Les Girls

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Les Girls
Original movie poster
Directed by	George Cukor
Produced by	Sol C. Siegel Saul Chaplin (associate producer)
Written by	John Patrick Vera Caspary (story)
Starring	Gene Kelly Kay Kendall Mitzi Gaynor Taina Elg Jacques Bergerac Leslie Phillips
Music by	Cole Porter (music and lyrics)
Cinematography	Robert Surtees
Editing by	Ferris Webster
Distributed by	MGM
Release date(s)	3 October 1957
Running time	114 min
Country	USA
Language	English
IMDb profile

Les Girls, also known as Cole Porter's Les Girls, is a 1957 comedy film musical made by MGM. It was directed by George Cukor, produced by Sol C. Siegel with Saul Chaplin as associate producer from a screenplay by John Patrick based on a story by Vera Caspary with music and lyrics by Cole Porter.

It stars Gene Kelly, Kay Kendall, Mitzi Gaynor and Taina Elg with Jacques Bergerac, Leslie Phillips, Henry Daniell and Patrick Macnee.

1 Background notes
2 Plot
3 Awards and nominations
4 Cast
5 External links

[edit] Background notes

The story by Vera Caspary was inspired by an article which appeared in The Atlantic — a reminiscence of a dancer's touring years. Miss Caspary's version turned the memoir into a point of dispute and raised questions about the nature of truth.
Les Girls was Gene Kelly's last musical under his contract at MGM which began in 1943.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Sybil Wren (Kay Kendall), a former dancer, has written her memoirs about her days in the dancing troupe "Barry Nichols and Les Girls". Two of her former dancing partners, (Mitzi Gaynor and Taina Elg) attempt to prevent the publication of the book by taking her to court. Each gives gives her version of events and Barry Nichols (Gene Kelly) is brought in as a witness. The story is told in flashback and, Rashomon-style, each version is substantially different and asks 'which is the truth?'. The legal battle is interspersed with backstage scenes and dance routines enlivened by Cole Porter's songs.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Awards and nominations

Les Girls won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for Orry-Kelly and was nominated for two other awards, Best Art Direction and Best Sound.
The film won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy and for Best Actress, Kay Kendall. It was also nominated for Best Motion Picture Actress - Musical/Comedy for Taina Elg.