Songs: "Funny Face" (Astaire, reprized Astaire), "'S Wonderful" (chorus, reprized Astaire and Hepburn), "How Long Has This Been Going On?" (Hepburn), "Let's Kiss and Make Up" (Astaire), "Clap Yo' Hands" (Astaire, Thompson), "He Loves and She Loves" (Astaire), — all music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin. "Think Pink" (Thompson), "Bonjour Paris!" (Astaire, Thompson, Hepburn), "On How To Be Lovely" (Hepburn, Thompson), bridge for "Clap Yo Hands", — all music by Roger Edens, lyrics by Leonard Gershe. "Marche Funebre" (Slifer), music by Roger Edens, lyrics by Lela Simone. "Bullfight Dance", music by Alexander Courage. "Clap Yo' Hands", dance music by Skip Martin. "Basal Matabolism", music by Alexander Courage. Music directed, adapted and conducted by Adolph Deutsch. Choreography: Eugene Loring, Fred Astaire. Songs staged by Stanley Donen. Dance assistants: Dave Robel, Pat Denise. Music arrangements and orchestrations: Conrad Salinger, Mason Van Cleave, Alexander Courage, Skip Martin. Copyright 1957 by Paramount Pictures Corp. New York opening at the Radio City Music Hall: 28 March 1957. U.S. release: April 1957. U.K. release: 27 May 1957. Australian release: 15 August 1957. Sydney opening at the Prince Edward: 16 August 1957 (ran six weeks). 9,302 feet. 103 minutes. SYNOPSIS: Fashion photographer introduces bookshop beatnik into the world of Parisian couture. NOTES: Here's a breakdown of the orchestrations. Van Cleave did "Bonjour Paris!" Courage handled "Let's Kiss and Make Up", Salinger was assigned "He Loves and She Loves", Skip Martin worked on "Clap Yo' Hands", Deutsch did both "Think Pink" and "On How To Be Lovely". Background music was orchestrated by Deutsch, Courage and Van Cleave. Nominated for the following Academy Awards: Best Original screenplay (won by Designing Woman), Best Cinematography (won by The Bridge on the River Kwai), Best Art Direction (won by Sayonara), Best Costumes (won by Les Girls). One of Bosley Crowther's Ten Best Pictures of 1957. Sixth on the National Board of Review's list. Special Citation for "photographic innovations" from the National Board of Review.COMMENT: Top-billed Audrey Hepburn is perfectly cast in this inventively staged and most stylishly photographed musical. Fred is no slacker either, and it's good to see Kay Thompson in such an excellent role (her only previous film appearance was a brief singing spot with her radio choir in "Manhattan Merry-Go-Round" way back in 1937). Following Hollywood custom, one of France's top stars, Michel Auclair, is inappropriately dubbed (though he does get to speak his own opening lines in French), whilst normally reliable British "other man" Robert Flemyng is likewise inexplicably miscast as a Parisian fashion designer. However, Dovima is fine as a Bronx- accented model, and keen fans will have no trouble recognizing Suzy Parker in the "Think Pink" number. OTHER VIEWS: Actually lensed on real Paris locations with Fred and company dancing through the main streets and boulevards and on to the Eiffel Tower, Funny Face is both a visual and musical treat. The story is engaging too, with wit and satire directed against the cleverly contrasted worlds of high fashion and beatnik intellectualism. True the romantic complication with a bearded Michel Auclair is rather old- hat. But with songs like these, who's complaining? Fred, Audrey and Kay are all in marvelous form, production values are appropriately super-glossy, and the photography contrives to be amusing and clever in its own right. Funny Face has so many stylish elements, I'm surprised it has never been adopted as a cult movie. Perhaps its expose of the phony, pretentious claptrap underlying undergraduate philosophy strikes too close to home. Whatever, Funny Face is still an absolute delight. — JHR writing as George Addison.

Audrey was so beautiful that it seems Hollywood felt all that was needed was to give her some wonderful costumes and project her on to the screen. This movie doesn't even do that very well. Amazingly, although the film is called Funny Face, there are practically no close ups and her fabulous visage is lost in far too many long shots. Compare the photography with that in Charade for example. What do we get instead? An extraordinarily shallow plot, dialogue that might have been written by a five year old, two wonderful Gershwin songs and more than a few uninspiring ones, an uncomfortable dose of ham from Kay Thompson, and Fred doing what he did in the thirties and forties, but unconvincingly.Audrey was wonderful, as always, carrying the rest of the cast single handed. She showed off her singing chops, and she had a wonderful dance scene in the beat café. But her talent and pretty costumes were not enough to save this movie for me.

I'm not sure there were many women who could have pulled off this film in such an amazing fashion (sorry for the pun). This was more a celebration of Audry, then anything else. And she was somehow simple and radiant at the same time. The story is familiar. The simple shop girl is discovered by simple happenstance. At first, she resists. And then she dives in, head first. But there's also the May - December story line between Fred Astaire and Audry. But, just looking at Audry in all the different settings and costumes is worth the price of admission. Of course with Fred Astaire, there are several dance numbers and songs. And they are a cheerful addition. But it all still comes down to Audry. And this is a great film for serious Audry fans. We get to see so many different images of Audry. The first costume we see her in after losing her bookstore duds, combined with her natural beauty. Is jaw-dropping. While watching this film of this amazing woman. It should be remembered that in spite of her natural attributes. She was carrying and unaffected human being. Her work with UNICEF. The work she did for that agency saved many lives. She genuinely cared for the people she was trying to help.

In honor of Audrey Hepburn's birthday, which was earlier this week, I decided to watch another Hepburn musical, and I had an absolute blast. I really enjoy the types of movies that bring a tremendous amount of joy to the screen. Funny Face is most definitely one of those movies. It's extremely colorful, catchy, and well acted. And for being a musical that get's me interested, you deserve some extra points. Audrey Hepburn stars in this beautiful take on the musical that tells the story of a normal girl with a funny face and a whole lot of heart.It's another film in the long list of movies that Audrey Hepburn's love interest is significantly older than her. But unlike Charade, Love in the Afternoon, or even My Fair Lady, I never felt particularly fond of the love story in Funny Face. I have to admit, it's a ridiculously romantic film, I mean it takes place in Paris for gosh sakes, but the chemistry wasn't there for me. With that being said, just about everything else really works here. Hepburn's voice sounds like it's actually being used, and she's having a blast filming. Her expression dance scene was so entertaining and re-watchable that I couldn't help but smile all the way through. Her character is borderline forced into becoming a model by how drop dead gorgeous she is. And my golly, Audrey is just about as beautiful as ever here. Her photo-shoot montage all over Paris was wonderful and had me literally 'aweing' at least a few times. It even reminded me of Roman Holiday with her princess shoot and even Breakfast at Tiffany's with the classic black dress, even though the film hadn't actually come out yet. It was just a pleasant film to watch.Of course, it is a musical so there are plenty of catchy songs to sing and dance to. The classic Funny Face main theme song became a constant reminder that Hepburn does have such a unique face. Not only physically but as a presence as well. We just don't have anybody like her right now. In terms of acting, I think someone like Amy Adams is comparable, but she doesn't embody everything Hepburn does off camera as well. She is simply missed in this age of Hollywood. Again, the actual romance of the film didn't feel genuine enough, but I liked just about everything else. It's one of Audrey's best roles and a highly re-watchable film.+Audrey is having fun +Expression dance +Colorful +Set in Paris+Hepburn's gorgeous photo-shoot scene -Chemistry between Astaire and Hepburn wasn't there 8.5/10