MovieChat Forums > An American in Paris (1951) Discussion > Anyone else find the ending somewhat unr...

Anyone else find the ending somewhat unrealistic?

posted 19 years ago by MaxPunishment
57 replies | jump to latest

Other than the overly long ballet sequence at the end of the sequence (most of which I fast forward through) I really enjoy this film. My only problem with it is I can't imagine the ending of the film playing out as it does. For Henri to drive back and simply hand Lise to Jerry seems unlikely, especially after Henri explains the importance to Jerry of holding onto the one that you love since true love may only come once in a lifetime. Although you can make the argument that Jerry loves Elise and that he should get her, Henri also love Lise and Lise admittedly also has feelings for him. Therefore, I can't imagine what the motivations of Henri would be to give up the love of his life. Although similar to the ending of Casablanca, I feel this ending fails to justify why the relationship between Elise and Henri should end.

Anyone else feel this way?

[–] mwmace 18 years ago

I just watched AAIP for the first time, despite my age of 53. I have been listening to the music of Gershwin for a long time. In my opinion, Gershwin's AAIP is the finest American music ever written.

I think Kelly made the movie strictly with this music in mind. He may have created a "thin" plot just to reach the last 20 minutes and to have the climax of the music take place as Kelly and Caron re-join and embrace. After all, this is what this music is about. This is what the music demands. Kelly gave us a film for this moment.

[–] jem132 18 years ago

I love the ballet sequence. I think it's one of the finest musical numbers put on screen. That's just my opinion.

As for the ending, it is abrupt, yet believable- My understanding is that Lise loves Henri, but is not "in love" with him as she is with Jerry. Henri does a very unselfish, loving thing- sacrificing his own love for the girl's happiness.

'I guess I'm the girl nobody remembers'

[–] aurorakmwhawaii 18 years ago

I thought this was one of the very worst movies I have ever seen. I love dance and I love ballet and I had to fast forward through the dance sequences because they were so poorly choreographed and danced. I guess I'm a purist when it comes to ballet but I don't think Gene Kelly is a ballet choreographer. Broadway on pointe shoes is totally different than real ballet, so let's all stop calling this a "ballet". It's very bad show dancing with the addition of ballet costumes and point shoes. I thought it was unbearable. The only excuse I could come up with for it was that it was 1950. A movie like this would be laughed out of the theaters today.

I love Singing In the Rain and I love many of the dance sequences in many movies featured in "That's Dancing." But I thought this was self-inudulgent, clumsy and watching the lack of turnout on those "ballet" dancers was agonizing. I would hope if anyone ever tried to do a remake of this "classic", they would just hire ballet dancers and real choreographer.

I adored Leslie Caron in Gigi and I hated her in this movie. Stilted, unconvincing acting, horrible hairstyle, the contrived shyness and sickeningly sweet persona when put with Gene Kelly's almost simmeringly resentful and propietary persona (another Ugly American) was just beyond belief.

I have been watching all of the AFI Top 100 and An American in Paris and Bringing Up Baby are the only two I haven't appreciated. The only thing I can think of is this must be a classic because it was done in 1950 and Minelli tried something really different that later films copied and did much, much, much better. God those costumes at the Black and White Ball. Horrific.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] kathleencurley1 17 years ago

If you want to see a REALLY unrealistic ending trying watching "The Gang's All Here" (also known as "The Girls he left behind") with Alice Faye and Carmen Miranda.

[–] Registered_User 18 years ago

I always thought exactly the same. But this is why it's a technicolor Gene Kelly musical extravaganza. It's meant to be fantastic and unbelievable, it's supposed to end happily-ever-after because we all know this would never happen in real life. In real life, Lise would inevitably surrender to an unhappy marriage. Jerry would be forced to deal with it and move on, presumably continuing his art career by sucking up to Milo and beginning a sexual relationship with her.

A good traveller has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.

[–] JacquesDemy 18 years ago

Gee, I still can't believe this kind of ending won Oscar for best picture and best writing of story and screenplay. The last scene doesn't make any sense for me. The overly long ballet sequence is actually ok for me, but if the movie could have ended at the close-up shot of the rose, everything would have been much better.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] JacquesDemy 18 years ago

The actor is Gene Kelly, his dancing is great, acting is also ok, but the script ruined almost everything. About his musical movies, "Singing in the Rain" is much better.

btw: Cary Grant performed in a lot of comedies, but I remember he never acted in any musical movie

[–] Registered_User 18 years ago

Cary Grant is awesome.

A good traveller has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] dmnemaine 14 years ago

Cary Grant most certainly was in a musical. He played Cole Porter in "Night And Day", a musical very very loosely based on the composer's life. More of an excuse to showcase his music.

[–] Future-Movie-Director 17 years ago

Yeah i had to scrach my head at the ending to...mostly because the last film i watched before this one was IN THE BEDROOM haha. now that was a realistic portryal of losing the woman to another, but since this was 1951 i guess is the best ending the could do. after all you have to realize that up until the 80's it wasn't COOL to make a film that made you think, everything had to be in a neat little package.

[–] lostlocke 17 years ago

I find watching any movie prior to 1960 refreshing. They have an innocent quality. I particularly don't like watching a bunch of cursing and sex scenes. I'd much rather watch a masterpiece like this movie, it's much more gratifying. Gene was a true star and everything he was in, in my opinion was fantastic. This movie is so wonderful and marvelous!! Ha ha!! The ballet at the end is amazing and so beautiful. The ending is quite wonderful in my opinion. I love it, him running down the stairs her running up the stairs and embracing. It's a lovely movie from beginning to end.

[–] funkyfry 16 years ago

"after all you have to realize that up until the 80's it wasn't COOL to make a film that made you think, everything had to be in a neat little package."

what the heck are you talking about? The 80s was one of the worst decades for film as far as I can tell, not even as interesting as the 70s or 60s. I haven't seen "In the Bedroom" so I really don't know what you're referring to there, but certainly the ending of "American in Paris" isn't stupid or unintelligent so I'm not sure what you mean by "a film that made you think." Since there's no dialog there and the audience has to draw conclusions just through images, it certainly makes you think in my opinion.

Did I not love him, Cooch? MY OWN FLESH I DIDN'T LOVE BETTER!!! But he had to say 'Nooooooooo'

[–] La-z-girl_recliner 16 years ago

Yeah, I too thought the ending was jipped.
It was dumb. I liked the rest of the movie until the end. The end kind of ruined it for me. I don't think the movie is all that great as it is made to be.

This is heavy, Doc.

[–] eric_stapf 16 years ago

Anyone else notice the incredibly phallic statues in the fountain during the last dance scene? I burst out laughing.

[–] DaytonaBob 16 years ago

OH lord you're right. I just read your post and looked up and there was the sequence. It's on TCM as I write. From most angles it looks like they are holding giant weenises. That is funny.

As for the ending...

Love is blind and only it knows where it's arrows will land but I had no feelings for Caron at all, Nina Foch on the other hand....wow. Given the choice personally, Leslie would have never had a chance Nina had it all, the whole package, intelligent, beautiful, self supporting, and supportive and did I mention gorgeous?.

The ending wasn't what I liked but hey, it's what Gene wanted and in the end one has to overlook that for the sheer talent that was on display in this movie. The end sequence was just unbelievable.

They who give up liberty to
obtain a temporary safety deserve
neither liberty or safety