The Gay Parisian

There's considerable color, lots of energy, and the grins of the dancers tell us that we are supposed to think that this production is absolutely delightful. But the choreographer and dancers don't display sufficient technical virtuosity to off-set the almost complete lack of an actual story here. Imagine a second- or third-rate '40s musical, eliminate the singing, and replace the movie make-up with that appropriate to live theater, and you'll have a rough idea of what this film is like. Danny Kaye would have been expected to move with more precision than does Leonide Massine; the nameless dancers for MGM would have been expected to be better synchronized than are the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. While I'm sure that, with a run-time of 20 minutes, a more tiring film *could* be made, I'm not sure than one *has* been made.

In filming Massine's Gaite Parisienne with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo,director Jean Negulesco chose the shots and edited the film beautifully. Dance is very hard to film effectively. Also, Massine adapted his famous dance wonderfully for film and what a treat to see him dance The Peruvian, his own creation! The famous dancers of the early 1940's makes a breathtaking cast list: Frederic Franklin, Krassovska,Eglevsky--everyone dancing and looking marvelous. They just threw off the choreography with no effort whatsoever. Thanks to Turner Classic Films for bringing these Negulesco shorts to light. All of them well acted, nicely designed and written. The costumes perfect. Not that garish mess of costuming a few years ago for American Ballet Theater. What a thrill to know Gaite Parisienne has been caught forever on film and so well. The addition of the sound of Massine's footsteps in his allegro pas and other slight sound additions an important element of making the ballet seem alive and not just a silent dance filmed to recorded music. And what about those musicians coming in while playing the beginning of the Barcarolle? Shela Xoregos

This is a vividly colourful excerpt from Offenbach's ballet "Gaité Parisienne" performed by Monaco's acclaimed Ballet Russe with quite a few of it's more memorable pieces of music providing a score for duets, fisticuffs and elegant dancing. Essentially, though, it is really just a showcase for some Technicolor sumptuousness. The one thing I do like about visiting a theatre is the static seat you sit on. The cast perform to you, en masse, whilst you remain in the same position - not from behind a railing, or a plant, or from thirty foot above the stage at the side. Jean Negulesco seems not to be bothered about that continuity as the camera flits about all over the stage and effectively destroys the overall look and flow of this high-costume drama. We are too often in the laps of the leading dancers and so don't really get a sense of the company experience that makes ballet a team proposition. Even though it's only a single act story, it's nigh-on impossible to condense that into twenty minutes and this presentation really doesn't do justice to much beyond the appealing visuals. Worth a watch, but a bit disappointing.

I can't even imagine the commitment and effort it takes to perfect each and every step, every turn, twist and leap. It must've been painstakingly difficult, it certainly looked impressive, and they looked like they were enjoying themselves. However, I just didn't get it.

Yes I know. I'm an uncultured swine. I'll get back to watching Die Hard 8 now.

I must say I enjoyed the short introduction at the start, I thought it was great. Almost like looking into rooms of a dollhouse. Great way to introduce the cast.

It's the Café Parisian. On a sound stage, the members of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo perform. A Peruvian falls for lovely glove seller girl who has already caught the eyes of a baron. It's in Technicolor and nominated for short subject Academy Award.

I am far from a ballet expert or even a fan. This seems fine to me. It is a lot of costumed dancers in a static setting. It is only twenty minutes and It ends before I get too bored. The Peruvian is crazy. I would think that he's the villain instead if only he had a twirling moustache. On the other hand, the baron is pure white bread and rather dull. Honestly, I don't know who she should go with. It depends on whether she likes dull or crazy.