Título: Gigi (1958 film)
Seção: Development
Background: Gigi [ZiZi] is a 1958 American musical-romance film directed by Vincente Minnelli processed using MGM's Metrocolor. The screenplay by Alan Jay Lerner is based on the 1944 novella of the same name by Colette. The film features songs with lyrics by Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe, arranged and conducted by Andre Previn. In 1991, Gigi was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Conteúdo: Hollywood producer Arthur Freed first proposed a musicalization of the Colette novella to Alan Jay Lerner during the Philadelphia tryout of My Fair Lady in 1954. When Lerner arrived in Hollywood two years later, Freed was battling the Hays Code to bring his tale of a courtesan-in-training to the screen. Another roadblock to the project was the fact Colette's widower had sold the rights to her novella to Gilbert Miller, who planned to produce a film version of the 1954 stage adaptation by Anita Loos. It cost Freed more than $87,000 to purchase the rights from Miller and Loos.  Lerner's songwriting partner Frederick Loewe had expressed no interest in working in Hollywood, so Lerner agreed to write the screenplay only. He and Freed discussed casting; Lerner favored Audrey Hepburn, who had starred in the Broadway production written by Loos, but Freed preferred Leslie Caron, who had co-starred in An American in Paris for him. Both agreed Maurice Chevalier would be ideal for aging boulevardier Honore Lachaille, and Lerner proposed Dirk Bogarde for Gaston. Lerner agreed to write the lyrics if Freed could convince Bogarde and designer Cecil Beaton to join the project. He decided to approach Loewe once again, and when he suggested they compose the score in Paris, Loewe agreed.  In March 1957, the duo began working in Paris. When Chevalier, who already had agreed to appear in the film, first heard "Thank Heaven for Little Girls", he was delighted. When he discussed his waning interest 

user: what year was Gigi released?

assistant: In March 1957, the duo began working in Paris.

user: who developed the main character?

assistant: so Lerner agreed to write the screenplay only. He and Freed discussed casting;

user: how did they pick the cast?

assistant: He and Freed discussed casting; Lerner favored Audrey Hepburn, who had starred in the Broadway production written by Loos,

user: how did they choose the location?

assistant: He decided to approach Loewe once again, and when he suggested they compose the score in Paris, Loewe agreed.

user: how did they come up with the score development?

assistant: Lerner proposed Dirk Bogarde for Gaston. Lerner agreed to write the lyrics

user: where did they film most of the movie?

assistant: the duo began working in Paris.

user: did the actors all get along?

assistant: When he discussed his waning interest in wine and women in favor of performing for an audience in cabarets,

user: are there any other interesting facts?

assistant: The lyrics for another of his songs, the duet "I Remember It Well", performed with Hermione Gingold as his former love Madame Alvarez,

user: was the song I Remember It Well a hit?

assistant: Lerner disliked the melody, but Loewe, Freed, and Minnelli voted to include it in the film.