victoria's "An American in Paris"

Winner of the best picture Oscar in 1951, "An American in Paris" is the glorious M-G-M musical starring Gene Kelly as the artist and the lovely Leslie Caron as the French girl. They fall in love and the ending is pure Hollywood, as the rich, older women in the film -- Nina Foch -- can only stand by, watch and fume.
The two dancing lovers have infectious grins and the Gershwin music keeps everything good-spirited. The songs include "I Got Rhythm," "Embraceable You" and "It's Wonderful." Georges Guetary, the entertainer who replaced Maurice Chevalier in the role of Caron's other suitor, sings a spiffy arrangement of "I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise."
As a sidebar, the quirky Oscar Levant thumps away happily on the piano. Kelly is the choreographer for the film -- note the ending ballet scene -- and Vincente Minnelli directed.
For the third time in 12 years, "An American in Paris" is being presented July 30 and Aug. 1-2 at the Victoria Theatre as part of the Michelob Ultra Cool Film Series. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m., except the Sunday show at 3 p.m. A 30-minute organ show precedes the actual movie. Tickets at the door are $4.75.
The following week on Aug. 7-9 the movie mood gets nostalgic and somber as the Victoria presents the 1962 film classic "To Kill a Mockingbird." Gregory Peck won the best actor Oscar for his heartfelt performance as Atticus Finch, the Alabama lawyer who defends a black man accused on rape.
Robert Mulligan directed this film based on the award-winning book by Harper Lee. The three kids are terrific. Mary Badham is Scout, Philip Alford is Jem and John Megna is Dill, the visitor from Mississippi. Look for Robert Duvall in his film debut as the mysterious Boo Radley.
This is the kind of film one can see over and over. The poignant ending gets to me every time I see it, which now numbers somewhere around 20.