An American in Paris is a 1951 American musical film inspired by the 1928 orchestral composition by George Gershwin. Starring Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant, Georges Guétary, and Nina Foch, the film is set in Paris, and was directed by Vincente Minnelli from a script by Alan Jay Lerner. The music is by George Gershwin, with lyrics by his brother Ira, with additional music by Saul Chaplin, the music director.
The story of the film is interspersed with dance numbers choreographed by Gene Kelly and set to Gershwin's music. Songs and music include "I Got Rhythm", "I'll Build A Stairway to Paradise", " 'S Wonderful", and "Our Love is Here to Stay". The climax of the film is "The American in Paris" ballet, a 17-minute dance featuring Kelly and Caron set to Gershwin's An American in Paris. The ballet alone cost almost half a million dollars.
American World War II veteran Jerry Mulligan (Gene Kelly) is now an exuberant expatriate in Paris trying to make a reputation as a painter. His friend and neighbor, Adam Cook (Oscar Levant), is a struggling concert pianist who is a longtime associate of a French singer, Henri Baurel (Georges Guétary). At the ground-floor bar, Henri tells Adam about his cultured girlfriend. Jerry joins them later, before going out to sell his art.
In Paris, they say there's something for me
Won't believe the friends you'll meet
You might find peace of mind
Just don't wear your bare feet
You may find the day you're living in
You might find a little sin
Travel forth, on your way
Avec moi, c'est soir
Ma petite jolie
avec me en gay Pari
In Paris, I say there's someone for me
We'll pretend to be free
We may find it's warm inside
Red light, burns, bright tonight
You may find the day you're living in
You might find a little sin
Travel forth, on your way
Ace moi, c'est soir
Ma petite jolie
avec me en gay Pari
In Paris, they said there's something for me
Don't believe the friend's you'll meet
Virgin whores we washed ashore