Funny Face (1957)

Directed by: Stanley Donen | 103 minutes | comedy, romance, musical | Actors: Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire, Kay Thompson, Michel Auclair, Robert Flemyng, Dovima, Suzy Parker, Sunny Hartnett, Jean del Val, Virginia Gibson, Sue England, Ruta Lee, Alex Gerry, Iphigenie Castiglioni

In the 1950s, two actresses arose at about the same time, both bringing royal allure to the screen. One was Grace Kelly, who later became real royalty when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco. The second was Audrey Hepburn, who probably owed her graceful and noble appearance to her Dutch mother who was a baroness. She may also be associated with nobility because the first role the general public saw her in was that of a princess (in ‘Roman Holiday’). Anyway, from the moment Audrey appeared on the silver screen, she was embraced by everyone and never let go. Charming and stylish, Hepburn is still one of the most important style icons in the world after all these years.

After the great success of ‘Roman Holiday’ (1953) and ‘Sabrina’ (1954), Audrey was asked to play in the musical ‘Funny Face’. Consisting of a story based on Leonard Gershe’s Broadway musical “Wedding Day” and augmented by the music George and Ira Gershwin had written 30 years earlier for their Broadway musical “Funny Face,” that film was directed by the then only 34-year-old Stanley Donen (“Singin’ in the Rain”). Audrey was matched by musical legend Fred Astaire, who was so old he could have easily been her father.

Unhappy with the latest issue of her magazine, editor-in-chief Maggie Prescott (Kay Thompson) of fashion magazine Quality is looking for a new face. In doing so, she wants to attract both trend followers and new, more serious readers. She decides to focus her new campaign on clothes for women who are not interested in clothes. She sends her best photographer Dick Avery (Astaire) to spot a new model. He soon finds himself in the bookshop of the seemingly dull and timid-looking Jo Stockton (Hepburn). She finds the whole fashion world superficial and prefers to read a philosophical book. Maggie nevertheless wants Jo as her new model, so she placates her with a trip to Paris. Jo is eager to go there, especially to meet her idol, the well-known philosopher Professor Flostre. She is persuaded and soon flies with Dick to the French capital, where the photo shoot will take place. Of course, the two slowly but surely fall in love with each other. Although there is also that covert Flostre, which Jo actually finds very interesting.

Fred Astaire may have been 57 years old during the shooting of the film, but he still dances and sings as in his younger days. Yet it is strange to see him next to Audrey Hepburn; they are an incredible love couple, especially because of the huge age difference. Hepburn shines as always and for once gets the chance to show that she can indeed sing. It would stay with that one time, because for ‘My Fair Lady’ her voice was dubbed by Marni Nixon. The music of the Gershwin brothers is wonderful, if you like that typical musical music. And the cinematography also looks slick; beautiful pictures of Paris in the fifties. Richard Avedon, the photographer on whom Astaire’s character was based, was hired as a visual consultant. Stylish pictures guaranteed. The images linger longer than the story.

Because why isn’t ‘Funny Face’ a complete success despite all those positive points? The main problem is with the story, which is simply not captivating enough. The story and acting remain very superficial and Astaire and Hepburn also do little to give their characters more depth. And even though depth in the musical genre isn’t the most important aspect, it helps if the story is catchy. Compare it with Donen’s other well-known musical, ‘Singin’ in the Rain’. If you leave out the songs in that film, there is still an interesting story about the transition from the ‘silent’ to the sound film. If you remove the songs from ‘Funny Face’, there is little left. Even world stars like Hepburn and Astaire can’t help that.

Lovers of musicals, Hepburn and Astaire will certainly find this film worthwhile. Although it is not their best work by either actor and much better musicals (including ‘Singin’ in the Rain’) have been made. Think of ‘Funny Face’ as a tasty pastry; with a beautiful sweet outside but inside nothing but empty calories…