Gigi: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Soundtrack]

Maurice Chevalier, Frederick Loewe, Hermione Gingold, Louis Jourdan, Leslie Caron, Betty Wand, Alan Jay Lerner, Andre Previn, Gigi (Related Recordings) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 27, 1996)
• Original Release Date: February 27, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Rhino
• ASIN: B0000033JF
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,915 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #57 in Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Musicals > Classic Musicals

Track Listings

1. Main Title

2. Opening

3. Interlude/And There Is the Future

4. Thank Heaven for Little Girls

5. Meet Gigi [Extended Version]

6. Gaston's House [Extended Version]

7. Armenonville/It's a Bore Prelude

8. It's a Bore

9. After It's a Bore [Extended Version]

10. Aunt Alicia

11. Parisians Introduction

12. The Parisians

13. Ice Skating Sequence [Extended Version]

14. Dissolve Maxim's/Gossip [Extended Version]

15. Introduction to Maxim's Waltz /Waltz at Maxim's [Extended Version]

16. It's a Bore (Reprise)

17. To the Inn [Extended Version]

18. Goodbye Madame

19. Bore Montage

20. The Night They Invented Champagne

See all 42 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A blockbuster movie in 1958, lovingly remastered and including of all the film's incidental music reminds us why modern Hollywood can at times be dismissed with the wave of a hand. This is a grand musical, with seeds sown for much of the movie music that would follow, with even hints of what John Williams would steal for Star Wars. Frederick Loewe's music is playful and engaging, but the highlight simply has to be Maurice Chevalier. His turns at "Thank Heaven for Little Girls," "It's a Bore" (with Louis Jourdan), and the hilarious "I Remember It Well" are timeless classics. The entire album has successfully incorporated a wonderful Parisian feel that lounge artists like Esquivel would go on to emulate. --Scott Wilson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "when did your sparkle turn to fire, and your warmth become desire?...", February 26, 2007

By 

Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Gigi: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

GIGI is for me the ultimate movie musical from M-G-M. So many wonderful characters, and so many classic moments. The soundtrack album (newly-expanded and restored from the fine people at TCM), is a great new way to remember this fine film.

Based on the novella by Colette, the story centers around a headstrong young tomboy called Gigi (Leslie Caron), whose childhood friendship with eligible bachelor Gaston (Louis Jourdan) takes an unexpected twist. Tired of the constant stream of gold-diggers and debutantes who want to marry him, Gaston decides to ask Gigi. Her grandmother and aunt (Hermione Gingold and Isabel Jeans), two of the most noteworthy of courtesans in their youth, insist that Gigi shouldn't be tied down by marriage. Gigi is faced with the task of becoming a glamorous courtesan, but Gaston wants a wife...

The gilded, sweeping score of GIGI was provided by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, still riding high on the success of "My Fair Lady" on Broadway. With such wonderful, character-driven numbers like "She is Not Thinking of Me" (a devilish waltz for Gaston and his latest feather-brained partner); "The Parisians" (Gigi's plea for understanding the ways of love); and "I Remember It Well" (a comical duet for Maurice Chevalier and Hermione Gingold).

This soundtrack album features the entire score, newly-restored in true stereo for the very first time, plus extensive incidental music and background scoring. Leslie Caron was never a good singer, and her vocals were dubbed here by Betty Wand. Included are three bonus tracks of Caron in rehearsals, performing her own renditions of "The Parisians", "The Night They Invented Champagne", and "Say a Prayer for Me Tonight". While the songs of Gigi aren't especially demanding, listening to Caron on these tracks gives you a clear understanding of why she was later dubbed (despite the fact that she gives Gigi the youthful innocence so befitting of the character).

GIGI was the final hurrah for the M-G-M movie musicals. It won the 'Best Picture' Oscar plus nods for the composers, and 'Best Song' for "Gigi" sung by Louis Jourdan. It remains to this day one of the most enjoyable - and joyous - movies of all time. The soundtrack album is a must for all fans, and the overall quality and standard here is superb.

[TCM/Rhino 7243 8 38115 2 6]

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the finest original musical scores in film history., July 28, 1998

By 

A. Andersen (Bellows Falls, VT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gigi: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

Although one could quibble that GIGI lumbered across its CinemaScope expanse like a leaden elephant, the beauty of its sets and costumes, the charm of its performances, and the joy of possibly the most elegant original score ever written for a film musical make this an aural experience that is hard to beat. Loewe's sumptuous music and Lerner's lyrics ("like finely cut crystal") are as bubbly as champagne itself. The LP was quite short - just over 30 minutes - with the 11 set numbers. The CD goes back to the original track and fills in with background scoring that adds much to the lilt and grace of the aural experience. Caron was the only singer who was dubbed (Betty Wand). This is a masterpiece of song writing and scoring. Don't miss it!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm glad I'm not bored by instrumental underscoring, December 12, 2000

By 

Bluebird (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gigi: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

I am so glad that Turner/Rhino's soundtrack releases contain all of the underscoring from the films represented thus far. For those who tire of it, you can always program your CD to play only the tracks you want to hear. The rest of us are eternally grateful for these releases. Especially when you compare them to the truncated, inferior LPs originally produced. GIGI offers us a substancial bonus by including Leslie Caron's original tracks. In an interview with Robert Osborne on Turner Classic Movies I found it amusing to see Leslie's reacion to the fact that these tracks have been released. Try to see this interview if possible to enjoy her for yourself. It's also fascinating to hear the original structure of "The Parisians." The song was shortened considerably in the version which ended up in the film. The booklet included with the disc is extremely interesting in it's examination of the post-production challenges that the underscoring and orchestrations went through. How interesting it would be to hear some of the discarded material. What really shocked me was that fact that in the latter part of the film when Gigi is taken to Maxim's the background players subject her to the same gossip treatment that had been accorded to Liane earlier in the film. During post production the vocals were removed. If you watch you can see their lips all moving in unison, but the words have been substituted with random mumblings rather than the original "greek chorus." I never noticed this prior to acquiring this CD. Just one more reason these Turner/Rhino discs are indispesible.