Leslie Caron | Hollywood Yesterday

Leslie Caron and Louis Jourdan on the Set of Gigi (1958)

March 3, 2023 By Joi

Leslie Caron and Louis Jourdan

Some days I have time to linger and chat on the old Hollywood blog… or even get a rant in about a film that doesn’t get enough attention or a sinfully overlooked actress!… other days, I just have to drop a great picture and make a hasty exit (grandbabies, cats, and husbands wait for no one after all!).

Today is the latter, so I will atone for my hastiness with two great pictures instead of just one. These are adorable behind the scenes photos of Leslie Caron and Louis Jourdan on the set of Gigi (1958). Directed by Vincente Minnelli, Gigi is one of the most joyful, fun, colorful, and thoroughly enjoyable films ever made. The cast also includes Maurice Chevalier, Hermione Gingold, Eva Gabor, and Isabel Jeans.

You can find the extraordinary Gigi on dvd and blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Leslie Caron and Louis Jourdan

Leslie Caron and Gene Kelly, Behind the Scenes of An American in Paris

June 7, 2020 By Joi

Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron, An American in Paris (Behind the Scenes)

I think I have stated my unpopular opinion on the blog before but, if not, look out – I’m about to let it fly again. An American in Paris (1951) isn’t just one of my favorite musicals of all-time… it is my favorite Gene Kelly musical.

Yes, above Singin’ in the Rain.

In fact… considerably above it. I am the rare, rare, rare bird who thought Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly were mismatched. Love him. Love her. Together… not so much. Ironically, I love the chemistry and dynamic she and Donald O’Connor had. In fact, I love the dynamic between Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor.

At any rate, An American in Paris is simply breathtakingly perfect. The chemistry between Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron is perfection – textbook chemistry and compatibility. Add in the always, always, always entertaining Oscar Levant and you have a can’t miss movie. I am actually in esteemed company by preferring An American in Paris – it was Gene Kelly’s favorite of his musicals.

You can buy An American in Paris (link to the dvd on Amazon) or watch on Prime.

P.S. Sincerest apologies to anyone who loves Singin’ in the Rain! I am totally and completely in the minority here meaning that I am the odd one out. I love the movie and love the cast… I simply do not buy into the pairing of the great Gene Kelly and the great Debbie Reynolds.

Leslie Caron and Louis Jourdan: Gigi (1958)

April 2, 2020 By Joi

Leslie Caron and Louis Jourdan, Gigi

I love these promotional pictures for Gigi so much it almost hurts to look at them. Then again, that’s pretty much the reaction I have to Leslie Caron, period.

Such a talented and beautiful actress and dancer. She’s mesmerizing to watch!

I’m also convinced that she is incapable of making a bad movie. Gigi, An American in Paris, Lili, Daddy Long Legs… some of my absolute favorite movies have one beautiful thing in common – Leslie Caron.

Leslie Caron and Louis Jourdan, Gigi

Gigi (1958) is such a delightful, joyful, and stunningly beautiful movie – VERY deserving of its 9 Oscar wins.

Did you know that, the day after the movie’s record-setting nine Oscars, MGM telephone operators were instructed to answer all phone calls with “Hello, M-Gigi-M.” Love that.

The entire cast is absolute perfection. This is actually the only role I’ve seen Louis Jourdan in, but he was so wonderful, I want to search out other films he made.

I love Leslie Caron’s quotes about her female co-stars in Gigi:

About Hermione Gingold (Madame Alvarez): “Irreverent, naughty, and fun, she had a great appetite for life, like a cat lapping up a bowl of milk.”
About Isabel Jeans (Aunt Alicia): “She never undid her corset at lunchtime like we all did, and she kept the straight back of a real pro from morning to night.”

You can find the extraordinary Gigi on dvd and blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Leslie Caron and Gene Kelly Picture of the Day and A Personal Message…

March 27, 2020 By Joi

Leslie Caron and Gene Kelly in One of My Favorite Films, An American in Paris

On this, my Old Hollywood Blog, on my cat blog, food blog, and tea blog…. as well as on the Hollywood Yesterday Twitter…. I have fallen behind. Behind in my daily pictures, behind in my updates, behind in my daily tweets.

