Next Tuesday sees the Double-DVD release of Gene Kelly's 1951 Best Picture winner AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, one of Hollywood's greatest musicals, and the perfect companion to Kelly's follow-up, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN. What sets this apart from "Rain" is its Gershwin score, and it's amazing cinematography (which took incredible advantage of the Technicolor process). Kelly is immensely likeable as Jerry, the "title character", an amiable artist falling for gamine Leslie Caron despite nearly being "kept" by benefactoress Nina Foch (happy to subsidize his art in exchange for companionship...). A wonderful supporting cast round out this deceptively little film that is HUGE on production numbers, namely the "American In Paris Ballet" that comprises the final 17 minutes of this film. Here, Jerry finds himself dancing within painted works of art. Naysayers call this pretentious, but the idea of artist becoming the art was groundbreaking, both thematically as well as artistically, and clearly elevated this film from the genre musicals of the time. A simple story amazingly presented. Finally getting the deluxe treatment on DVD with assorted featurettes, and a full-length bio on Gene Kelly. Brilliant.