Paris When It Sizzles (1964) Paris - When It Sizzles (original title)

Director:

Richard Quine

Writers:

Julien Duvivier (story) and
Henri Jeanson (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

8 April 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

RELAX...IT'S ALL RIGHT TO LAUGH AT THIS TENDER LOVE STORY!

Plot:

The sprightly young assistant of a Hollywood screenwriter helps him over his writer's block by acting out his fantasies of possible plots.

Plot Keywords:

Script | Screenplay | Screenwriter | Love | Drunkenness

Cast

William Holden	...	Richard Benson / Rick
Audrey Hepburn	...	Gabrielle Simpson / Gaby
Grégoire Aslan	...	Police Insp. Gilet
Raymond Bussières	...	François (gangster #1)
Christian Duvaleix	...	Maitre d'Hotel
Michel Thomass		(as Michel Thomas)
Dominique Boschero
Evi Marandi
Noel Coward	...	Alexander Meyerheim
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tony Curtis	...	Maurice / Philippe, 2nd policeman (uncredited)
Marlene Dietrich	...	Herself (uncredited)
Mel Ferrer	...	Costume party Jekyll & Hyde (uncredited)
Orestis Ganakis	...	Philippe (uncredited)
Henri Garcin	...	Third Policeman (uncredited)
Frank Sinatra	...	Singer (uncredited) (singing voice)

Directed by
Richard Quine

Writing credits
Julien Duvivier		(story "La fête à Henriette") and
Henri Jeanson		(story "La fête à Henriette")
George Axelrod		(screenplay)

Produced by
George Axelrod	....	producer
John R. Coonan	....	associate producer
Carter De Haven Jr.	....	associate producer
Richard Quine	....	producer

Original Music by
Nelson Riddle

Cinematography by
Charles Lang		(director of photography) (as Charles Lang Jr.)
Claude Renoir		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Archie Marshek

Art Direction by
Jean d'Eaubonne		(as Jean D'Eaubonne)

Set Decoration by
Gabriel Béchir		(as Gabriel Bechir)

Makeup Department
Dean Cole	....	hair stylist
Frank McCoy	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul Feyder	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Joseph de Bretagne	....	sound (as Jo de Bretagne)
Charles Grenzbach	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Paul K. Lerpae	....	special photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Vincent Rossell	....	still photographer
Henri Tiquet	....	camera operator
Robert Willoughby	....	special still photographer (as Bob Willoughby)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Hubert de Givenchy	....	wardrobe stylist
Jean Zay	....	wardrobe coordinator
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator
Tommy Tedesco	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Richard Quine Productions
• George Axelrod Productions (as Charleston Productions)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1964) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paramount (1964) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1969) (USA) (TV)
• Paramount Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

"Paris - When It Sizzles" - USA (original title)
"Together in Paris" - USA (alternative title)

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-8 | Sweden:11 | Australia:G (TV rating) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Hôtel du Cap, Antibes, Alpes-Maritimes, France

Company:

Richard Quine Productions

Trivia:

Filming ended only two days before production began on Audrey Hepburn's next film, Charade (1963).

Goofs:

Continuity: As Richard lays out the blank pages, he lays one on the chair by the stairs. It falls down onto the seat of the chair. However, in the wide shot, it is back on the back of the chair.

Quotes:

Richard:He's not asking her to spend a weekend with him at a motel in Asbury Park, New Jersey; he's asking her to lunch!

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Funny Face (1957)

Soundtrack:

The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower

Must See For Would-Be Writers

If you are a wannabe writer, a writer or simply a fan of movie making or the art of writing, this film is a must see. It's not a perfect film. One wonders at times whether some of the rare serious moments in the movie, or the sugary sweet romance, were poorly written on purpose - but it doesn't matter because it all fits together wonderfully with the parody of bad movie writing, which is what this movie is about. Don't watch this film with anyone who is uncomfortable with unconventional movies, or who is an impatient nitpicker - they won't be happy. The biggest mistake in making this movie was probably the title, which is too misleading and not punchy enough for this genre. Interestingly, Orsen Wells wanted to direct this film but didn't get the job. It would have become a classic under his direction, but as it is now, it's just a silly, lighthearted (mostly), fun, risque, self-indulgent, and even didactic, film about the movie business.