Gene Kelly, bold and athletic to Astaire’s grace and elegance, was at the top of his game, as was the Hollywood musical, in 1951’s “An American in Paris.” Director Vincent Minnelli took the Oscar, but Kelly directed, as well as choreographed, several scenes, including the climatic finale, a wordless, breathtaking 16-minute ballet.
The film, with Gershwin music throughout, won six Academy Awards, including best picture, while Kelly, then 38, received an honorary Oscar for his multi-dimensional contribution to film musicals, this even before “Singing in the Rain” the following year. Just about the only authentic French thing in the movie – it was shot in Hollywood – is a 19-year-old Leslie Caron, making her film debut. The film plays the Sebastiani Theatre on Monday, June 4 at 7 p.m., and again June 6 at 1 p.m. $8. 996.2020. Sebastianitheatre.com.
Minnelli did not win an Oscar for An American in Paris. His Oscar win was for the film Gigi.
Right you are. Our mistake. Minnelli was nominated for Best Director, but lost out to George Stevens for his “A Place in the Sun.” Two other famed flicks from that year: “Streetcar Named Desire” and “The African Queen.”