Extraordinary Films & Excellent Directors: "An American in Paris"

Extraordinary Films & Excellent Directors is a film series that will explore phenomenal films and their creators.  After viewing each film, you're invited to talk with film lecturer, Richard Frostig.

About the Film

The 1951 film musical, "An American in Paris", won six Academy Awards for Best: Picture, Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Director, Costume Design, and Music. It stars Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron, and is directed by the incomparable Vincent Minelli. Three friends struggle to find work in Paris. Things become more complicated when two of them fall in love with the same woman. The most accomplished and technically awe-inspiring number in this musical is obviously the 16-minute ballet towards the end of the film. It's stunningly filmed, and Kelly and Caron dance beautifully.

About the Presenter

Richard M. Frostig has had a life-long interest in film beginning with film school in his early 20s and culminating with his receiving a second M.A. degree from New York University in Cinema Studies. His first Master’s degree was in Journalism.

In between, Frostig has had a successful 13-year career in broadcast journalism, and then, more than a 20-year career as a Public Relations executive and freelance consultant. In 2017, Frostig taught an introductory film course as an Adjunct Professor of Film at Western Connecticut University.

He received a B.A. in English from the University of Massachusetts-Boston. In addition, he holds a Certificate in Filmmaking from the London Film School in England. A native of Boston, Frostig resides in Wilton, Conn.