Les Girls

George Cukor's 1957 musical begins in a courtroom. Sybil, once a member of a dance troupe, publishes her memoirs and is sued for libel by her former colleague Angele. The film then plays the same events three times through three narrators: by Sybil's account Angele was involved with the troupe's leader, by Angele's account it was Sybil, and finally the man gives his own version. The structure borrows openly from Rashomon and never settles which account is true. The songs are by Cole Porter, the last score he wrote for the screen. Gene Kelly's numbers and the difference in tempo between the three actresses keep it aloft. Who it's for: viewers who love fifties MGM musicals and games with narration. Who it's not for: anyone who will find it uncomfortable that the women are largely defined in relation to the man.