“’S Wonderful! ’S Marvelous!” – An American in Paris (1951)

This week, we step into the dreamlike Technicolor world of An American in Paris with special guest Arlene Hellerman. A Publications Associate for Broadway Licensing Global, Arlene brings a multifaceted perspective shaped by a career spanning theatre, film, television, broadcast news, and print journalism.

Together, we explore how Vincente Minnelli’s 1951 musical turned Gershwin’s music and Gene Kelly’s choreography into a lavish cinematic spectacle—culminating in one of the most ambitious ballet sequences in film history.

An American in Paris (1951) was directed by Vincente Minnelli and stars Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron

Selected to the National Film Registry in 1993

Known for:

• Its 17-minute ballet finale inspired by French impressionist art
• A seamless blend of Gershwin’s music with vivid choreography and design
• Winning six Academy Awards, including Best Picture

Discussion topics include:

• The film’s legacy in shaping the movie musical
• Its stylized depiction of postwar Paris
• The interplay between fine art and popular culture in Minnelli’s vision

Featuring special guest:

• Arlene Hellerman, Publications Associate for Broadway Licensing Global, whose career spans theatre, film, TV, broadcast news, and print journalism

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Music by Mike Natale