Paris When it Sizzles
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Movie Reviews of Paris When it Sizzles
Movie Review: I love it...
Summary: 4 Stars
I am one of the few people I know who loves this movie. I think it is sweet, and weird, and funny. It does, however, require a really long attention span, which few of my relatives have. I think it was 'Alex & Emma' before 'Alex & Emma', but in my opinion: it's far better.Movie Review: PARIS WHEN IT SIZZLES
Summary: 4 Stars
A real "cheer me up" film although I would have liked to have seen more of Paris. See it for the fashions, that face and the romance in all of us.Movie Review: Overly Broad Farce Doesn't Show Off Hepburn or Holden in the Best Light
Summary: 3 Stars
Even though this 1964 comedy is not a complete misfire, this is not remotely my favorite movie of either Audrey Hepburn or William Holden. A decade after their initial coupling in Billy Wilder's class-conscious romantic soufflé, "Sabrina", the two stars are re-teamed under the far more heavy-handed direction of Richard Quine in an overly contrived, intermittently funny screenplay by George Axelrod. The result feels like the old-style French farce upon which it is based but with the artificial veneer of 1960's Hollywood studio product (even though it was filmed primarily on Paris sound stages). That's a shame since Hepburn and Holden can be game farceurs when properly motivated, but here they are unfortunately made to play more broadly than usual with an over-reliance on their screen personas.
The frothy plot centers on aging Hollywood screenwriter Richard Benson, who is holed up in Paris attempting to beat the deadline set forth by big-time producer Alexander Meyerheim to finish his latest screenplay. Benson has to hand in the completed script in two days, but the problem is that he hasn't even started since he has been busy boozing and womanizing in typical alpha-male fashion. He hires impressionable Gabrielle Simpson as his live-in secretary and becomes inspired to write the aptly named "The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower" (complete with an opening theme from Frank Sinatra). The rest of the movie goes back and forth between the reality of the impending deadline at Richard's apartment and the fantasy scenes of the screenplay coming to life.
There is no suspense as to how it will end, but it does have its charms with some silly spy-caper turns and cameo appearances by Marlene Dietrich in a walk-on, Noel Coward as Meyerheim, and a particularly amusing Tony Curtis as Gabrielle's Method-style actor boyfriend. At 110 minutes, the movie feels overlong, and the film is visually hamstrung by phony backdrops and studio sets typical of the period. Right between "Charade" and "My Fair Lady", Hepburn is never less than charming here, while Holden keeps his innate hamminess in check. However, neither seems especially challenged by the comic proceedings. The only extra on the 2001 DVD is the original theatrical trailer.
Movie Review: idea with possibilities wasted
Summary: 3 Stars
The screenwriter had no idea how to write a comedy. Add to that casting a dramatic actor (Holden) to play a comic part, and you end up with a flop. With a comic actor (like, say, Tony Randall) and with a comic script, this could have been a very funny movie. Compare this movie with "Delirious (John Candy)" and you'll see what I mean.
The purpose of this story by two Frenchmen seemed to be to show how much they hated American movies. Every movie from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s is lampooned. But satire does not succeed when the satirist hates his subject so much that he can't be funny about it.
The enjoyable parts are the appearances by other stars: Marlene Dietrich, Fred Astaire (singing only), Frank Sinatra (singing a couple of lines), Tony Curtis hamming it up, Mel Ferrar, and Noel Coward (the only comedian of the lot).
Hepburn is given almost nothing to do and has no opportunity to save this picture. Holden tries hard, very hard, but he just doesn't know how to be funny.
Movie Review: I hate to do this...
Summary: 3 Stars
but this movie is not worth more. I love Audrey Hepburn but the plot is atrocious. The actors are good and it can be funny but the plot is definitely lacking. It involves a woman going to Paris to type a play that Holden's character is supposed to have written. The only problem is that he hasn't written it and he only has a few days left. From there the two try to develop a plot with ideas that range from spies to thieves to vampires. Basically what you are witnessing is a writer's failed attempt to develop a good story. If you want a good comedy or you just want to see Audrey Hepburn at her finest try Roman Holiday, Breakfast at Tiffany's, or Sabrina.