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Irma la Douce

  • 1963
  • Approved
  • 2h 27m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
23K
YOUR RATING
Irma la Douce (1963)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer1:14
1 Video
99+ Photos
FarceSatireComedyRomance

When a policeman falls in love with a French prostitute in Paris, he doesn't want her to be with other men, so he creates an alter-ego who will become her only customer.When a policeman falls in love with a French prostitute in Paris, he doesn't want her to be with other men, so he creates an alter-ego who will become her only customer.When a policeman falls in love with a French prostitute in Paris, he doesn't want her to be with other men, so he creates an alter-ego who will become her only customer.

  • Director
    • Billy Wilder
  • Writers
    • Alexandre Breffort
    • Billy Wilder
    • I.A.L. Diamond
  • Stars
    • Jack Lemmon
    • Shirley MacLaine
    • Lou Jacobi
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    23K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Billy Wilder
    • Writers
      • Alexandre Breffort
      • Billy Wilder
      • I.A.L. Diamond
    • Stars
      • Jack Lemmon
      • Shirley MacLaine
      • Lou Jacobi
    • 97User reviews
    • 53Critic reviews
    • 63Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 6 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:14
    Official Trailer

    Photos154

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    + 148
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    Top cast72

    Edit
    Jack Lemmon
    Jack Lemmon
    • Nestor Patou…
    Shirley MacLaine
    Shirley MacLaine
    • Irma La Douce
    Lou Jacobi
    Lou Jacobi
    • Moustache
    Bruce Yarnell
    Bruce Yarnell
    • Hippolyte
    Herschel Bernardi
    Herschel Bernardi
    • Inspector Lefevre
    Hope Holiday
    Hope Holiday
    • Lolita
    Joan Shawlee
    Joan Shawlee
    • Amazon Annie
    Grace Lee Whitney
    Grace Lee Whitney
    • Kiki - the Cossack
    Paul Dubov
    Paul Dubov
    • Andre
    Howard McNear
    Howard McNear
    • Concierge
    Cliff Osmond
    Cliff Osmond
    • Police Sergeant
    Diki Lerner
    • Jojo
    Herb Jones
    • Casablanca Charlie
    Ruth Earl
    • One of the Zebra Twins
    Jane Earl
    • One of the Zebra Twins
    Tura Satana
    Tura Satana
    • Suzette Wong
    Lou Krugman
    • Customer #1
    James Brown
    James Brown
    • Customer from Texas
    • Director
      • Billy Wilder
    • Writers
      • Alexandre Breffort
      • Billy Wilder
      • I.A.L. Diamond
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The pimps' union is called the "Mecs (Guys or Blokes) Paris Protective Association" (MPPA), which also stands for "Motion Picture Producers Association", an organization which had given Director Billy Wilder some trouble.
    • Goofs
      The shadow of the boom can be seen on the brown wall, at the right of the screen, just after Nestor shows up in Irma's apartment following his jailbreak. It shows up behind Lefevre just after Irma's sarcasm that Nestor can be found in jail.
    • Quotes

      Moustache: But that's another story...

    • Alternate versions
      The MGM/UA VHS print had the 1994 United Artists logo but in the other releases, the opening and closing MGM logos are shown.
    • Connections
      Alternate-language version of Irma la Douce (1972)
    • Soundtracks
      Ah Dis Donc, Dis Donc
      Music by Marguerite Monnot

    User reviews97

    Featured review
    8/10

    Why so little shown?

    Billy Wilder's Irma la Douce is an absolute gem. Coming after 'Some Like it Hot' and 'One, Two, Three' and before the similarly undervalued 'Kiss Me, Stupid' it is part of Wilder's most creative period. Shirley Maclaine is perfect as the hooker with the heart of gold and Lemmon is hilarious as the protective lover.

    Largely shot in studio, Wilder makes hay with the control that this gives him, with a fabulous market where Lemmon works to keep Irma off the streets.

    It is such a joy to see Lou Jacobi in the pivotal role of Moustache. His line delivery cannot be faulted and he is given many of the film's funniest moments.

    It is also a joy to watch a great wit like Wilder show us that prostitution is a way of earning a living, not a social problem. May you smile in Heaven, Billy!
    • Balthazar-5
    • Feb 3, 2005
    • Permalink

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    FAQ26

    • How long is Irma la Douce?Powered by Alexa
    • What is 'Irma la Douce' about?
    • Is "Irma la Douce" based on a book?
    • How do you translate "Douce"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 8, 1963 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Sweet Irma
    • Filming locations
      • Pont Royal Bridge Paris, France(River Scenes)
    • Production companies
      • Phalanx Productions
      • The Mirisch Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $52
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 27 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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