Paris Blues (1961)

Director:

Martin Ritt

Writers:

Walter Bernstein (writer)
Harold Flender (novel)

Release Date:

27 September 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

A Love So Spectacular, So Personally Exciting, You Feel It Happening To You!

Plot:

Ram Bowen and Eddie Cook are two expatriate jazz musicians living in Paris where, unlike America at the time...

Plot Keywords:

Jazz | Musician | Love | Composer | Expatriate

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Paul Newman	...	Ram Bowen
Joanne Woodward	...	Lillian Corning
Sidney Poitier	...	Eddie Cook
Louis Armstrong	...	Wild Man Moore
Diahann Carroll	...	Connie Lampson
Barbara Laage	...	Marie Seoul
André Luguet	...	Rene Bernard
Marie Versini	...	Nicole
Moustache	...	Drummer
Aaron Bridgers	...	Pianist
Guy Pederson	...	Bass Player
Serge Reggiani	...	Michel Duvigne
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Emilien Antille	...	Man with alto sax in jazz cave when Armstrong enters

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | USA:Approved (PCA #19792)

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company:

Diane Productions

Trivia:

Although Duke Ellington received an Academy Award nomination for Best Music, Scoring a Musical Picture, this film is not a musical, but rather a romantic drama in a jazz-music setting.

Quotes:

Ram Bowen: You just do anything I say, don't you?
Lillian Corning: Well, I want to stay.
Ram Bowen: You're a nut. Well, I ain't gettin' involved with no nut!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Century of Black Cinema (2003) (V)

What is Cool?

This movie is one of my all time favorites. It epitomizes the "cool" of integrated 1960's Paris where so many Americans of all races sought refuge and escape from the limitations posed by racism in America. It also explores the issues of and differences in race in the USA and in France(Paris). The music is "grand" and the scenario is spectacular. I think it's a fun and interesting film that should be in any jazz lovers library. Paul Newman and Sidney Poiter click so well, and the ladies(Joanne Woodward and Diane Carroll) are simply fabulous. I don't think this movie would have the same appeal and believability if it had been filmed in the USA. I believe this film was a labor of love and friendship on the parts of its cast members, and it shows. I love Paris!