50 Greatest Musical Numbers In Film History

23. An American In Paris Ballet - An American In Paris

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLQPBcm5umc With the amount of money that the producers of An American in Paris poured into this one number, it had better make the list. They made the controversial decision to end the film with a seventeen minute, massively extravagant ballet number between stars Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. It cost them $500,000 back in 1951, which is quite a chunk of change to drop on a dance sequence, but their gamble paid off, because it really is a thing of beauty. It's visually stunning and creatively ambitious, a fitting ending to what many consider to be one of the greatest movie musicals ever made.
Contributor
Contributor

Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.