Gigi

Please, they're courtesans. High priced and exclusive. Actually, courtesans had a certain status of, not quite respectable but tacitly accepted, and in some societies respected. Kind of like Japanese geishas.

I thought Liane, Eva Gabor, was quite funny as the cheating mistress. The scene in the restaurant where she's holding court and he realizes she's cheating is one of the best scenes.

Louis Jourdan was so dreamy as Gaston Lachaille.

I always wondered about GiGi's mother's father. Was she the Chavalier character's daughter or did Mamita get knocked up by some unnamed client? Usually the fathers of the mistresses children would send money to help out.

"I remember it well" was basically Chavalier and Gigi's mother remembering [or not remembering] an affair they had - so I don't think he was Gigi's grandfather. If Gigi did not end up with Chavalier's son, it would have made sense for him to be Gigi's father, since he seemed to have a special place in her mother's heart. However, I don't think the story was that twisted...

It really is a charming movie until you remember what it is really about...

Remember that Chevalier is Gaston's uncle not father.

The recent Broadway revival of "Gigi" apparently failed because of its theme, even before the Weinstein scandal broke. I saw it the same day I saw the hit production of "An American in Paris" which I hated. I thought "Gigi" was charming in spite of all that.

"Concubine" is so much classier.

That last revival of Gigi even took Thank Heaven for Little Girls away from the Chevalier character and gave it to the aunts, presumably to avoid implications of pedophilia. Some people have dirty minds.

The film has many great songs but I could never love it, the basic story is too depressing. She's raised to sell herself for money and instead sells herself for marriage, to a man who is spoiled and easily bored.

Anyway, I always loved this costume and have brought it up on the various "Best Costume/Gown" threads we've had over the years. It's lovely in its own right, but the white gown with the moon in the hair makes it a sort of Moon Goddess costume, and the goddesses associated with the moons are traditionally virgin. In an age when movies couldn't discuss sex frankly, the outfit is a reminder that the girl is being sent out to sell her virginity for a price.

Whatever else, Hermione Gingold deserved a hand (or more) for making us believe that she had slept with Maurice Chevalier.

!!!!!

Are there nude photos of Louis Jordan?

[quote]The film has many great songs but I could never love it, the basic story is too depressing. She's raised to sell herself for money and instead sells herself for marriage, to a man who is spoiled and easily bored.

Exactly. As soon as Gigi pops out a kid or two, he'll be looking for a fresh young mistress. Oh well, at least wives of rich men usually remained financially secure, while courtesans often didn't.

[quote]Are there nude photos of Louis Jordan?

This guy? Why?

R14 some courtesans had the option of being financially secure, but they didn't tend to handle their money well. Like modern celebrities they felt living a lavish lifestyle and wearing the most spectacular fashions was a professional necessity, they needed to "keep up a front" in order to run in the best circles and attract the wealthiest lovers.

And gambling, drugs, worthless boyfriends, living for the moment, etc. Some things never change.

Yes, they are whores! But the worst part of it - they are boring ones. One of the worst musicals I have ever seen. Give me "Cabaret", "Chorus Line", "Les Mis" any time of the day ...

R14 has a point about many courtesans ending up badly. One of the greatest and longest lived, La Belle Otero, gambled away a huge fortune from the time of her retirement after WWI. She died in a one room "home" in the South of France near Monaco. On the other hand, Lillie Langtry also shared a Riviera address and held on to her money. But I think Otero, dying in 1965 or '67, was the last of the Gigi era.

I saw this thread, thought the “Gigi” in question was the Hadid girl! For the record, she is a whore, so I was looking forward to some more info on her, and the rest of the Hadid harem of whores.

Ah well...

Yes OP, they are!