So This Is Paris (1926)

The first movie to ever depict a choreographed dance scene in a silent movie. The Charleston!

Director:

Ernst Lubitsch

Writers:

Henri Meilhac (play) (as Meilha'c), Ludovic Halévy (play) (as Hale'vy)

Stars:

Monte Blue, Patsy Ruth Miller, Lilyan Tashman

Cast

Cast overview:
Monte Blue	...	Dr. Paul Giraud
Patsy Ruth Miller	...	Suzanne Giraud
Lilyan Tashman	...	Georgette Lalle, a dancer
George Beranger	...	Maurice Lalle (as André Beranger)
Myrna Loy	...	Lalle's Maid
Sidney D'Albrook	...	French Police Officer
Max Barwyn	...	French Detective

Storyline

Georgette live in Paris with her rather unexciting and effeminate husband, an actor and interpretive dancer. Meanwhile, Suzanne lives across the street, and reads romance novels while dreaming of someone more exciting than her own lackluster spouse. Each woman happens across the other's husband, and begins her dream affair. Four people: each cheating on their spouse, and none of them aware that their own spouse is cheating. Who will find out first, and how?

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Plot Keywords:

dancer | four word title | city name in title | france | frenchman | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 July 1926 (USA)

Also Known As:

So ist Paris

Box Office

Budget:

$253,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min 70 min 66 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Voted one of The New York Times' 10 Best Films of 1926.

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Quotes

Dr. Paul Giraud: It takes a man of my genius to go to jail dressed like this.

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Connections

Remade as One Hour with You (1932)

User Reviews

Roaring Twenties

Seeing this film at my schools auditorium with a packed house of people who actually want to be seeing a 1920's silent film and with a live organ player was a delight. It made me wish I lived in Hollywood where old films are actually shown with a live orchestra and score pretty normally. If it weren't for the obnoxious lady next to me who would not stop laughing at every single thing, I probably would have liked the film even more. So This is Paris was very racy for its time, and I think that's part of the reason why it was so funny. It caught the audience of guard as to just how raunchy it was for its time. But make no mistake, the film is a good time at the theater.

It's about two couples who get caught up in a love quad with each other and attempt to keep it from their significant others. This makes for great comedy if handled correctly. Specifically when we know something that characters don't. The way the film is presented is controversial for its time. There just weren't films made at this time that displayed infidelity, at least not like this. The party scene alone made me think of how everyone may have perceived the film at the time. It was almost like a scene out of the most recent Great Gatsby, very trippy.

The film is definitely funny, but I just didn't get the laughs I do out of watching some of the other 20's classics. I'm much more a fan of the physical comedy. I guess I just don't find reading a joke as funny as seeing it, probably why I don't read books. I was also impressed by the camera movements and the subtle special effects this film had. Such as the drunk visions and even the shrinking scene. With all that said, I think So this is Paris can be a joy to watch even with some of it's faults.

6.8/10