Film, Discussion w/Q&A, Reception, Book Signing
 
(Long Island, N.Y.) One of the best-loved and admired film stars of our time, twice Academy Award nominated, Emmy-winning Leslie Caron has chosen the Cinema Arts Centre for a rare U.S. appearance to accompany the paperback publication of her memoir, Thank Heaven – sure to be a cherished gift just in time for the holidays. An American in Paris stars Gene Kelly & Leslie Caron, directed by Vincente Minnelli.

Members $20 / Public $30 Tickets can be purchased online, www.CinemaArtsCentre.org at the box office during theatre hours or by calling Brown Paper Tickets toll free at 1-800-838-3006
 
The event on Tuesday, December 4 at 7:30 pm is a Cinema Arts Centre’s Holiday offering to Long Island, and the paperback edition of her book is a great and affordable holiday gift.  How often does one get to meet a true Hollywood legend of the greatest musicals on eveyone’s top 10 list?  Stars of her caliber won’t be around for long —but the Cinema Arts Centre always works hard for LI’ers to bring them in, again and again. She’s chosen the CAC for only one of four stops around the country.  You’ll have to go visit her bed-and-breakfast in France if you want to see her again. CAC 423 Park Ave, Huntington www.CinemaArtsCentre.org 631-423-7611
 
During the post-screening interview and discussion, Leslie Caron, who grew up in Nazi occupied France, will tell how she was literally plucked from the Ballets des Champs-Elysées to star opposite Gene Kelly in An American in Paris; created one of the most enduring roles in American musicals as Gigi; danced with Fred Astaire in Daddy Long Legs; and starred with Cary Grant in Father Goose. She’ll answer questions about her love affairs (including a very funny and public one with Warren Beatty) and her bouts with depression. We’ll also rejoice as we learn about her recovery, as she continues garnishing acclaim on TV and in such films such as Chocolat and Le Divorce, while making time to write in her auberge – the bed-and-breakfast she operates in France.

Ms. Caron will be interviewed by Foster Hirsch, author and pioneer in the establishment of academic film criticism. The program is curated by CAC Special Projects Curator Dr. Jud Newborn jnewbo@aol.com
 
ABOUT THE MOVIE
American artist Jerry Mulligan (Gene Kelly) lives in the City of Light, enjoying the patronage of an amorous gallery owner – and swiftly falling for a Parisian mademoiselle (Leslie Caron). Trouble is, the object of Mulligan’s affection also happens to be engaged to a famous French singer. An American in Paris is one of the most celebrated of MGM musicals, with music by George Gershwin, lavish sets & costumes, tremendous Technicolor cinematography, and a romantic love story. The film won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Color Cinematography, & Best Musical Score. USA, 1951, 113 min.
 
ABOUT THE BOOK & Leslie Caron
Contact: Courtney Nobile
212.366.2230; courtney.nobile@us.penguingroup.com
 
THANK HEAVEN:
A Memoir
by
Leslie Caron
 
“Caron provides countless dishy details about her exploits, which are sure to entertain film buffs, Caron fans and aspiring actors.” — Publishers Weekly
 
“The sense of how fleeting fame and happiness are permeates the book . . . For those interested in Caron and her career or in general movie star biographies.”— Library Journal
 
“Caron recounts her life and career as Hollywood’s ‘little French girl’ in chatty, charming style, revealing an often troubled woman behind the glamorous image of an international movie star . . . The author is a diplomatic memoirist, with mostly good things to say about co-stars . . . The little French girl spins an engrossing yarn.”— Kirkus
 
Leslie Caron defined the Golden Age of Hollywood. Appearing in classic MGM musicals like An American in Paris and Gigi, she was the epitome of chic, glamour, talent, and sophistication. Women wanted to be her and men wanted to be with her. Her leading men included Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, and Cary Grant. Off-screen she dated America’s most eligible bachelor, heartthrob, Warren Beatty, making Leslie the envy of women everywhere. From the outside looking in Leslie Caron has had a charmed life. This is only half true. In her long-awaited memoir, THANK HEAVEN (Plume; $16.00; ISBN: 978-0452296626; on sale DECEMBER 2010), Caron delivers a no-holds-barred, unsentimental, and honest recollection of her life in Hollywood and Paris.
 
In THANK HEAVEN Caron candidly shares her remarkable life story; love affairs and motherhood; divorces; alcoholism and crippling depression; and, finally, her recovery.  The list of Leslie Caron’s friends and acquaintances reads like a Hollywood Who’s Who: Judy Garland, Mae West, Howard Hughes, Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Natalie Wood, Barbra Streisand, Steven Spielberg, and Henry Fonda, just to name a few.
 
Leslie Caron, a celebrated performer of such high acclaim, style, and talent, whose list of friends and acquaintances reads like a Hollywood Who’s Who (Judy Garland, Mae West, Howard Hughes, Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Natalie Wood, Barbra Streisand, Steven Spielberg, and Henry Fonda, just to name a few ) has coped all her life with  painful insecurity. As a child growing up in war-torn Paris with a French father and American mother whom she could never quite please she felt alienated from the French and Americans alike.  And her move to Hollywood, while exciting and filled with on-screen successes, was a struggle too: Leslie didn’t learn English perfectly and had to depend on the kindness of her fellow actors for everything from housing accommodations to learning to drive a car.
 
In THANK HEAVEN Caron sets the record straight regarding falsely rumored tabloid accounts of her escapades, among them that she “stole” the role of Gigi from Audrey Hepburn, and she discusses in detail the
triumphs and heartbreaks of her life: the elation of getting the part of Lise in An American in Paris, the anger and disappointment in hearing on the street that her songs in Gigi would be dubbed; the joy of her two Academy Award nominations for Lili and The L-Shaped Room, and the most devastating blow of all, the suicide of her mother.
 
At times both poignant and hilarious, THANK HEAVEN will enthrall both new and vintage fans alike.
 
LESLIE CARON has been nominated for two academy awards for Lili and The L-Shaped Room, won an Emmy Award in 2007 for a guest role as a rape victim on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, and continues to act today, most recently in Chocolat and Le Divorce. She has been married three times, among her husbands was theater director Peter Hall, with whom she had two children, Christopher and Jennifer. Leslie is thinking of selling
her auberge to devote her full time to the American tour of THANK HEAVEN and for the preparation of the Stephen Sondheim musical, A Little Night Music at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris which starts rehearsals in January. She is playing Mrs Armfeldt, with Kristin-Scott Thomas as Desiree and Lambert Wilson as Frederick. Today Leslie lives in Paris.
 
PLUME  On-sale: December 2010
$16.00 ISBN: 978-0452296626
 
For more information or to schedule an interview with Leslie Caron, contact:
Courtney Nobile, 212-366-2230; Courtney.Nobile@us.penguingroup.com
 
-Plume is an imprint of the Penguin Group, for info on this and other PGI titles,
please visit us on the web at www.penguingroup.com-
 
Since 1973, presenting the best U.S., International, Independent & Repertory films on 3 screens 365 days of the year, in a comfortable ambience including the sculpture garden & The Sky Room Café, the Cinema Arts Centre is located at 423 Park Ave (just south of 25a), Huntington, NY 11743 (25 miles east of New York City). Admission for regular programs: $10.00. Discounts for members, seniors, students & children. CAC is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization. For further information call 631-423-7611. To sign up for weekly email schedule: info@CinemaArtsCentre.org  Membership and Schedule: www.cinemaartscentre.org/

The mission of the Cinema Arts Centre is to bring the best in cinematic artistry to Long Island, and use the power of film to expand the awareness and consciousness of our community.