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The very stylized design of this movie is what makes it memorable - the sets depicting the fashion magazine office, the photography sequence in Paris with the repeated freeze frames, and the dimly lit club where Audrey does her avant-garde dance.
Since you're in love with Audrey Hepburn now, obviously you need to do Roman Holliday. Thats was her starring debut, and she won the Oscar for it. She's enchanting in it.
For more Audrey as both charming and entertaining, watch her in ‘Roman Holiday, ‘Charade, Sabrina.’ For drama, in ‘Wait Until Dark’, ‘The Nun’s Story.’ She is famous for ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ and ‘My Fair Lady’ - both films have issues for modern audiences, but the quality of her performances is incredible.
Glad you all find these unusual classic movies. Hardly anybody remembers this one, but it's great! 31:20 Kay Thomson was 47 when she did this movie. I guess she'd be doing this stuff on Broadway a long time by 1956.
The mid to late 1950s gave birth to the Beat Generation or the "beatniks", who rejected materialism and flocked to Paris to live "la vie bohème," writing poetry and experimenting with art, music, literature, dance, etc. "Funny Face" poked fun at this subculture and many young audiences and critics rejected "Funny Face" as unhip.
For more Fred Astaire films, each having several unique dance sequences, try: (in no order) Top Hat, Easter Parade, The Band Wagon, Swing Time, Silk Stockings, Royal Wedding, You Were Never Lovelier, and for drama but no dancing-On The Beach.
So Audrey Hepburn is a good dancer because she WAS a dancer. Before WW2 she was studying ballet. During the war she got super sick and also interrupted by… well… war… When she came back to ballet she just wasn’t able to be the prima ballerina she wanted to be. No matter how hard she worked. So then she did modelling. Which I believe she didn’t like very much. Then she was “discovered” and asked to play the role of Gigi on stage. That started her acting career. Then she got a few small parts in a few movies. One liners. Then she auditioned for Roman Holiday and the rest is history.
Yes, and in a film like "Top Hat" or "The Gay Divorcee" that's more of a DANCE movie than this one, and with a better partner. Audrey was trained in ballet during her younger years and could sing a little too, but that isn't why she got hired for movies.
While we can say Audrey was objectively beautiful, the movie star standard at the time was Marylin Monroe. By comparison Audrey was funny looking in the industry. The standard began changing with her and then we got to the 60s waif as the beauty standard, i.e. Twiggy.
If you like Audrey, see "Charade." You get her, Cary Grant, Walter Matthau, Hitchcockian-style suspense. But you must soon see "All About Eve." Bette Davis at her peak. Brilliant, witty writing, fabulous acting, good old black and white.
Wow! Okay then. Thanks for watching this frothy, silly, yet as you pointed out, satirical look at women's fashion magazines of the 1950's. My favorite musical number from this film is "Bonjour, Paris", because of the split screen , travelogue feel and all three principals seem carefree for the moment. A 21st century movie you should watch for comparison is the non-musical, comedy/drama "The Devil Wears Prada." If you thought Maggie Prescott was akin to Cruella Deville wait until you meet Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep.) And also, a wonderful debut of Emily Blunt. Audrey Hepburn was 27, Fred Astaire was 58 and Kay Thompson was 48 in 1957. Maybe that was the other reason for the Vaseline on the camera lens...ooops...my bad. Other Audrey films to watch: Roman Holiday (1953) her first & an Oscar win for her and the year I was born (Yay!), Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961) iconic classic & that beautiful Henry Mancini score and Wait Until Dark (1967) suspense/thriller. For Fred, I'd suggest to go way back, before my time, to the 1930's and his partnership with Ginger Rogers. When someone once was saying what a great dancer Fred is, another person retorted that Ginger was doing exactly the same steps only backwards and in high heels! (similar to your remark Nate.) In Shall We Dance (1937), the two of them dance on roller skates in a park(set.)
Wow! Okay then. Thanks for watching this frothy, silly yet satirical look at women's fashion magazines influence of the 1950's and seemingly enjoying it. Like you said "a date night movie." A 21st century movie you might like to watch as comparison to this film is "The Devil Wears Prada" (2006.) A non-musical, comedy/drama set in this same world of fashion and glamour. If you thought Maggie Prescott was akin to Cruella Deville wait until you meet Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep.) Audrey Hepburn was 27, Fred Astaire was 58 and Kay Thompson was 48 in 1957. Could be another reason for the vasiline on the camera...ooops...my bad. Audrey Hepburn films to watch: Roman Holiday(1953) her first & an Oscar win for her & the year I was born (Yay!), Breakfast At T