Just behind.

Given that I work entirely from home as a web publisher, falling behind isn’t something that happens very often. I mean, even when I had the flu with a side of bronchitis last year, I stayed on top of things. I didn’t look too lovely sitting at my computer in a bathrobe, uncombed hair, no makeup, and holding tissues up to my nose… but I was here!

This is just somehow different. I find myself so preoccupied thinking and praying for all those who have been affected by the Coronavirus – which is, of course, all of us. I’ll be honest, it’s tough to think, “Okay, which Leslie Caron picture will I tweet today” or “Which recipe will I add to the food blog,” or EVEN “What cat toy do I want to spotlight on my cat blog…” when so many people are suffering around the world in one form or another.

But then I remembered a time a while back when I was going through a very, very low point in my life. One of my daughters had a very high risk pregnancy and she wasn’t doing very well. The precious baby boy was born very early and had to be in the NICU for days that felt like months.

Each night I would come home from the hospital, completely wrung out from worry about my daughter and grandbaby and the first thing I would do….. okay, third, feeding the cats and putting on my pajamas came first. In that order – anyone with cats understands…. the THIRD thing I would do would be to fall into my favorite chair in the den and check Old Hollywood Twitter. I had a best friend who was on Old Hollywood Twitter at that time (Bonnie) and I would go to her Twitter page as fast as my fingers would take me and lose myself in the beauty of the photos and the happiness and comfort of the memories they brought back.

Then I’d venture into other Twitter accounts with the same type of tweets.

They brought me comfort, happiness, peace, and momentary deliverance from worry and feelings of helplessness.

When I remembered that time, I realized I have to fight through this wall of numbness and do my part… just in case there is someone out there who I can help the way Bonnie and others helped me.

Some may say, “Pictures and things like that are certainly SMALL things!” and they may be right. But, as someone who leaned on these “small things,” I can tell you this… sometimes it’s the small things that will break your fall.

So, with all of that said, I will not miss a “daily picture” on the blog from here on out and will tweet my favorites as well as your favorites on Hollywood Yesterday Twitter like my life depends on it!

The only things that may slow me down are awfully, awfully adorable things.. they’re the grandbaby I talked about above (he’s a very healthy, happy, and ridiculously adorable and busy two year old now!) and his baby brother (a very healthy, happy, and ridiculously adorable and busy six month old!).

God bless you and your loved ones, do everything you have to do to stay safe and healthy. Please stay well and know that we will all get through this.

~ Love, Joi (“Joy“)

P.S. If you’re looking for a “feel good” movie, check out An American in Paris with Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. Love him, love her, love them, love the movie!

Shortest review ever, but there you have it.

Leslie Caron in Lili: Love Her and the Movie to ABSOLUTE Distraction!

March 15, 2020 By Joi

I absolutely adore Leslie Caron. She’s like a breath of fresh spring air every time she’s onscreen. I’m working my way through her filmography and have fallen head over heels with everything I’ve seen her in.

My most recent fall was for the adorable, fun, and wonderful Lili (1953). The movie co-stars Mel Ferrer, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and Kurt Kasznar.

Leslie Caron was 22 years old when she played the 16 year old Lili. She portrays the young girl to perfection – bringing both naivety and youthful enthusiasm to the character. You want to protectively put your arms around her the entire time.

This film was based on a short story in The Saturday Evening Post by Paul Gallico titled “The Man Who Hated People.” It was published in the 28 October 1950 edition and was, itself, inspired by the children’s puppet show “Kukla, Fran and Ollie”.

Due to the success of Lili, Gallico expanded the story into a novella.

This film was a big hit at the box office. It earned MGM a profit of $1,878,000 and was the studio’s most popular musical of the year.

You can find Lili on Amazon (link to the dvd) or watch it on Amazon Prime (link to the movie on Prime).

