TCM Highlights: Leslie Caron
Star of the Month on TCM is Leslie Caron! A French actress best known for her roles in musicals like Gigi, Leslie Caron began her career as a ballet dancer until she was discovered by Gene Kelly and picked to star opposite him in An American in Paris.
Kelly returned to France to make An American in Paris (1951) and he wanted a French dancer as his co-star. He had come to test other dancers but had remembered Caron from his previous trip. Kelly contacted Caron asked her to do a test for him. He told her, “I could get fired for this, I’m not supposed to do a test with you, but I know you can dance, I don’t know if you can photograph.” The test was the scene in the film in which Kelly sings “Our Love is Here to Stay.” The emotion of the scene was something the 17 year-old was not used to playing and she found it “beyond embarrassing.” The test was shown to the producers at MGM who phoned and told her the part was hers and she had three days to leave for Hollywood.
Read the rest of TCM’s lovely write-up on Caron.
SCHEDULE:
October 5th
Private Screenings: Leslie Caron (1999) 8pm ET, 5pm PT.
Robert Osborne hosts this TCM original series featuring an intimate interview with the exquisite actress Leslie Caron. Robert Osborne, Leslie Caron, 47 minutes.
An American in Paris (1951) 9pm ET, 6pm PT.
An American artist finds love in Paris but almost loses it to conflicting loyalties. Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant, Georges Guetary, director Vincente Minnelli, 114 minutes.
Gigi (1958) 11pm ET, 8pm PT.
A Parisian girl is raised to be a kept woman but dreams of love and marriage. Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier, Louis Jourdan, Hermione Gingold, director Vincente Minnelli, 116 minutes.
Lili (1953) 1:15am ET, 10:15pm PT.
A French orphan gets a job with a carnival puppet show. Leslie Caron, Mel Ferrer, Jean Pierre Aumont, Zsa Zsa Gabor, director Charles Walters, 81 minutes.
The Glass Slipper (1955) 2:45am ET, 11:45pm PT.
Musical adaptation of the story of Cinderella and her magical trip to the prince’s ball. Leslie Caron, Michael Wilding, Keenan Wynn, Estelle Winwood, director Charles Walters, 94 minutes.
October 12th
The Man Who Understood Women (1959) 8pm ET, 5pm PT.
A producer’s wife runs from life in Hollywood in search of her roots. Leslie Caron, Henry Fonda, Cesare Danova, Myron McCormick, director Nunnally Johnson, 105 minutes.
Fanny (1961) 10:30pm ET, 7:30pm PT.
An old waterfront character tries to help his daughter when her lover leaves her pregnant. Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier, Charles Boyer, Horst Buchholz, director Joshua Logan, 134 minutes.
Father Goose (1964) 1am ET, 10pm PT.
A WWII drifter finds himself protecting schoolgirls and their beautiful teacher. Cary Grant, Leslie Caron, Trevor Howard, Jack Good, director Ralph Nelson, 116 minutes.
October 19th
The L-Shaped Room (1962) 8pm ET, 5pm PT.
A single mother-to-be tries to build a new life in a low-rent London apartment house. Leslie Caron, Anthony Booth, Avis Bunnage, Patricia Phoenix, director Bryan Forbes, 126 minutes.
The Doctor’s Dilemma (1958) 10:15pm ET, 7:15pm PT.
A woman tries to convince the medical profession to save her husband despite his lack of character. Leslie Caron, Dirk Bogarde, Alastair Sim, Robert Morley, director Anthony Asquith, 99 minutes.
Gaby (1956) 12am ET, 9pm PT.
In this remake of Waterloo Bridge, a ballerina turns to prostitution when her fiance is reported killed in World War II. Leslie Caron, John Kerr, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Taina Elg, director Curtis Bernhardt, 97 minutes.
The Man With A Cloak (1951) 2am ET, 11pm PT.
A mystery man tries to help a young innocent escape a murderous housekeeper. Joseph Cotten, Barbara Stanwyck, Louis Calhern, Leslie Caron, director Fletcher Markle, 81 minutes.
October 26th
Glory Alley (1952) 8pm ET, 5pm PT.
A boxer’s drinking problem threatens his career and his love life. Ralph Meeker, Leslie Caron, Kurt Kaszner, Gilbert Roland, director Raoul Walsh, 79 minutes.
Chandler (1971) 9:30pm ET, 6:30pm PT.
A former private eye lands in hot water when he agrees to protect a government witness. Warren Oates, Leslie Caron, Alex Dreier, Mitchell Ryan, director Paul Magwood, 86 minutes.
Promise Her Anything (1966) 11pm ET, 8pm PT.
A single mother must choose between two suitors. Warren Beatty, Leslie Caron, Bob Cummings, Keenan Wynn, director Arthur Hiller, 97 minutes.
Valentino (1977) 1am ET, 10pm PT.
The famed silent screen star is torn between love and his career. Rudolf Nureyev, Leslie Caron, Michelle Phillips, Carol Kane, director Ken Russell, 128 minutes.
(Descriptions courtesy of TCM.)
Grace is an aspiring fantasy writer living imaginatively in Far Northern California.
