AFI 100 Years, 100 Movies: No. 90


Back in 1998, the American Film Institute unveiled its list of the 100 greatest films as voted on by members of the cinematic community. The year, I'm looking at the films on that list, re-ranked according to my preference. Check back Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year as we walk through this list of classic films.

No. 90: An American in Paris (1951)
Original List Ranking: No. 68
Starring: Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, and Oscar Levant
Director: Vincente Minnelli
About: Gene Kelly had a certain set of skills that made him an iconic performer. He thrived during an era when the song and dance man held incredible sway. An American in Paris is one of those films. It's set in Paris in the aftermath of World War II, with Kelly playing a struggling artist. It is directed by Minnelli, who put together a solid body of work. The story is somewhat standard for this genre, featuring a love triangle and more. There aren't the number of iconic songs and pieces in this film that there are in others, which is a reason it didn't make it to the updated list a decade later. But it is fun and it has some amazing dance sequences, particularly the show stopper near the end. If you like musicals, this will speak to you.

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