Favorite Movie or Book to Get You In the Mood...

I love French Kiss! Do you remember the scene when they've just left the thief's apt & she's yelling at Kevin Kline that she can't get home because she has "no suitcase, no money, no passport"? I JUST figured out where that little corner in Montmartre is!

Just recently rewatched A Little Romance with Diane Lane & Sir Laurence Olivier & Fatal Image, a not too bad movie with fantastic scenes of Paris.

For France, Ronin, which has great scenes in Paris & Arles!

I enjoyed "Chocolat" with Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp (who lives in the south of France somewhere). I forget the name of the town where the film was shot, but it was very pretty.

Love in the Afternoon and Gigi, I never tire of watching. Lovers on the Bridge, .. Venus Beauty Institute, When the cat's away,
Frantic, The man who Loved Women(French version), Elevator to the Gallows(great Miles Davis score), The Professional,
Paris Vu Pas, Breathless, 400 Blows, Celine and Julie go Boating, Chloe in the Afternoon.

The Tavernier film 'A Sunday in the Country' set in the south of France is one of my favorites. The cinematography is wonderful.

'Small Change' about French children is
great. For shots of Paris 'Day of the Jackal' can not be beat.

As to books:

The Seven Ages of Paris by Alistair Horne is a fascinating story of how Paris got to be Paris.

As to music, consider a CD of Charles Trenet or Edith Piaf.

Anthony

Just looked at some other movie options online. Other ideas...

* Forget Paris (Billy Crystal & Debra Winger)

* Paris Holiday (Bob Hope)

* Passport to Paris (the olsen twins - never saw it and it's probably hoakie but i'll try it)

* American in Paris

* Sabrina

* Girl from Paris

aggiemon the film Le chocolat was shot in Flavigny sur Ozerain, one of the most beautiful villages in France and is only 60km from Dijon!

>...favorite movies and/or books to get yourself in the mood for your france trip?<

You have to get in the mood to go to France? I mean, it's not like you're married...

Hi Ira - No, I don't HAVE to get in the mood to go to France! But before I go on a trip, I love to watch movies, listen to music, read books etc. that gets me even more excited to go! About a month before i'll start renting movies every weekend that has something to do with my trip. It gets me even more giddy (sp?) about going!

Yes, I am a travel addict.

Beatchick - Please tell me where that French Kiss scene in Montmartre is. We have been trying to figure it out, but have not been successful. Thank you.

If you are going to the Limoges area a good movie to see is Les Destinees. It is about a family in the pottery making business and spans several generations of family members. Definitely worth renting(Blockbuster).

Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire in _Funny Face_ is my favorite movie set in Paris.

I also love _Before Sunset_ (the sequel to Before Sunrise) in which Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy meet up again in Paris after all these years.

There's an earlier long thread on this subject, with many more recommendations--you might be able to find it via a search.

Claire's Knee, for Lac Annecy.
A Man and a Woman, for Paris Le Mans and the Camargue.
Entre Nous-Lyons.
Jean de Florette, Manon of the Springs-Provence, as are My Father's Glory, My mothér's Castle.
thieves-Lyon.
Wild Reeds-Villeneuve-sur-Lot.
Les Biches- St Tropez.
My Night at Maud's-Clermont-Ferrand.
La Ceremonie, Horse of Pride-Brittany.
Muriel-Boulogne.
The Wild Child-the Auvergne.
La Cage Aux Folles-St Tropez.

Parisonmymind2,

It's the rue Paul Albert & rue Feutrier!! To the west of Sacré Coeur. Which fits in with Luc going up the west steps to Nôtre Dame to discover the necklace was missing.

Boy, what a walk Kate must have had trying to go down the west side of Montmartre to get to the American Embassy. No wonder she could never see the Eiffel Tower!!

I'm sorry, he goes the west steps to Sacré-Coeur!

Oh, and I just figured this out last weekend. I was so excited!

Here's one of those movie threads:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=1279883

This information is probably in one of the other Paris movie threads, but An American in Paris does not have a single scene shot in Paris. I really don't like the movie, but aside from my personal taste, it can't get you in the mood for France, because none of it is shot in France.

There are a few moments of stock footage, but you can do better by watching any of the other films listed here.

Funny Girl is another film that's mostly backlot sets.

the old Francoise Sagan books and films are worth a view.

This is fantastic! just what I was looking for!

Beatchick - thanks for the link. I just read that entire thread and added a TON of movies to my list for Blockbuster! I only have two months and I probably have a movie to watch everyday until then!

For anyone who loves Paris, The Francois Truffaut's Antoine Doinel series starting with young Antoine in 400 Blows followed by Les Mistons and Antoine and Colette,
Stolen Kisses,
Bed And Board,
Love on the run.
These film all produced during the New Wave still endure.

iluvs2travel, I'm so happy! That thread was actually started by me before my 1st ever trip overseas, to (yes, you guessed it) Paris!

My trip is in a month & I've been reading Thirza Vallois' books, Fodor's, & watching movies! Tonight I'm watching Deja Vu and tomorrow I'm watching Henry & June (Paris scenes & Henry Miller!).

