Watch Les Girls

Les Girls is a 1957 musical comedy directed by George Cukor, starring Gene Kelly, Mitzi Gaynor, and Kay Kendall. The movie tells the story of three beautiful dancers, each with their own perspective on their days performing as part of a Parisian cabaret, who come together in court in London to settle a lawsuit accusing their show of being indecent, dishonest and dull.

The story is told through flashbacks, as each of the three girls, Lady Sybil (Kendall), Joy (Gaynor) and Angele (Taina Elg), recounts their version of events before the judge. As each girl tells their story, the audience sees different versions of events, offering multiple points of view, showing how truth can be subjective.

The plot is centered around the complicated relationships between the girls, as they each fall in love with the charismatic choreographer, played by Gene Kelly. Alongside their love lives, Les Girls also addresses issues related to love gone wrong, trust and betrayal.

Gene Kelly plays Barry Nichols, a savvy character whose ambition and talent propel him to the top of the entertainment industry. He forms a partnership with Lady Sybil, a British aristocrat who is the wealthiest member of the trio, and begins to perform with her in the United States. However, the relationship between Kelly and Sybil turns sour after he falls in love with Joy, an American dancer who is more in tune with his creative vision.

Kay Kendall is terrific as the sophisticated Lady Sybil, whose colorful past is hinted at but not fully revealed until the end of the movie. Her character is complex with trust issues and a past with Barry that is revealed in the climax. Mitzi Gaynor is charming as the naive Joy, who is caught up in Barry's spell. Taina Elg provides the voice of reason as Angele, the newcomer to the troupe who possesses an aloof-yet-wise perspective on their situations.

One of the highlights of the movie is the fantastic dancing of Gene Kelly, who choreographed the movie in his classic style that blends athleticism, elegance, and charm. The movie has several memorable dance sequences, including the playful and romantic number, “Why Am I So Gone About That Gal?” and the famous “Les Girls” number, which showcases the talents of the entire cast as they perform in stunning black and white outfits in a nod to early Hollywood film.

Les Girls was Academy Award-nominated for Best Screenplay, Best Art Direction, and Best Sound. The movie is notable for its inventive use of flashbacks and multiple perspectives, which creates a narrative complexity not often seen in musicals of this era. The movie is wrapped in a framing device in which the three women meet years after the lawsuit was settled, and as they reminisce about their time together, their memories and depictions of events deviate and contradict one another. This device offers a fresh and clever story-telling structure to the movie.

In summary, Les Girls offers an entertaining and engaging mix of song, dance, and drama, with standout performances by Gene Kelly, Kay Kendall, Mitzi Gaynor, and Taina Elg. The movie deals with themes of love, ambition, and deception while featuring a well-crafted script, clever direction, and memorable songs and dance numbers. Les Girls is a must-see for fans of classic Hollywood musicals and anyone who enjoys a compelling story told through multiple perspectives.

Les Girls is a 1957 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 54 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6.