Three friends struggle to find work in Paris. Things become more complicated when two of them fall in love with the same woman.Three friends struggle to find work in Paris. Things become more complicated when two of them fall in love with the same woman.Three friends struggle to find work in Paris. Things become more complicated when two of them fall in love with the same woman.
- Won 6 Oscars
- 11 wins & 7 nominations total
Georges Guétary
- Henri Baurel
- (as Georges Guetary)
Robert Ames
- Ballet Dancer
- (uncredited)
Joan Anderson
- Child in Ballet
- (uncredited)
Marie Antoinette Andrews
- News Vendor
- (uncredited)
Larry Arnold
- Frenchman
- (uncredited)
Martha Bamattre
- Mathilde Mattieu
- (uncredited)
Felice Basso
- Ballet Dancer
- (uncredited)
Charles Bastin
- Smiling Young Man
- (uncredited)
Joan Bayley
- Ballet Dancer
- (uncredited)
Janine Bergez
- Girl
- (uncredited)
Rodney Bieber
- Ballet Dancer
- (uncredited)
Madge Blake
- Edna Mae Bestram
- (uncredited)
Ralph Blum
- Patron at Flodair Café
- (uncredited)
Nan Boardman
- Maid
- (uncredited)
Best Picture Winners by Year
Best Picture Winners by Year
See the complete list of Best Picture winners. For fun, use the "sort order" function to rank by IMDb rating and other criteria.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaEven though Vincente Minnelli is credited as the sole director, he was sometimes tied up with his divorce from Judy Garland and other directing projects, leaving Gene Kelly to take over the directing duties much to the dismay of the cast and crew.
- GoofsAdam is seen in his studio three times. When first seen, he is alone and playing a black baby grand. The second time, he is playing a brown baby grand upon which Jerry dances. In the third sequence, he is again alone and playing the black grand. Perhaps the brown piano was fashioned to accommodate and withstand Jerry's dancing on it.
- Quotes
Jerry Mulligan: That's... quite a dress you almost have on.
Milo Roberts: Thanks.
Jerry Mulligan: What holds it up?
Milo Roberts: Modesty.
- Crazy creditsAnd Presenting The American In Paris Ballet
- Alternate versionsIn 1995 a restored version was prepared for release on video/laserdisc, with the 18-minute ending ballet soundtrack reprocessed in stereo.
- ConnectionsEdited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Seul le cinéma (1994)
- SoundtracksOur Love Is Here to Stay
(1937) (uncredited)
Music by George Gershwin
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Sung by Gene Kelly
Danced by Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron
Played often in the score as the love theme between Jerry and Lise
Featured review
Irritating story somewhat relieved by fine dance numbers
OK, there is no doubt that Gene Kelly can dance, and he can even sing and act passably well. But never have I seen him play a less appealing character than in "An American in Paris". It's one thing to be a lovable rogue, so long as you retain a basic humanity and don't go out of your way to insult the viewer's decency. In some ways "An American in Paris" is Kelly's "Pal Joey", except Frank Sinatra managed to carry off that film by dint of his acting skills.
Part of the plot revolves around his being a painter whose "talent" has been discovered by wealthy patroness Milo (the lovely Nina Foch in an unsympathetic role). Unfortunately for the credibility of the plot, Kelly's paintings are are "motel art" at its worst. (For anyone who questions my credibility: I'm a professional artist and am quite familiar with "the School of the City of Paris" style his paintings ape) And what does Kelly--who supposedly wants to have a solo show "more than anything on earth"--do when it is dropped into his lap by Milo? He promptly does everything to sabotage her interest.
Kelly's interest in Leslie Caron couldn't be more superficial and unbelievable. Despite what others have written here, the scene with Kelly and Caron on the banks of the Seine ("Our Love is Here to Stay") is like the rest of their relationship: stiff, perfunctory and unconvincing.
The story bogs down considerably half-way through, and finally, any semblance of plot or character development is thrown out the window. It's as if director Minelli said "hey, we've got a bunch of great Gershwin Brothers music. Let's stage a big dance finale that is set in Old Paris but has nothing to do with anything else in this film and leaves every story element unresolved". Then, for no reason at all, we'll resolve the plot". What a load of crap.
There is plenty that is visually and audibly appealing in "An American in Paris". The sets and costuming are good, the music is, with few exceptions, excellent. Oscar Levant gives a great supporting performance. But if you want to see Gene Kelly at his best, I recommend watching "Invitation to the Dance" instead, where his considerable dancing skills and charm are unhindered by the very things that cause "An American in Paris" to fail.
Part of the plot revolves around his being a painter whose "talent" has been discovered by wealthy patroness Milo (the lovely Nina Foch in an unsympathetic role). Unfortunately for the credibility of the plot, Kelly's paintings are are "motel art" at its worst. (For anyone who questions my credibility: I'm a professional artist and am quite familiar with "the School of the City of Paris" style his paintings ape) And what does Kelly--who supposedly wants to have a solo show "more than anything on earth"--do when it is dropped into his lap by Milo? He promptly does everything to sabotage her interest.
Kelly's interest in Leslie Caron couldn't be more superficial and unbelievable. Despite what others have written here, the scene with Kelly and Caron on the banks of the Seine ("Our Love is Here to Stay") is like the rest of their relationship: stiff, perfunctory and unconvincing.
The story bogs down considerably half-way through, and finally, any semblance of plot or character development is thrown out the window. It's as if director Minelli said "hey, we've got a bunch of great Gershwin Brothers music. Let's stage a big dance finale that is set in Old Paris but has nothing to do with anything else in this film and leaves every story element unresolved". Then, for no reason at all, we'll resolve the plot". What a load of crap.
There is plenty that is visually and audibly appealing in "An American in Paris". The sets and costuming are good, the music is, with few exceptions, excellent. Oscar Levant gives a great supporting performance. But if you want to see Gene Kelly at his best, I recommend watching "Invitation to the Dance" instead, where his considerable dancing skills and charm are unhindered by the very things that cause "An American in Paris" to fail.
helpful•3629
- rch427
- Dec 27, 2002
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Amerikanac u Parizu
- Filming locations
- Paris, France(second unit exterior photography)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $2,723,903 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $267,824
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $182,606
- Jan 19, 2020
- Gross worldwide
- $275,077
- Runtime1 hour 54 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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