An American in Paris (1951)

For clarity's sake, I'm allowed to like both Alien and An American in Paris.  Both are fantastic at what they do.  They just do very different things.  One scares the daylights out of you, the other will invariably make you smile anytime.

Gene Kelly was at the peak of his game with An American in Paris.  He's witty, charming, bombastic, free-spirited, and contagiously happy.  He's after one girl, while another girl is after him.  The girl he wants is the fiancee of a friend, while the girl who wants him happens to be his patron (he's an artist).

But the movie isn't about the plot.  This movie works because of three things: 1) The music is entirely Gershwin, and the use of his music is inspired.  2) The dancing, especially during the ballet piece, which is by far the best dancing sequence ever put on film.  3) Gene Kelly.  Honestly, I'd watch Gene Kelly work in anything, even in his garden.  I know that sounds all stalker-ish, and I'm willing to accept such accusations.  Kelly simply was a master on film.  He knew how to act, how to sing, and how to dance -the Hollywood triple threat.  And he does all three with a seemingly effortless precision; I say "seemingly," because I know that he worked dog hard and was a notorious perfectionist.

An American in Paris is the feel-good, happy, all-singing, all-dancing great film that won Best Picture.  Watch it.  's wonderful. 's marvelous.

Entertainment:  6/10
Artistic Value:  6/10
Technical Merit: 8/10

Overall: 7/10