Les Girls
Original movie poster
Directed by	George Cukor
Produced by	Sol C. Siegel Saul Chaplin (associate producer)
Written by	John Patrick Vera Caspary (story)
Starring	Gene Kelly Kay Kendall Mitzi Gaynor Taina Elg Jacques Bergerac Leslie Phillips
Music by	Cole Porter (music and lyrics)
Cinematography	Robert Surtees
Editing by	Ferris Webster
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date(s)	3 October 1957
Running time	114 min
Country	USA
Language	English

Les Girls, also known as Cole Porter's Les Girls, is a 1957 comedy film musical made by MGM. It was directed by George Cukor, produced by Sol C. Siegel with Saul Chaplin as associate producer from a screenplay by John Patrick based on a story by Vera Caspary with music and lyrics by Cole Porter.

It stars Gene Kelly, Kay Kendall, Mitzi Gaynor and Taina Elg with Jacques Bergerac, Leslie Phillips, Henry Daniell and Patrick Macnee.

Contents 1 Storyline 2 Background notes 3 Awards and nominations 4 Choreography 5 Cast 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Storyline

After writing a tell-all book about her days in the dance troupe "Barry Nichols and Les Girls", Sybil Wren (Kay Kendall) is sued for libeling her fellow dancer Angele (Taina Elg). A Rashômon (1950)-style narrative presents the story from three points of view where Sybil accuses Angele of having an affair with Barry (Gene Kelly), while Angele insists that it was actually Sybil who was having the affair. Finally, Barry gives his side of the story.^[1]

[edit] Background notes

• The story by Vera Caspary was inspired by an article which appeared in The Atlantic — a reminiscence of a dancer's touring years. Miss Caspary's version turned the memoir into a point of dispute and raised questions about the nature of truth.
• Les Girls was Gene Kelly's last musical under his contract at MGM which began in 1942.
• Les Girls was the last film score by Cole Porter and the next-to-last score of his career.

[edit] Awards and nominations

• Les Girls won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for Orry-Kelly and was nominated for two other awards, Best Art Direction (William A. Horning, Gene Allen, Edwin B. Willis, Richard Pefferle) and Best Sound. ^[2]

• The film won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy and for Best Actress, Kay Kendall. It was also nominated for Best Motion Picture Actress - Musical/Comedy for Taina Elg.

[edit] Choreography

• "Les Girls" was a major vehicle for choreographer Jack Cole, and one of the first films to feature the role of choreographer in the opening credits.

[edit] Cast

• Gene Kelly - Barry Nichols
• Mitzi Gaynor - Joy Henderson
• Kay Kendall - Sybil Wren
• Taina Elg - Angele Ducros
• Jacques Bergerac - Pierre Ducros
• Leslie Phillips - Sir Gerald Wren
• Henry Daniell - Judge
• Patrick Macnee - Sir Percy
• Stephen Vercoe - Mr. Outward
• Philip Tonge - Associate Judge

[edit] References

• [1]

[edit] External links

• Les Girls at the Internet Movie Database

v • d • e Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy An American in Paris (1951) · With a Song in My Heart (1952) · Carmen Jones (1954) · Guys and Dolls (1955) · The King and I (1956) · Les Girls (1957) · Gigi/Auntie Mame (1958) · Porgy and Bess/Some Like It Hot (1959) · Song Without End/The Apartment (1960) Complete List · (1951–1960) · (1961–1980) · (1981–2000) · (2001–present)

v • d • e Films directed by George Cukor Grumpy (1930) · The Virtuous Sin (1930) · The Royal Family of Broadway (1930) · Tarnished Lady (1931) · Girls About Town (1931) · A Bill of Divorcement (1932) · Rockabye (1932) · What Price Hollywood? (1932) · Dinner at Eight (1933) · Our Betters (1933) · Little Women (1933) · David Copperfield (1935) · No More Ladies (1935) · Sylvia Scarlett (1935) · Camille (1936) · Romeo and Juliet (1936) · Holiday (1938) · Zaza (1939) · The Women (1939) · The Philadelphia Story (1940) · Susan and God (1940) · Two-Faced Woman (1941) · A Woman's Face (1941) · Her Cardboard Lover (1942) · Keeper of the Flame (1942) · Gaslight (1944) · Winged Victory (1944) · A Double Life (1947) · Edward, My Son (1949) · Adam's Rib (1949) · Born Yesterday (1950) · A Life of Her Own (1950) · The Model and the Marriage Broker (1951) · The Marrying Kind (1952) · Pat and Mike (1952) · The Actress (1953) · A Star Is Born (1954) · It Should Happen to You (1954) · Bhowani Junction (1956) · Les Girls (1957) · Wild Is the Wind (1957) · Heller in Pink Tights (1960) · Let's Make Love (1960) · The Chapman Report (1962) · My Fair Lady (1964) · Justine (1969) · Travels with My Aunt (1972) · The Blue Bird (1976) · The Corn is Green (1979) · Rich and Famous (1981)