Funny Face

Reviewer: Alyice Edrich

Movie

Funny Face, 1957

Plot

A famous New York photographer discovers a clerk whom he turns into a Paris model and eventually falls in love with.

Starring

Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire, Michel Auclair, Genevieve Aumont, Fern Barry, Nesdon Booth, Nina Borget, and more.

The Review

Maggie Prescott, editor of Quality fashion magazine, and her very talented photographer, Dick Avery, leave their New York office in hopes of finding photographic inspiration on the streets of Greenwich Village. When Maggie discovers a quaint bookstore, she barges in, pushes the clerk outside, and commences to trash the bookstore—for her photo shoot—leaving the clerk to clean up the mess. Feeling sorry for the clerk, Dick steps in to lend a hand and immediately feels attracted to the clerk, Jo Stockton.

Later, back at the office, Dick notices the clerk in the background of some of the shots and believes she could be the next “Quality” girl. But of course, Jo wants nothing to do with the fashion industry, modeling, or the magazine itself. Instead, she has her sights on more intellectual feats—that is, until Dick coerces her into accepting the gig for a free trip to Paris and a chance to meet her mentor.

While in Paris, Jo goes through a huge physical transformation: hair, make-up, posture, and clothing but cannot shake her roots—her desire to “be somebody” who is more centered and down-to-earth. Meanwhile, Dick and Maggie are running amuck trying to get their new line of clothing, the photo shoot, and everything else in order.

You can tell, however, that from the moment Dick met Jo he was smitten—only to stay away due to the fact that he works with her and quite possibly, because he’s old enough to be her father. Yet, there’s no denying the romance. Even Jo feels it; only she cannot allow herself to feel it because Dick works in an industry she despises; an industry that cares more about outward appearances than inward beauty; an industry that doesn’t seem to know anything about philosophical debates.

Eventually, the two cave in to their feelings and start a courtship, but nothing’s easy with them. They split just shortly after the romance begins, only to discover that they cannot live without one another.

Funny Face is a beautiful, simple love story that is extremely light-hearted in nature. There are some cute song and dance numbers that somehow fit right into the storyline; which is great because that means the story doesn’t stop but keeps progressing forward. And if I can be a little coy, Astaire looks fantastic for his age (58), leaving the age difference between Astaire and Hepburn hardly noticeable. In fact, you’ll get so swept away by the storyline that all you’ll see are the characters and the beauty of the cinematography. Finally, you’ll leave with a sense that not only can opposites attract, but they can live happily ever after, too.

If you can get your hands on the Centennial Collection: Funny Face, I’d advise you to buy this edition. It has a second disc that’s filled with galleries, a restrospective featurette about Paramount in the 50’s, the original theatrical trailer, and more.

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