Amelie
Krzysztof Kieslowski's trilogy: Blue, White, Red
Part of The Bourne Identity was shot in Paris
Charade (with Audrey Hepburn & Cary Grant) if you can find it.
To Catch a Thief (South of France)
Horseman on the Roof (Provence)
Most films starring Catherine Deneuve
Kings and Queen (Paris and Montpellier)

Look for French films in the foreign film section of your library and video stores.

beatchick & parisonmymind-- who is the singer of the song at said location? Is it Carlo Ponti?

Tuscanlifeedit, so what and yes, it can.

J.

Paolo Conte Paolo Conte Paolo Conte!

I reversed my sounds and came up with a film director instead. goombah. I have not had my coffee yet.

You good folks have me checking to see what time Blockbusters opens. J.

There's an old Elizabeth Taylor and a chap called Van something (?Johnson?) and I think it's called something like 'We'll always have Paris'.

Also a straight-to-dvd movie starring Rob Lowe and Jennifer Grey called If the Shoe Fits, although I just saw on amazon the title is now called Stroke of Midnight.

In fact when I googled Paris and Movies the following came up

http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/listmania/fullview/8YI8CPJ1QHS1/002-7187219-9681656?%5Fencoding=UTF8

which lists several films no-one has mentioned yet.

Have a great trip.

julie, that's "The Last Time I Saw Paris." Tear jerker if you can place yourself in a retro mood. I suppose Tuscan will tell us it was also filmed on a back lot somewhere else. No matter. J.

julia_t & jmw44, I LOVE that movie especially since it's based on an F. Scott Fitzgerald short story "Babylon Revisited". He was working on the script but then, I think, he died shortly before it was completed so the script is written by someone else.

Anyway, while you watch the movie, think of Van Johnson as F. Scott Fitzgerald struggling through the disappointment of The Great Gatsby not being hugely successful (so ironic, don't you think?) and Elizabeth Taylor as the charming, vivacious Zelda and the Vicky character as daughter Scottie. Realize that the Dhingo Bar is actually the Dingo Bar, which was HUGELY famous, run by Jimmy the Barkeep, and featured in Hemingway's The Sun also Rises. Then substitute Zelda's descent into madness for the lung ailment that Taylor suffers & dies from in the movie. When you've done all that I think you have a stellar movie, with many subtle layerings which most movie reviewers don't seem to capture.

You can buy a cheapo DVD of this movie at Target for just $1 (in their dollar bins).

À bientôt!

This is really a chick flick, but I love it. It`s called Until Sept. Shows paris and also, the countryside.

I second sandykins "Before Sunset" recommendation -- they spend most of the movie walking through the streets of Paris (starting at Shakespeare and Co. Bookstore), so it's fun to look for familiar landmarks in the movie once you get back!

I don't think I've seen "Last Tango in Paris" mentioned.

liz

Beatchick all those older movies were not shot in Paris but on studio lots.

luvurop, you're right and a wonderful soundtrack as well as authentic locations.

Mimi, I didn't say that they were???

"The Greek Tresure" By Irving Stone-I re read it before I go back to Greece-One of my most favorite countries

Not that i know everything (okay i do) but the movie i would recommend, and i dont think ANYONE said this, is "Forget Paris". Its a movie with Billy Crystal. Its a comedy with a love story undertone, and also has sports in it (Billy Crystal plays a basketball NBA referee. There are Cameos by ALOT of NBA stars. Its from about 1995.) I would recommend that one.

SHOOT BC that was not the point!
starbone, iluv2travel mentioned that film. Read the whole thread

I'm sorry, I guess I don't get your point.

Beatchick - thank you for the info on the French Kiss scene.

jmw44 - The tune played at that location is Via Con Me written and performed by Paolo Conte.

Some films that I don't think have been mentioned here...
Diva - I love this movie.
Dinner Party, while the film takes place mostly in an apt, the view is of the Eiffel Tower and it is a very good funny French film.
Le Divorce ,.- a mediocre film but fantastic locations all over Paris .
Happenstance with Audrey Tatou..came out not long after Amelie, not as good but still, it is Paris !
Pret a Porter..all those Hollywood stars AND Paris!!

Mimi, you will be there in a few weeks! You must be so excited.

We have this great Art house film center here in Portland and every week there is a different and usually foreign, film.
A month or so ago, we saw the film that Mimi mentioned, Elevator to the Gallows
with Jeanne Moreau. It was just as tense and as good as any film made today. Maurice Ronet was in it too, with that great Miles Davis score.
It was fun to see Paris in black and white and kinda dirty compared to some of the bright happy Technicolor films today

cigalechanta- i did read it but missed someone posting that movie. that being said, she found it online. I actually saw the movie 3 times the first month it was out. All within a week too i think. (not because it was so great, i just went to see it with my g/f at the time. Then next week my friend asked my g/f and i do go to a movie with him and his g/f, and that happened to be playing. Then a couple days later we went to the drive in because we were bored and it was playing there too!!!!)

