Gigot
Directed by Gene Kelly
Written by John Patrick; original story by Jackie Gleason
1962/USA
Seven Arts Productions
First viewing/YouTube
[box] I have no use for humility. I am a fellow with an exceptional talent. — Jackie Gleason, AKA “The Great One”[/box]
Jackie Gleason, Paris, and Gene Kelly sound like a winning combination, right? Unfortunately not for me.
Gigot (Gleason) is a mute who works as a janitor in a Paris apartment building and lives in the basement. People believe him to be a simpleton. Some think he should be locked up. Most use him as a source of fun.
Gigot’s life changes when he meets an ailing prostitute and her adorable daughter, who is perhaps five or six years old. The daughter loves Gigot completely. The mother is does not feel the same. Gigot gets in numerous scrapes trying to keep the daughter with him.
I love Jackie Gleason, Gene Kelly, and Paris. Many people apparently love this movie. The problem is I do not find mocking the disabled funny and a lot of this movie turns on it. Also, for me, one of Jackie Gleason’s charms as an actor is his dignity, which he completely abandons here. His style of comedy depends usually more on his personality than physical humor as well. This struck me as Gleason’s attempt to throw a Chaplin-esque pity party. Your mileage may definitely vary.
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