Gigi - DVD

SynopsisSongsCast

Region Version Reviewed: Region 2 (PAL)

Release Date: 2004, Warner Home Video

Length: 110 minutes

Aspect Ratio: Widescreen (2.35:1)


Special Features:

Extra languages - German and Spanish; subtitles available for 21 languages, including English for the hearing-impaired


My Review:

The DVD of "Gigi" is enhanced with clear, bright, sharp, and natural-looking colors. The sound is clear and loud enough, even for a portable television set.

Most of the movie "Gigi" was filmed in France and the natural scenery adds to the enjoyment of the movie.

The widescreen feature of the DVD is particularly good for scenes where two people are sitting near each other, conversing. In most cases, the people sat apart and the widescreen allows the scene to fill the width of the TV screen so that both people can be seen at the same time throughout the scene.

The film has wonderful casting, with both Louis Jourdan and Maurice Chevalier having voices that are perfect for their songs. Leslie Caron's voice was dubbed for the singing, but the voice of the person who did the singing (Betty Wand) matched Leslie Caron's speaking voice so that the dubbing was not noticeable. In fact, even though I had seen the film numerous times, I did not know that Leslie Caron was not singing until I prepared this page of the website.

Unlike most movie musicals, particularly musicals of the 1950s, "Gigi" contains almost no dancing and no choregrapher is listed in the film's credits.

Gigi was written shortly after "My Fair Lady" and there are scenes in "Gigi" that are reminiscent of similar scenes in "My Fair Lady." For example, the scene in "Gigi" where couples are entering the nightclub is similar to the scene in "My Fair Lady" where people enter the stands at the race track. Also, Gigi's lessons easily bring to mind Eliza Dolittle's lessons. Even the music bears similarity to the songs from "My Fair Lady."

Gigi is a delightful musical with memorable songs and the excellent quality of the DVD makes viewing the movie a pleasure.