An American in Paris (1951)
88%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: Won 6 Oscars
10 wins & 7 nominations total
The plot may be problematic, but such concerns are rendered superfluous by Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron’s star power, the Gershwins’ classic songs, and Vincente Minnelli’s colorful, sympathetic direction
An American in Paris is like a love letter to the city of love itself. With Gene Kelly’s charming smile and captivating dance moves, it’s hard not to fall in love with Paris all over again. The music of Gershwin is the cherry on top of this already delightful sundae. And let’s not forget the 17-minute ballet that will leave you breathless and wondering how anyone can move like that. It’s a classic that will never go out of style, just like Paris itself. Oo la la!
Production Company(ies)
Apatow Productions, Film Nation Entertainment, Story Ink
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Paris, France
MPAA / Certificate
Passed
Year of Release
1951
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.37 : 1
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Runtime:1h 53m
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Language(s):English, French, German
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 9, 1951 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 2, 2004
Genre(s)
Musical/Romance
Keyword(s)
starring Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant, Georges Guétary, Nina Foch, Eugene Borden, directed by Vincente Minnelli, written by Alan Jay Lerner, musical, romance, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Helen Bower, Mae Tinee, Marjory Adams, Mildred Martin, Jim Lindstrom, Guardian Staff, Courier Mail Staff, Hortense Morton, Jane Corby, Sara Hamilton, Lillian Blackstone, Gene Kelly’s star power, Leslie Caron’s gamine charms, Gershwins’ classic songs, colorful direction, Parisian atmosphere, ballet sequence, George Gershwin score, snappy lyrics, jazzy tunes, showy musical numbers, tap dancing, singing, artistry, celebration of life, pursuit of love, pursuit of art, Parisian setting, American ex-GI, painter, rich American heiress, love triangle, pursuit of happiness, pursuit of success, pursuit of dreams, pursuit of passion, pursuit of identity, pursuit of belonging, pursuit of freedom, pursuit of self-expression, pursuit of creativity, pursuit of inspiration, pursuit of joy
Worldwide gross: $272,619
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,545,198
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,275
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 386,608
US/Canada gross: $267,824
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,482,843
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,908
US/Canada opening weekend: $182,606
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $2,374,649
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,186
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $2,723,903
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $35,422,238
Production budget ranking: 1,048
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $19,074,875
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$50,951,916
ROI to date (est.): -93%
ROI ranking: 1,980
Leslie Caron – Lise Bouvier
Oscar Levant – Adam Cook
Georges Guétary – Henri Baurel
Nina Foch – Milo Roberts
Eugene Borden – Georges Matthieu (uncredited)
Director(s)
Vincente Minnelli
Writer(s)
Alan Jay Lerner
Producer(s)
Arthur Freed
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 6 Oscars
10 wins & 7 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Picture Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (93) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (89) | Rotten (4)
Gene Kelly — star and choreographer — never lets the jig-time slacken. The picture runs up the stairs and dances down the street. It never rests.
April 13, 2021
Helen Bower
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
A fluid, beautifully picturesque affair, this elaborate development of the boy-meets-girl theme is as lavish and handsome an offering as any entertainment seeker ever found for the price.
April 13, 2021
Mae Tinee
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
An American in Paris offers wit, beauty, charm, smart dancing, happy music, melodious singing, and originality. There’s nostalgia, as well, for those who have known and loved Paris.
April 13, 2021
Marjory Adams
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
Against the pretty-as-a-picture background of this fabulous dream city, then, the cast scampers through the motions of a plot that requires only slight concentration on acting, but plenty in the way of personal appeal.
April 13, 2021
Mildred Martin
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
[An American in Paris] climaxes with a brilliant 17-minute ballet whose only movie competition is the ballet of The Red Shoes.
April 13, 2021
Jim Lindstrom
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
An American in Paris is about a town which most Americans know only as tourists — and this film too looks like a tourist: a talented tourist, no doubt but still a noisy and awkward one.
April 13, 2021
Guardian Staff
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
The George Gershwin score is enough in itself to make the film a hit. With Gene Kelly tapping out captivating routines, and wry-faced Oscar Levant banging the piano it has added appeal.
April 13, 2021
Courier Mail Staff
Courier Mail (Australia)
Our beret is off to Kelly, the spritely spirit of the movie, not only for his acting and dancing but for the sensational dance numbers.
April 13, 2021
Hortense Morton (Screen Scout)
San Francisco Examiner
An American In Paris has raised the standard of film musicals by several notches. Here’s a musical that won’t be surpassed in many a year.
April 13, 2021
Jane Corby
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
The music of Gershwin is a perfect background for the bright spontaneity of a movie we so happily recommend.
April 13, 2021 | Rating: 3/3
Sara Hamilton
Photoplay
No, the plot isn’t new, but steeped in a Parisian atmosphere, with oo la la and all that, the story is very, very gay and enjoyable.
April 13, 2021
Lillian Blackstone
Tampa Bay Times
It’s such a superlative movie that it seems better the second time you see it.
April 13, 2021
Frank Morriss
Winnipeg Free Press…
Plot
Jerry Mulligan, a struggling American painter in Paris, is “discovered” by an influential heiress with an interest in more than Jerry’s art. Jerry in turn falls for Lise, a young French girl already engaged to a cabaret singer. Jerry jokes, sings and dances with his best friend, an acerbic would-be concert pianist, while romantic complications abound.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The review highlights Gene Kelly’s star power and Leslie Caron’s “gamine charms.”
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