A Place in the Sun (1951)

The nominees for Best Motion Picture in 1952 for film achievements in 1951 were Vincente Minnelli’s An American in Paris, Anatole Litvak’s Decision Before Dawn, George Stevens’ A Place in the Sun, Mervyn LeRoy’s Quo Vadis, and Elia Kazan’s A Streetcar Named Desire.  It was Minnelli’s An American in Paris that took home the Oscar for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) despite the fact it didn’t receive the most nominations.  Paris received eight whereas Elia Kazan’s brilliantly acted, A Streetcar Named Desire got twelve.  But, I would have chosen neither of those as Best Motion Picture that year.  I would have given the honor to the movie that received nine nods, Stevens’ A Place in the Sun.

While I enjoy An American in Paris it is not even close to my favorite musical.  I much prefer Gene Kelly dancing in New York – or a barn for that…