvarez: [smiles] Thank Heaven!
»
["Thank Heaven for Little Girls" plays again]
« Aunt Alicia: Love, my dear Gigi, is a thing of beauty like a work of art, and like a work of art it is created by artists. The greater the artist the greater the art. And what makes an artist?
»
« Gigi: Cigars and jewelry?
»
« Aunt Alicia: Gigi, you're from another planet.
»
« Gigi: I don't know what you want. You told Grandmamma…
»
« Gaston Lachaille: I know what I told your grandmother. We don't have to repeat it. Just tell me simply what you don't want… and tell me what you do want.
»
« Gigi: Do you mean that?
»
« Gaston Lachaille: Of course.
»
« Gigi: You told Grandmamma that you wanted to take care of me.
»
« Gaston Lachaille: To take care of you beautifully.
»
« Gigi: Beautifully. That is, if I like it. They've pounded into my head I'm backward for my age… but I know what all this means. To "take care of me beautifully" means I shall go away with you… and that I shall sleep in your bed.
»
« Gaston Lachaille: Please, Gigi, I beg of you! You embarrass me!
»
« Gigi: You weren't embarrassed to talk to Grandmamma about it. And Grandmamma wasn't embarrassed to talk to me about it. But I know more than she told me. To "take care of me" means that I shall have my photograph in the papers. That I shall go to the Riviera, to the races at Deauville. And when we fight, it will be in all the columns the next day. And then you'd give me up, as you did with Inèz des Cèvennes.
»
« Gaston Lachaille: Who's been filling your head with all these old stories? How do you know about that?
»
« Gigi: Why shouldn't I know? You're world famous. I know about the woman who stole from you, the Contessa who wanted to shoot you, the American who wanted to marry you. I know what everybody knows.
»
« Gaston Lachaille: These aren't the things we have to talk about together! That's all in the past, over and done with!
»
« Gigi: Yes, Gaston. Until it begins again.
»
Trailer:
Gigi
Runtime:115 minutes
Plots:
Weary of the conventions of Parisian society, a rich playboy and a youthful courtesan-in-training enjoy a platonic friendship which may not stay platonic for long.
Weary of the conventions of Parisian society, a rich playboy and a youthful courtesan-in-training enjoy a platonic friendship, but it may not stay platonic for long. Gaston, the scion of a wealthy Parisian family finds emotional refuge from the superficial lifestyle of upper class Parisian 1900s society with the former mistress of his uncle and her outgoing, tomboy granddaughter, Gigi. When Gaston becomes aware that Gigi has matured into a woman, her grandmother and aunt, who have educated Gigi to be a wealthy man’s mistress, urge the pair to act out their roles but love adds a surprise twist to this delightful turn-of-the 20th century Cinderella story.
Gigi, living in the Belle Époque era of Paris, is training to be a courtesan- a highly educated and cultured woman who will become a society darling and mistress to wealthy men. She is mentored by her kind but firm Grandmother who has raised her and her glamorous, flamboyant Aunt Alicia. Both try to teach her the ways of good manners, first class diamonds and rolling cigars however the vivacious and idealistic tomboy is resistant. Her respite from her lessons comes in the form of her good friend Gaston – a wealthy aristocrat and playboy who is bored by the decadent but superficial world he inhabits. The two have a dear playful friendship. However with Gigi growing up and Gaston’s current mistress being caught up in scandal can these two escape the inevitable roles their two worlds seemed determine to place on them and perhaps explore the true feelings that lie beneath their friendship? All this takes place under the eye of Honore Lachaille (played by the legendary Maurice Chevalier) Gaston’s charming, cheery and youthful Uncle who doubles as the movie’s narrator and Gaston’s mentor in the story. Comedy, romance and many a delightful song ensue.
