From director Stanley Donen (Singin' in the Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Charade), I certainly recognised the title, but other than that I wasn't aware of any other details, but it sounded like a film that should be seen. Basically Dick Avery (Fred Astaire) works as a photographer for fashion magazine Quality, and suggests to publisher and editor Maggie Prescott (Kay Thompson) finding a backdrop both beautiful, and intellectual. They choose a Manhattan neighbourhood bookstore in Greenwich Village, and despite the clerk and amateur philosopher Jo Stockton (Audrey Hepburn) protesting, they go ahead, and Dick has her in a photo too. Dick stays behind for a little to help clear up the terrible mess the magazine crew have left behind, and he gives her a little kiss that makes her feel special for that small amount of time. Having developed the photo Dick thinks that Jo has a very intriguing, funny face that has potential, so they lure her to the studio to offer her a modelling contract, and eventually she accepts. She may have accepted because of the idea of travelling to Paris, but she soon gets used to and enjoys the posing that comes with it, especially when it is with Dick, they are falling in love. One night Jo hears that the philosopher she has always wanted to see, Prof. Emile Flostre (Michel Auclair) is giving a lecture at a café near the fashion gala she is set for, so she goes, forgets the gala, and ends up in an argument with Dick. She goes back to the Professor, and Maggie and Dick after a song and dance manage to get in to get Jo back, and when he comes round from being knocked out he tries to make a pass at her she whacks her "idol" with a vase. Before the crew of Quality magazine leave Paris, there is one final fashion show, but Maggie and Jo find out that Dick has plans to leave on a plane, but Jo agrees to do the runway show/catwalk before running out to go and find him. In the end, after it looks like she's too late, but in fact Dick hasn't left at all, he goes to the one place he can think of that she would be alone, and they reunite for the loving end of the film. Also starring Robert Flemyng as Paul Duval, Dovima as Marion and Virginia Gibson as Babs. Hepburn is beautiful and lovable as the knowledgeable new to fashion model, and a good singer too (her voice was dubbed for My Fair Lady due to it not being the sort required, i.e. powerful), Astaire is a nice guy with plenty of moves and witty dialogue, they make a good couple on screen, and Thompson is pretty good too. The music and songs are catchy in their own ways, the dance and choreography is well done by the two lead stars, and the Paris locations are good viewing, all in all, a good old-fashioned musical comedy. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design and Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen. Fred Astaire was number 81, and Audrey Hepburn number 13 on The Greatest Movie Stars, and Hepburn was number 31 on The 100 Greatest Pop Culture Icons, and Astaire was number 5 on 100 Years, 100 Stars - Men. Very good!
Review of Funny Face
