An American in Paris (1951) - Quotes

Celebrating M-G-M's Technicolor Musical Experience

Taglines: What a joy! It's M-G-M's Technicolor musical!

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The Spectacle of Music on Screen

Taglines: Screen's Most Spectacular Musical!

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Daring Cinematic Adventure Unfolds in Paris

Taglines: Most Daring Ever Filmed.

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Celebrating Arts Students at the Biggest Ball

Taglines: Arts Students Biggest Ball

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Adventures of an Ex-GI in Paris

Taglines: Adventures Of An Ex-GI In The City Of Romance.

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The Pain of Beauty and Love in Paris

Lise: Oh Jerry. It's so dreadful standing next to you like this, and not having your arms around me.

Jerry: You'll always be standing next to me Lise.

Lise: Maybe not always. Paris has ways of making people forget.

Jerry: Paris? No, not this city. It's too real and too beautiful. It never lets you forget anything. It reaches in and opens you wide, and you stay that way. I know. I came to Paris to study and to paint because Utrillo did, and Lautrec did, and Roualt did. I loved what they created, and I thought something would happen to me, too. Well, it happened all right. Now what have I got left? Paris. Maybe that's enough for some but it isn't for me anymore because the more beautiful everything is, the more it will hurt without you.

Lise: Jerry. Don't let me leave you this way.

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The Quest for True Love

Henri: [to Jerry] So be happy! You only find the right woman once.

Adam: That many times?

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Overcoming the Reluctance to Share

Jerry: What about you? Aren't you sick of The Life and Times of Mulligan?

Lise: I'd rather listen to you. I don't like to talk about myself.

Jerry: Oh, you're going to have to get over that.

Lise: Why?

Jerry: Well, uh, with a binding like you've got, people are going to want to know what's in the book.

Lise: What does that mean?

Jerry: Well, uh, primarily it means you're a very pretty girl.

Lise: I am?

Jerry: Yes, you are.

Lise: How do you know?

Jerry: I, uh, heard it on the radio.

Lise: Making fun of me.

Jerry: Doesn't everybody tell you that?

Lise: I haven't been out with many people. And always friends.

Jerry: Honey, believe me. I'm no enemy...Lise, I don't know whether you're a girl of mystery or just a still water that doesn't run deep, but there's one thing I can tell you. I'd been around sooner, you'd know by now that you're very pretty and I'm not making fun with you.

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The Nature of Formality in Social Events

Jerry: I see it's a formal brawl after all.

Milo: What makes you think that?

Jerry: Well, the more formal the party is, the less you have to wear.

Milo: Oh, no. You're quite wrong. It's most informal.

Jerry: Where is everybody?

Milo: Here.

Jerry: Downstairs?

Milo: No. Here in this room.

Jerry: What about that extra girl?

Milo: Ha, ha. That's me.

Jerry: Ohhh! You mean the party's just you and me.

Milo: That's right.

Jerry: Oh I see. Why that's kind of a little joke, isn't it?

Milo: In a way.

Jerry: You must be out of your mink-lined head. I know I need dough but I don't need it this badly. If you're hard up for companionship, there are guys in town that do this kind of thing for a living. Call one of them.

Milo: I'm simply interested in your work and I want to get to know you better. Now is that such a crime?...I want to help you. I think you have a great deal of talent. Now it doesn't hurt to have somebody rooting for you, does it?

A Playful Exchange on Fashion and Modesty

Jerry: That's, uh, quite a dress you almost have on. What holds it up?

Milo: Modesty.

The Nature of Beauty and Love

Adam: [looking at a photo of Henri's 19-year-old girlfriend] Shocking degenerate.

Henri: She was a little girl then. We only became in love after she left.

Adam: She's a little young for you, isn't she kid?

Henri: She has great vitality, joi de vivre, she loves to go out and have fun and dance. She would dance all night...She's an enchanting girl, Adam. Not really beautiful. And yet, she has great beauty.

Understanding Young Feelings Through Experience

Henri Baurel: Let's just say I'm old enough to know what to do with my young feelings.

Reflections on Paris and Personal Character

Adam Cook: It's not a pretty face, I grant you, but underneath its flabby exterior is an enormous lack of character. I like Paris. It's a place where you don't run into old friends, although that's never been one of my problems.

The Allure of Paris for Artists

Jerry Mulligan: This is Paris. And I'm an American who lives here. My name Jerry Mulligan. And I'm an ex-GI. In 1945, when the Army told me to find my own job, I stayed on and I'll tell you why. I'm a painter. All my life, that's all I've ever wanted to do. And for a painter, the Mecca of the world for study, for inspiration, and for living is here on this star called Paris. Just look at it. No wonder so many artists have come here and called it home. Brother, if you can't paint in Paris, you'd better give up and marry the boss's daughter. Back home everyone said I didn't have any talent. They might be saying the same thing over here, but it sounds better in French.