An American in Paris (1951)

A GI (Gene Kelly) stays in Paris after the war to become an artist, and has to choose between the patronage of a rich American woman (Nina Foch) and a French gamine (Leslie Caron) engaged to an older man. The plot is mostly an excuse for director Vincente Minnelli to pool his own extraordinary talent with those of choreographer-dancer-actor Kelly and the artists behind the screenplay, art direction, cinematography, and score, creating a rapturous musical not quite like anything else in cinema. The final section of the film comprises a 17-minute dance sequence that took a month to film and is breathtaking. Songs include "'S Wonderful," "I Got Rhythm," and "Love Is Here to Stay." --Tom Keogh Amazon.com essential video

An American in Paris

What a beautiful musical and the dancing was wonderful. I love Gene Kelly! This is a great classic, you must have it! Thank you! August 18, 2008

OVERRATED AND BORING MUSICAL

I am a HUGE musical fan especially the musicals of yesteryear but I have always considered this film to be boring. Gene Kelly always irritated me - a fantastic dancer and singer but he never had any talent for acting and he lacked masculinity. August 13, 2008

An American in Paris

Received the product quickly. Shipping packaging protected the item well and the DVD was sealed as a "new item" as noted on the website. July 7, 2008

Special Edition gets Ultra-Resolution Process

Warner Brothers' proprietary Ultra-Resolution process has brought new life to such classics as "The Wizard of Oz," "Gone With the Wind," Errol Flynn's "Robin Hood," and "Singin' in the Rain." By going back to the original three-strip technicolor negatives and realigning them digitally, the color and detail blows away anything that customers have seen in the past with home video. "An American In Paris" has now undergone the same process and is going to be released in a special 2-disc DVD on Sept. 16, 2008 (as a note of caution: it has already been announced that this film will be released on Bluray in 2009; for those who can wait and don't want to double-dip...). Here is a list of extras that Warners has released:

Disc 1:
1.33:1 Full Screen with Original Mono audio
1938 MGM short: Paris on Parade
1951 MGM cartoon: Symphony in Slang
Theatrical trailer

Disc 2:

2002 American Masters Documentary: Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer (previously released on DVD)

`S Wonderful: The Making of An American in Paris, an all new documentary, produced especially for this release. A dynamic history of the making of the film, which reveals how George and Ira Gershwin's classic songs, the dazzling art of the French impressionists and the ultimate teamwork of MGM's legendary "Freed Unit" came together to create a musical masterpiece. Featuring ten new interviews, including co-stars Leslie Caron and Nina Foch

Outtakes:
Georges Guetary performing Love Walked In and Gene Kelly performing I Got a Crush on You (audio only)
Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron promotional radio interview with Dick Simmons

Audio Outtakes: Alternate Main Title, But Not for Me (Guetary), But Not for Me (Levant Piano Solo), Gershwin Prelude #3, I've Got a Crush on You, Nice Work if You Can Get It, 'S Wonderful

Radio Interviews: Johnny Green, Gene Kelly, Gene Kelly & Leslie Caron

Not all of the original musical recording stems have survived over the years, preventing a true stereo/5.1 restoration of the soundtrack; instead, it appears that a restored mono version is being made available.

Most are familiar with the movie; storywise, it is a little creaky and hasn't necessarily survived well over the years, however the glowing color, fantastic music by Gershwin (arrangements by the talented Conrad Salinger), and the amazing choreography of Gene Kelly will keep this one a classic for years to come. Just the ending ballet alone is a masterpiece; the art of Toulouse Lautrec comes to life with Gene Kelly & Leslie Caron dancing their hearts out to some of the most imaginative choreography (Kelly's) in years. The Freed Unit at MGM was at their peak when this movie was made, and this is one of the last great ones that it created. July 2, 2008

The Gershwin Collection of Music Videos!

This movie is inexplicably ranked above "Yankee Doodle Dandy" in the AFI list of 100 Best American Films when that film actually had a good storyline and even better choreography too. Anyways, this is really a showcase of George and Ira Gershwin's composing genius and the storyline is actually an afterthought. A lot of good music and dance but little else besides. This is by no means one of the better musicals although if you are a music lover like me, this will keep you sufficiently entertained if just for those two elements. Thankfully, just a year later we are treated to a much, much better Gene Kelly work: "Singing In the Rain."

This DVD version is also very, very poor having not been restored in any way resulting in terrible picture and sound quality. Perhaps with the advent of Blu-Ray, they will take the opportunity to totally restore both picture and sound quality with at least Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround options which is what you get on the "Singing In the Rain" DVD. In addition, there are no bonus or special features whatsoever too.

Certainly not among the best musicals ever made and certainly a surprising inclusion among the AFI list but if you are a fan I'd recommend you give this very poor DVD version a miss and wait for a much better restored one with decent bonus features to surface hopefully very soon on Blu-Ray. April 25, 2008

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