Leslie Caron: The Reluctant Star

Although it played film festivals in both Canada and the US, this 53mn French-Canadian documentary on the life and career of French-born dancer-turned-actress Leslie Caron was a VOD or television release in most other countries (the documentary is so short--and short-sighted--that I can't imagine it playing any place else). That is not to say the beautifully-aged Caron hasn't had a marvelous life, but director Larry Weinstein and his producers just hit the highlights of this lady's career (and the films chosen for discussion aren't even in chronological order). Are there any fresh revelations? Caron admits to leaving her two children behind with ex-husband Peter Hall while she pursued the film career he didn't expect her to keep after they wed--also to a two-year love affair with Hollywood lady-killer Warren Beatty after they co-starred in "Promise Her Anything"--but these remembrances aren't used to get us to the next chapter on Caron's journey (the effect is rather like flipping through an autobiography). The final moments are best: showing Leslie Caron in a positive place after leaving France for England after decades of waiting for the French film community to use her again following 1977's "The Man Who Loved Women". For what this is--a brief jaunt down memory lane with one of Old Hollywood's brightest stars--"The Reluctant Star" is enjoyable, but fans will certainly want more clips and more conversation. **1/2 from ****

I managed to find this streaming on Amazon Prime. I fell in love with Leslie Caron after seeing her in "An American in Paris" made in 1951 and then "Lili", an even better role, made in 1953. In this filmed series of interviews she talks about her early days, her Hollywood contract days, her return to France to build her career there, then her decision to move to England where her second husband is from, and where her son now works in TV and movie production.

This was apparently filmed in 2015 and/or 2016, when she would have been in her mid-80s, still vibrant, intelligent, and attractive for a woman her age. Now, in 2023, she will be in her 90s and, I presume, still going strong.

This is a nice presentation, even for those who might not be a big Leslie Caron fan. It is very interesting to see how this small, shy dancer from a small town in France quite by accident became an international star after she was noticed by Gene Kelly.

Thank you to Leslie Caron and film makers for this doc. So interesting! I will watch it again with friends. She is one hundred percent a fully realized human being. Not spared the trials of life , she's come through them to possess delightful grace. The visual images and narrative inspire and -like watching all the greats, make me happy to be a female. Go Leslie!

Fraid I must disagree with my two estimable imdb colleagues as I found this very brief, very superficial doc neither thoughtful nor delightful. Really it wasn't much of anything and, aside from the film makers being charmed by their subject and wishing to hang with her, I don't see any compelling reason to make the darn thing. It's not as if Ms. Caron was a great actress. Poor man's A. Hepburn about fills the bill where her work is concerned. And aside from her battle with depression there was no interesting non career narrative. And even her struggles in that area did not come out until halfway through the film! Instead what we got were some amusing at best, banal at worst, anecdotes about "Gigi", "American In Paris" and "L Shaped Room", her three best films, and some desultory, not very insightful stuff on Warren Beatty, Gene Kelly and Cary Grant. Nothing on her father, nothing on her siblings, alarmingly little on her mother, especially considering that Caron probably inherited her manic personality from her, and nothing on friends, colleagues or enemies. The only prominent talking head beside Caron's was her son. Just an unrevealing job all around. Solid C.

PS...Was I hallucinating or did this French gal actually think she, rather than Florida native Faye Dunaway, shoulda played Texas waitress turned gangster, Bonnie Parker? Truly, the egotism of actors is one vast expanse.

I saw this documentary for the first time this evening on TCM. I was not disappointed. I found Leslie Caron very open in discussing both her public and private life with great honesty. Throughout these many decades I have seen Gigi so many times I know the dialogue and music very well. If one has followed Ms. Caron's career I would highly recommend viewing this short film the next time TCM is able to showcase her work. You won't be disappointed.