Gigi - Leslie Caron - Maxim's chorus restored

[Missladydominican]

I grew watching gigi one of my must movie that I love from the 50ths even thought I started watching in the years 74 lol

[DayInTheLife42]

I grew up watching this fabulous movie...I remember there being a chorus in the video tape we had. was this not on all of the released versions then?

[lostvocals3]

@DayInTheLife42

You're probably remembering the earlier scene where Louis arrives with Zsz Zsa Gabor. They used a very similar chorus section for that scene, but dropped it for this scene.

[kfinleyconsulting]

I like the restored version...it meshes better with the previous Maxim's scene...

[Nilaratna]

leslie caron in that dress and that scene is divine, one of the most elegant moments ever.

[jrmetmoi]

The more things change the more they stay the same. I always thought the people at Maxim's in Gigi were some horrible gossipy, bitchy shit-stirrers. Maxim's was one of the first nightclubs filled with pretentious awful people obviously! LOL

[Ronait]

Thank you for uploading this!! Always wondered what they were saying :)

[sweetaliena]

I remember seeing it with the chorus, but it was the french version. It was weird seeing this scene without the chorus!

[streetwhereulive]

They should have left the talking part in. It gives a better understanding of why he is reluctant to stay there with her and expose her to the scrutiny of the crowd.

[duncann]

I prefer it without the vocals - this scene is a reprise of the earlier one when Louis Jourdan takes mistress Eva Gabor to Maxim's. We hear the gossip sung then. The silence suggests that Leslie Caron's Gigi is special.

This scene was filmed by Vincente Minnelli at Maxim's in Paris but that version hit the cutting room floor. At great expense it was refilmed by Charles Walters in Hollywood, which is what we see here. Over $300K of such changes were made to perfect the film - and they worked!

[Dano16]

@duncann : most of Minnelli's Maxim's footage was retained. Walters' shot cu and med shots in Hollywood, because Minnelli's style of shooting didn't required montage. Wanting it to flow, Minnelli primarily filmed master shots taking in the whole of the action. When they returned to Hollywood, Minnelli either refused to reshoot or was unavailable (likely the former) so Walters shot the required coverage: mostly cu and two-shots of Jourdan and Gabor during the first Maxim's sequence.

[SilverInsanity]

I want this movie so much. A copy of it, I mean. Beautiful, and thanks for uploading it! :)

[lostvocals3]

@SilverInsanity

.

Movies Unlimited has it for only $8.99...

[SilverInsanity]

@lostvocals3 My parents think I should focus more on my studies. The joy of being a teenager, I suppose. But I'll try to get it for my birthday, 'course. Thanks for telling me, though.

[MsMusicalMuse]

One of the most famous and funniest scenes in the musical-- if it is played through the end.

[sinsitysisterssinema]

I prefer the vocals removed. Given the romantic tone of the scene just prior to this, coming into a reprise of a tune and moment earlier in the film seems redundant. It's not a great tune that merits a reprise either. I have seen this great film hundreds of times and never considered that the crowd was doing anything but gossiping. One only notices that some may be in sync when you know a lot more about the film I agree with Minnelli & the editors choice.

[ZupaDub]

these 'pictures' are simply stunning!!!!

each frame looks like a Renoir Painting...

beautiful

[RoxanneJ81]

I prefer it without the vocals. When you consider the previous scene, where Gigi emerges from her room and the apartment and everybody's just left speechless by her, it makes total sense for her to enter Maxim's the same way. She's gorgeous, people don't know who she is, they're in awe. Which also makes the scene funny because the usual gossipy patrons are just left dumbstruck.

[glamfakir]

I think the audio was removed because the chorus sing 'she's a little young to play the GAME'...i.e. to be a whore.

[Capricaquarius89]

@glamfakir Still, it's only an allusion. and the whole film is about Gigi training to become Gaston's mistress. Racier things got past the censors in the 50s. Just look at "Suddenly, Last Summer" -- the references to Sebastian's homosexuality and how he uses his mother and cousin "procure" boys for his pleasure are pretty obvious, but it's never explicitly stated.

[helenajesstarzak]

I love this movie!

[lostvocals3]

JohnnyGNV

That's really something - I agree that the vocals are more effective too! It's amazing that without the vocals it just looks as if the patrons are just happily chatting away - LOL

mikeystar5

Holy smokes. I have never noticed them mouthing the words either! It's actually really distracting now. lol. I think the vocals are more effective. Kinds of stange that they removed them.

[lostvocals3]

andrewtarekrussell

What the...??? That's crazy! It's wild that the chattering sound distracts one from noticing that they're all mouthing the same thing!!! Yeah, this movie looks amazing, combining '50's Hollywood with turn-of-the-century Paris.

Cineramicfilms

The Art Direction in this movie is excellent, particularly in this scene. There's a freshness to this film that somehow sets it apart from the musicals MGM produced prior to it. Beautiful composition and the score can't be beat.

[slobomotion]

Thank you from Paris.