Les Girls

Storyline

Cast

• Gene Kelly – Barry Nichols
• Mitzi Gaynor – Joy Henderson
• Kay Kendall – Sybil Wren
• Taina Elg – Angele Ducros
• Jacques Bergerac – Pierre Ducros
• Leslie Phillips – Sir Gerald Wren
• Henry Daniell – Judge
• Patrick Macnee – Sir Percy
• Stephen Vercoe – Mr. Outward
• Philip Tonge – Associate Judge
• Barrie Chase – Dancer

  Background notes

• The story by Vera Caspary was inspired by an article which appeared in The Atlantic – a reminiscence of a dancer's touring years. Miss Caspary's version turned the memoir into a point of dispute and raised questions about the nature of truth. As only the title was used from Miss Caspary's story for the screenplay, she joked that she was the highest paid writer in the world, as she was paid $80,000 for writing just two words – "Les Girls"
• Les Girls was Gene Kelly's last musical under his contract at MGM which began in 1942.
• Les Girls was the last film score by Cole Porter and the next-to-last score of his career.
• The film's original female leads were to have been played by Leslie Caron, Cyd Charisse, Jean Simmons and Carol Haney.

  Awards and honors

• Les Girls won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for Orry-Kelly and was nominated for two other awards, Best Art Direction and Best Sound.
• The film won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Musical/Comedy and for Best Actress, Kay Kendall and Taina Elg together.
• 2006: AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals – nominated

  Sequel

Box office

Choreography