Gaby

All and all this is not a bad movie, and Leslie Caron is truly one of those actresses whom you just can't help falling in love with, she has that magical presence that is the mark of a great actress, and even thou it's not one of her best her performance, her performance in this movie is definitely impeccable, but still this movie it's essentially a lightweight remake of the three times before filmed Waterloo Bridge, so even thou Leslie Caron is as always charming, I suggest a peek at Vivien Leigh as the delicate dancer Myra and Robert Taylor as Col./Capt. Roy Cronin in the 1940 release of Waterloo Bridge, a movie that is (even thou slightly forgotten) undoubtedly one of the best romantic movies ever made.

By the 1950s, remakes were very much the thing - 'Gaby', with Leslie Caron as the ballerina and John Kerr as the soldier, is the third film version of 'Waterloo Bridge' (first done with Mae Clarke and Kent Douglass in 1931, then with Vivien Leigh and Robert Taylor in 1940). It's by far the most dull, even though it does make clear what Gaby has been up to while her beau was away at war.

Leslie Caron being the star, of course Gaby is now French, not English. John Kerr is a GI who finds himself at a loose end on leave in London. There's air raids to content with, foggy streets, and taxis, as well as Gaby's fellow dancer and roommate, and the GI's English well-heeled relations.

Sweet enough, but paling in comparison beside the other versions, both of whom have more merit. It's OK - but nothing special.

It's 1944 London. American soldier Gregory Y. Wendell (John Kerr) is on leave and falls for French ballerina Gaby (Leslie Caron) at first sight. He pursues her until she accepts his marriage proposal. They have to wait while he leaves for D-Day. He goes missing and presumed dead. She is heartbroken and decides to live for herself.

This is the third iteration of the 1930 play Waterloo Bridge. This feels light. Neither actor is doing heavy lifting in their performances. I do appreciate the lovely pixie Leslie Caron. The lightness does not fit the later dark material. In the end, this never fully gains traction.

The story of Waterloo Bridge is boring, melodramatic, and not worth remaking. Yet, in 1956, Hollywood produced a remake starring Leslie Caron and John Kerr. She looked incredibly beautiful, and her innocence was radiating. Kerr seemed to be nearly the same as he was in Tea and Sympathy, but since they were the same year, perhaps he just got his characters confused. If she weren't so pretty, I probably wouldn't have stuck through the movie.

If you don't know the story, it features a soldier on a brief leave who falls for a chorus girl in London. They have a whirlwind courtship, and when he's sent back to the front, she worries terribly. She makes a terrible decision, which makes no sense, given her character, and ruins her life. Since the remake starred Leslie Caron, the English chorus girl was changed to a French ballet dancer. Neither one was really given a reason to fall in love so quickly, hence the melodrama of the story. And although this version was watered down quite a bit to appeal to the censorship board, I still don't think her choice makes sense. If you love Leslie like I do, just stick with Gigi.

The 1931 and 1940 films, both named 'Waterloo Bridge', are very highly recommended, and are very good films in their own right with the slight edge going to the 1940 film despite being less faithful to the original story.

Although it is a long way from a bad film, 'Gaby' isn't in the same league. There are a lot of things to like, with the best things being Leslie Caron, who despite being unconvincing as a prostitute (and the transition is even less convincing) beguiles and charms in the lead, and the luminous Metrocolor cinematography that gives the film a quaint 1950s sheen, the use of Cinemascope is also striking.

Further great assets are the beautiful and never too sugary or melodramatic music score, and the timeless Rodgers/Hart-penned "Where or When". The two French songs ("Sur Le Pont D'Avignon" faring the slightly better of the two), "My Country Tis of Thee" and Chopin's Piano Concerto are also well used, just not leaving as big an impression in the film as "When or When". The dialogue is thought-provoking, some of the sets are nicely done and atmospheric and the supporting cast especially a distinguished Cedric Hardwicke acquit themselves very well.

However, John Kerr's performance is very one-dimensional, with stiffness and awkwardness being the only real emotions he shows. Even those not completely enamoured with Robert Taylor's performance in the 1940 film will find themselves appreciating it more after seeing Kerr, I certainly did. His chemistry with Caron is quite bland too. 'Gaby' is also very dully directed by Curtis Bernhardt, with the film never seeming to find proper momentum.

It is agreed that there is a lack of atmosphere- the 1931 film was gritty, at times steamy and dark while the 1940 film while, due to the Code and its constraints, tamer and more romanticised was very lovingly romantic, lavish and incredibly poignant. These are things that, other than a lavishness in the cinematography and some of the costumes and sets, 'Gaby' lacks, dullness and glimpses of sugary charm being the primary feelings here. The ending is pure contrived tack, as problematic as the ending of the 1931 film was it was still more believable than this, and things are all far too easily forgiven. Gaby's transformation is too sudden, and some of the sets are on the cheap and cobbled together side.

All in all, watchable thanks to Caron and the cinematography, but anybody who loved the previous two 'Waterloo Bridge' film adaptations like this reviewer did will find themselves disappointed. 5/10 Bethany Cox