Mel Ferrer and Leslie Caron, Lili

Leslie Caron and Gene Kelly, An American in Paris

March 7, 2020 By Joi

Leslie Caron and Gene Kelly, An American in Paris

Ever love a movie so much you’re overcome with warm feelings even when you simply see promotional pictures? That’s me and some of my very favorites, including An American in Paris.

Ready for an unpopular opinion that may blow your hat off? I like this Gene Kelly musical 10x more than Singin’ in the Rain.

Go ahead and pick your hat up. I’ll be here when you get back.

They’re both wonderful musicals and each cast is outstanding. I love the music and dancing in each film. I love Gene Kelly and his sidekick Donald O’Connor in Singin’ in the Rain and I love Gene Kelly and his sidekick Oscar Levant in An American in Paris. I guess, truth be told, I enjoy Oscar’s performance a bit more.

The real difference, for me, between the two, however, is the lead actress. I buy into the Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron pairing much much more than I do the Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds one.

Now, I realize this is all a very unpopular opinion.. in fact, I’ve never heard anyone ever say anything even remotely negative about Singin’ in the Rain! It’s almost an unwritten rule – <em><strong>One must love every single thing about the musical and never mutter anything construed as anything less than glowing praise!!!</strong></em>

Ooops, I smashed that rule. Don’t get me wrong, I love Singin’ in the Rain. Gene Kelly’s performance in the rain is an iconic, one in a billion, mesmerizing work of art. I think the movie is great. I simply like An American in Paris better and it’s due to the chemistry between the main stars as much as anything.

Ironically, while I don’t think lovely Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly had even a single spark of chemistry, I think she and Donald O’Connor had tons! Every single time I’ve watched the movie, I think the same thing throughout the movie…. “Girl, you’re with the wrong guy.”

At any rate, An American in Paris (Amazon Link) is one of my all-time favorite movies, not just musicals. I love every single thing about it. If you’ve never seen it, I hope you’ll find it soon. There’s a number Gene Kelly and Oscar Levant perform in their room that’s as wonderful as any musical number you can think of.

Yes… even that one.

Ever love a movie so much you’re overcome with warm feelings even when you simply see promotional pictures? That’s me and some of my very favorites, including An American in Paris.

Ready for an unpopular opinion that may blow your hat off? I like this Gene Kelly musical 10x more than Singin’ in the Rain.

Go ahead and pick your hat up. I’ll be here when you get back.

The real difference, for me, between the two, however, is the lead actress. I buy into the Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron pairing much much more than I do the Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds one.

Now, I realize this is all a very unpopular opinion.. in fact, I’ve never heard anyone ever say anything even remotely negative about Singin’ in the Rain! It’s almost an unwritten rule – One must love every single thing about the musical and never mutter anything construed as anything less than glowing praise!!!

Yes… even that one.

Leslie Caron and Gene Kelly – An American in Paris (Picture of the Day!)

February 19, 2020 By Joi

One of my newest favorite Old Hollywood actresses is Leslie Caron. If I’d ever seen her films before, she’d have already been a favorite! As it is, I saw my first Leslie Caron movie within the past three months and have been watching them (one after the next) since.

So… yes… expect to see much more of her on Hollywood Yesterday.

The photo above is a publicity photo from the 1951 film, An American in Paris (Amazon link). The wonderfully fun and colorful film (directed by Vincente Minnelli) costarred Gene Kelly, Oscar Levant, and Nina Foch. If you’ve never seen it, I hope you’ll catch it soon. It’s outstanding.

Leslie Caron, Beautiful “Gigi” Promotional Photo

February 11, 2020 By Joi

Leslie Caron, Gigi

As I mentioned on Twitter earlier, I have a great number of favorite actresses (and actors and movies, for that matter). When you watch every single genre and every single decade from the 20s through the 70s, you rack up a lot of favorites!

I’ve just had a stunning addition to my list of favorite actresses and, yes, I’ve already added her to my favorite Old Hollywood Actresses list on the About page. It may be the fastest any actress has ever landed in a top spot for me. I just love everything about her.

Suffice to say, you’ll be seeing a lot more of this beautiful face on Hollywood Yesterday from now on. Lucky you!