Movie Review: Gigot

Gigot is a 1962 film you've probably never heard of, I hadn't. It's not on DVD or video but it showed up on cable (FMC) and I TiVo'ed it. It stars Jackie Gleason and is directed by Gene Kelly (yes that Gene Kelly). Gleason plays a mute working as a janitor in post-war Paris. He's known around the town as a simpleton and make fun of and have fun with him. He befriends a street walker and her young daughter. As he tries to entertain her they build a friendship. Stuff happens.

The word that comes to mind is charming. You probably won't laugh out loud or cry but you will have a smile on your face. I don't think that by today's standards everything is wrapped up nicely (with every bad act made up for and every relationship mended), but let it go and just enjoy. Gleason's performance is marvelous, expressing so much without making a single sound. The music keeps things moving along (it got an Oscar nomination). The closest thing to it I can think of is the first half of Life is Beautiful.

I'm sure Gleason would have been nominated in any other year, but 1962 had perhaps the greatest competition for Best Actor of any year ever:

• Gregory Peck won for To Kill a Mockingbird
• Burt Lancaster for Birdman of Alcatraz
• Jack Lemmon for Days of Wine and Roses
• Peter O'Toole for Lawrence of Arabia
• Marcello Mastroianni for Divorce - Italian Style

So if you manage to come across Gigot on cable, watch it, you won't be disappointed.