7.0/10
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147 user 82 critic

Cinderela em Paris (1957)

Funny Face (original title)
Trailer
2:23 | Trailer
An impromptu fashion shoot at a book store brings about a new fashion model discovery in the shop clerk.

Director:

Stanley Donen

Writer:

Leonard Gershe
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Popularity
4,777 ( 580)
Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
Audrey Hepburn ... Jo Stockton
Fred Astaire ... Dick Avery
Kay Thompson ... Maggie Prescott
Michel Auclair ... Prof. Emile Flostre
Robert Flemyng ... Paul Duval
Dovima Dovima ... Marion
Suzy Parker ... Specialty Dancer (Think Pink Number)
Sunny Hartnett Sunny Hartnett ... Specialty Dancer (Think Pink Number)
Jean Del Val ... Hairdresser
Virginia Gibson ... Babs
Sue England ... Laura
Ruta Lee ... Lettie
Alex Gerry ... Dovitch
Iphigenie Castiglioni Iphigenie Castiglioni ... Armande
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Storyline

Fashion photographer Dick Avery, in search for an intellectual backdrop for an air-headed model, expropriates a Greenwich Village bookstore. When the photo session is over the store is left in a shambles, much to salesgirl Jo Stockton's dismay. Avery stays behind to help her clean up. Later, he examines the photos taken there and sees Jo in the background of one shot. He is intrigued by her unique appearance, as is Maggie Prescott, the editor of a leading fashion magazine. They offer Jo a modeling contract, which she reluctantly accepts only because it includes a trip to Paris. Eventually, her snobbish attitude toward the job softens, and Jo begins to enjoy the work and the company of her handsome photographer. Written by alfiehitchie

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'S Wonderful! When Audrey and Fred Rock 'n' Roll To Those Gay Gershwin Tunes - From Washington Square to the Champs-Elysee! See more »


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Did You Know?

Trivia

Fred Astaire also starred in the original 1927 Broadway version of "Funny Face" with his sister Adele Astaire. However, the storylines of the play and movie are entirely different; the film only uses some of the play's songs. Coincidentally, the exact same thing had occurred earlier with A Roda da Fortuna (1953), which had also starred both Astaire and his sister on Broadway in 1931; the film had a different storyline but used some of the play's songs. The only opportunity Astaire had to recreate a role he originated on Broadway was in A Alegre Divorciada (1934), from Broadway's "Gay Divorce". See more »

Goofs

When the song "He Loves, She Loves" begins, Dick Avery puts his camera down on the grass. When Avery and Jo Stockton start dancing, the camera is missing. See more »

Quotes

Maggie Prescott: [talking about the newest edition of her magazine] This is just paper. And if I send paper to the American woman, I will have let her down! Oh, yes. D for down, D for dreary, and D for dull and for depressing and dismal and deadly!
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Alternate Versions

Kay Thompson is shown singing "do some window shopping in the Rue de la Paix" in pouring rain, carrying an open umbrella. The version shown in the final film was shot in brilliant sunshine with the umbrella left closed! See more »


Soundtracks

He Loves and She Loves
Words by Ira Gershwin
Music by George Gershwin (1927)
Sung by Fred Astaire
Danced by Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn
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User Reviews

 
Gershwin, Paris, Astaire, Audrey Hepburn, Richard Avedon, and John-Paul Sartre
23 July 2005 | by theowinthropSee all my reviews

This 1957 musical is a little odd. It has a title based on an original 1920s Gershwin musical (that included the title song) which starred Fred and Adele Astaire. It was a musical and scenic valentine to France (but only one tune in it deals with France - "Bonjour Paris!". It is a spoof on the modern fashion magazines, fashions in general, and advertising - but the spoof while sharp at times is never pushed. The opening sequence, "Think Pink," describes how Kay Thompson plans a campaign to make the American woman go for "pink" clothes, accessories, toothpaste, etc., only to admit to her assistant she personally loathes the color. It takes full advantage of the attractive face and features of Hepburn, who is convinced to be a model and help push a new line of fashions in Paris. And it makes two characters into imitations of Richard Avedon the photographer (Astaire as Dick Avory) and Jean-Paul Sartre (Michel Auclair as Prof. Emile Flostre).

Avedon was a rarity - a fashion photographer who became a great artistic portrait photographer. Astaire never is shown taking pictures of great or famous people in the film but several times he demonstrates a refinement that separates him from the rest of Kay Thompson's entourage (most of whom don't care what havoc they cause, as long as they get their jobs done). He also has enough sense to question Hepburn's accepting of "empathicalism", and it's viability. Witness his moment in the bistro pouring wine to the two old codgers who are quite pleasant to him while he insults them in English. Hepburn, of course, is so insistent on the validity of her philosophical beliefs that she rejects Astaire's warnings, and jeopardizes the fashion show.

The final blow (seemingly) to the Astaire - Hepburn relationship is when he confronts Flostre at the author's home. He knocks out the Professor, and his brutality demolishes the relationship with Hepburn. But within minutes Hepburn sees another side to Flostre which is unexpected, and suddenly realizes that Astaire may be right after all.

The character of Flostre is obviously based on that of Jean-Paul Sartre, the founder of "existentialism". Based on in some details, but not in theory. "Empathicalism" has to do with trying to empathize with others so as to have a proper response to their needs and aspirations. "Existentialism" has to do with: "An introspective humanism or theory of man which expresses the individual's intense awareness of his contingency and freedom; a theory which states that the existence of the individual precedes his essence." This is from Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary. Sartre has a more complex view of man and society, and one can plow through BEING AND NOTHINGNESS to try to understand it. In fact some critics have wondered if the Nobel Prize Winner eventually got very wrong headed about his theory. But he certainly seems a meatier philosopher than his celluloid copy.

But Flostre does have the trappings of Sartre on him. He is revered by his followers world wide (such as Hepburn). He is a man with sexual appetite (as Sartre was with his long time companion and fellow writer Simone Beauvoir). And there is some traces of an anti-capitalist, even anti-American attitude in him. It is not definitely pushed, but when Astaire and Thompson break into his house during a party, they pretend they are American share cropper singers whom Flostre had brought to France to perform for his guests. Now, we never hear what this actual pair actually would sing, but judging from their background they would have to throw in some protest songs. Sartre was very critical of the U.S.A. and capitalism (today his fans have to explain Sartre's willingness to accept Russian imperialist moves under Communism in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s - they find it very hard to do so).

On the whole the parts of the film work well, so I give it seven stars. Kay Thompson is best recalled for being the creator of the little girl at the Plaza "Eloise", but she shows here a highly entertaining performance as Maggie Prescott, the editor who pushes and loathes pink. The film would have been better if somehow Avedon's portrait photography had been brought into the story, possibly in a final scene with Flostre as his subject. However, even without such a sequence the film is rewarding to watch, especially in the musical numbers. Astaire does equally well with Thompson and with Hepburn as his partners here.


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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Release Date:

25 December 1957 (Portugal) See more »

Also Known As:

Cinderela em Paris See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)
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Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures See more »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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