Plot: What’s it about?
Lady Sybil Wren (Kay Kendall) was part of the Barry Nichols and Les Girls cabaret act for some time, so she knew the inner workings of the production. That means she knows all the inside information, hot stories, and steamy gossip, since she was there herself to take it all in, as opposed to just being told of the accounts. As such, when she sits down and pens a tell-all book of her experiences, it is loaded with spicy and controversial material. All the dirty little secrets are revealed in Sybil’s novel and it becomes an instant success. The critics go bananas over the insider scoop found in the work, while readers go bonkers over the steamy details about the various stars, since the stories are quite hot. While she is basking in the success of her project, Sybil is soon served with legal papers, as her Les Girls costar Angele Ducros (Taina Elg) is taking her court for libel, since some of the book deals with her exploits. The two femmes then face off in court, as the true facts and the girl’s claws are bared, thanks to a no holds barred battle right in the courtroom, as a captive audience watches. Then Barry Nichols (Gene Kelly) takes the stand and offers a third side to the story, but who is telling the truth?
This is a fun movie at times, but the musical numbers are too sparse and the storyline is too complex for the genre. I mean, musicals need storylines just like any other kind of movie, but we expect a simpler one in this genre, as the musical numbers, visuals, and performances tend to take precedence over the plot movements. But the premise here is complicated and is handled by director George Cukor with some hiccups, which makes things even more muddled in some scenes, so smooth isn’t how Les Girls should be described. Even so, the storyline flaws and direction troubles aren’t enough to weight this one down in total, as the wide selection of beautiful women alone merits repeat viewings here. Mitzi Gaynor, Taina Elg, and Kay Kendall headline the female attractions, but you’ll also witness a number of other beauties, including some that could pass for high end models, so its a nice assortment of ladies. And since this one has some racy costumes, those girls are on full showcase, especially in a certain number that involves green bows. The costumes are great fun in Les Girls, as are the set pieces, which are well designed and add some visual spark, so the scope format is well used here. I can’t recommend this to everyone, but if you’re a fan of beautiful women or musicals, give Les Girls a chance.
Although this movie is titled Les Girls, one of the main draws in terms of name value is a man, Gene Kelly. And of course, he knew his way around a musical or two, thanks to a career packed with superb genre performances. Kelly often plays second fiddle to the women around him in this picture, but his presence adds a lot to the experience. Whenever his costars let down a tad or especially when Kay Kendall isn’t around, its up to Kelly to keep things afloat and of course, he does so every time. But even with his immense skills, Kelly is forced t stretched often in Les Girls, as the material is thin in numerous instances. He is able to make the best of the situation though, so his presence keeps things elevated in many scenes. I wouldn’t put this near his best efforts, but all things considered, he is more than solid in Les Girls. Other films with Kelly include Singin’ in the Rain, An American in Paris, On the Town, Anchors Aweigh, The Three Musketeers, Brigadoon, and The Devil Makes Three. The cast also includes Mitzi Gaynor (Three Young Texans, South Pacific), Kay Kendall (Lady Godiva Rides Again, The Reluctant Debutante), and Taina Elg (Hercules in New York, The Mirror Has Two Faces).
Video: How does it look?
Les Girls is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a very good visual presentation, one which is only held back by some minor print concerns. The print is in good condition for the most part, but light grain is present throughout and small nicks can be seen in most scenes, which isn’t good. I can overlook these issues, but it should be noted, the pops and nicks are minor, but frequent all through the picture. The color streams in this edition, without any of the bleeds seen in the laserdisc edition, which should delight fans. I found contrast to be solid also, with smooth and accurate black levels at all times. Aside from the small print concerns, this is a great treatment and fans should be more than satisfied.
Audio: How does it sound?
A new Dolby Digital 5.1 option is found here and since this is a musical, the material makes good use of the added potential. The musical numbers aren’t frequent however, so don’t expect a constant amount of surround use. In the handful or so musical routines, you’ll notice solid surround presence and that really enhances the scenes. The music comes off as more expansive, while vocals remain crisp and crystal clear throughout. The rest of the scenes sound good, but the musical numbers are the most memorable, of course. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Supplements: What are the extras?
In addition to a featurette hosted by Tania Elg, this disc includes a vintage Flea Circus cartoon, some production notes, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
