SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549
            ---------------------------------------------------------





                             FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                                 Date of Report
                       (Date of earliest event reported):
                               September 19, 1997


     THE GILLETTE COMPANY (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)





Delaware                      1-911                        04-1366970
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other          (Commission File Number)         (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                                            Identification No.)
incorporation)        



           4800 Prudential Tower Building, Boston, Massachusetts 02199
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)



       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 421-7000



                                       N/A
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report


                            Total Number of Pages: 5
                         Exhibit Index Appears on Page 5

<PAGE>




 
                                        2


Item 5.  Other Events.

     On September 19, 1997, made an announcement described in Exhibit 1 which is
incorporated herein by reference.


<PAGE>
Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.       Exhibit

    1             The Gillette Company press release dated September 19,
                  1997.


<PAGE>




 


 

                                               SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                                            THE GILLETTE COMPANY
                                                                    (Registrant)


                                                        By: \JOSEPH E. MULLANEY\
                                                       Name:  Joseph E. Mullaney
                                                        Title:  Vice Chairman of
                                                                       the Board



September 19, 1997
(Date)

<PAGE>
                                  Exhibit Index


Exhibit                  Exhibit Description                     Sequential
   No.                                                           Page No.
    1               The Gillette Company press 
                    release dated September 19, 1997.
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2763}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "GILLETTE CO", "cik": "0000041499", "assigned-sic": "3420", "irs-number": "041366970", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-00922", "film-number": "97683457"}, "business-address": {"street1": "PRUDENTIAL TOWER BLDG", "street2": "SUITE 4800", "city": "BOSTON", "state": "MA", "zip": "02199", "phone": "6174217000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "PRUDENTIAL TOWER BLDG", "street2": "SUITE 4800", "city": "BOSTON", "state": "MA", "zip": "02199"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "GILLETTE SAFETY RAZOR CO", "date-changed": "19660911"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549
            ---------------------------------------------------------

                             FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                 Date of Report
                       (Date of earliest event reported):
                               September 19, 1997

     THE GILLETTE COMPANY (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware                      1-911                        04-1366970
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other          (Commission File Number)         (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                                            Identification No.)
incorporation)        

           4800 Prudential Tower Building, Boston, Massachusetts 02199
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 421-7000

                                       N/A
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report

                            Total Number of Pages: 5
                         Exhibit Index Appears on Page 5
2

Item 5.  Other Events.

     On September 19, 1997, made an announcement described in Exhibit 1 which is
incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.       Exhibit

    1             The Gillette Company press release dated September 19,
                  1997.
SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                                            THE GILLETTE COMPANY
                                                                    (Registrant)

                                                        By: \JOSEPH E. MULLANEY\
                                                       Name:  Joseph E. Mullaney
                                                        Title:  Vice Chairman of
                                                                       the Board

September 19, 1997
(Date)
Exhibit Index

Exhibit                  Exhibit Description                     Sequential
   No.                                                           Page No.
    1               The Gillette Company press 
                    release dated September 19, 1997.