That being said, i have it on DVD too. If anyone wants, you can stop by and borrow it

tony

Starbone, You can borrow any of mine. I have Diva that Scarlett mentions, alas, mine is not DVD. I recently bought one that plays both, but sold alot on my collection to pay for a future trip but still have maybe 40 left

You can search the Internet Movie Database for filming locations:

http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Locations/

For a few TV ideas:

The final 2 episodes of the TV series "Sex and the City" were set in Paris, and show several different locations. Season 6 (the final season) is out on DVD, and should be available for rent.

Also, reality TV isn't my personal favorite, the upcoming season of "The Bachelor" will take place in Paris. Undoubtedly the show will feature many expensive and famous locations.

Enjoy your trip!

If you can catch it, "Paris Blues" gets played frequently on some of the pay cable channels. Paul Newman and Sidney Poitier play ex-patriate jazz musicians who fall for two American gals, Joanne Woodward and Diahann Carroll, on vacation in Paris. Wonderful locations, an awesome Duke Ellington jazz score and a great cameo by Louis Armstrong make it very worthwhile. I wish it were on DVD.

The opening of "Love in the Afternoon" is probably the best montage of Paris sights from any film.

question... I am pretty computer literate... okay really computer literate, and i wanted to ask a question/start a tread. I cant find the link to start a new thread. I feel really stupid right now...

anyway here is what i was going to ask. I am backpacking through europe, blah blah blah. Does anyone take a couple DVDs with them just in case? like sitting around the hostel, and poping them in (if the hostel has a DVD player of course).

Up at the top left under the word Europe- it says post a new message..

Stabone76,

Unfortunately you can't bring commercially made American DVDs with you that will work in European DVD machines. The same is true of Japan. The formats for commercial DVDs are different; I assume that is for copyright protection reasons, or perhaps import tariffs. We received some as gifts from friends overseas and when they wouldn't play we checked several websites and local video stores, and consistently told they don't work.

If you are bringing a laptop, you could watch an American movie on that. Just MAYBE an American DVD would play on a European CD-ROM; someone else might know for sure.

Only the cell phones are more frustrating.

ah i forgot about that... actually you CAN but you have to change the area code and you can only do that acouple times pre player... after that you can get stuck with the wrong one. Thanks for that though, i forgot all about it... (im not sure about reg DVD players but cpu ones you can change though, five times i think....

also i see now where it says NEW POST... i didnt see it beofer though... its not right in the open for everyone to find... (its close though, lol)

OK, so back to French Kiss. Can someone name the little town that goes with the Kate dialog "beautiful, beautiful", arms waving. The train station says La Ravelle, but who knows. This is such fun, if inconsequential. J.

jmw, I think that was when they were in the South of France? I can see her in my minds eye waving her arms around LOL but I cannot remember where they were..Marseilles perhaps?

French Kiss is a movie that I never get tired of watching. It is one of my favorites. In fact, whenever I get a little nervous about flying, I imagine Luc saying to Kate "What do you think, the plane is going to crash and we are all on the ground in a thousand pieces? I promise, if that happens, you won't feel a thing!" You have to imagine it with his accent, of course... Anyway, it makes me laugh, and then I'm not nervous anymore.

Sabrina is also a good choice for scenes of Paris.

Besides Paris, the film locations were Valbonne, and somewhere in the Alpes maritime.

gracie04,

French Kiss is one of my favorites - so many great one-liners!

"Please - don't hurt the car"

or

"It's true, all men are bastards"
"Some of us are just trying to help."



Of course, you have to have seen the movie & the expressions or the faces & the situations (for instance, Luc had STOLEN that car) to appreciate.

Just watched an amazing movie tonight called Déjà Vu (1997 - Victoria Foyt).

Another great one I thought of tonight is Catherine Deneuve's The Umbrellas of Cherbourg which made me cry so hard. Beautiful. Just beautiful.

Thanks re the location.

I have to remind myself that Kevin Kline was also "Dave" -- (impersonating the president). All men should go to France for makeovers. Fake or not, he was cute as a bug, non?

You people are a bad influence; I'm supposed to be working on an edline tutorial. J.

Kevin is not just a pretty face. That was he singing at the end of the film, French Kiss!!!

Just watched before sunrise AND before sunset. Before Sunset left me hanging! i wanted more! thanks for all the recommendations...

now if only there were a "After Sunset"

Start the revolution without me. Gene Wilder and Donald Sutherland. Hilarious, haven't seen it in years. Another old Paris movie that I love is Moulin Rouge, with Jose Ferrer. It is simply a beautiful movie.

Bookmarking!

I love any movie with scenes of Paris, good ,bad or indifferent.

I don't think "Everyone Says I Love You" has been mentioned here.
You have to be a Woody Allen fan.

Oldie but goodies for Paris,
Love in the Afternoon,
The original French version, The Man Who Loved Women,
and also the heart breaker, 400 Blows.
All the old Francoise Sagan books,
Cara Blacks Mysteries.

I just read this thread & i must be a travel addict as i too like to read books about where i'm going to! Watching movies & recognizing places too is always a buzz!
For Paris I love the Cara Black - Aimee Leduc mysteries, have just got the Ile St Louis one 2 days ago! Movies set in France I have recently liked are Ne le dis à personne (2006)and of course all the old faves like Ronin & Amelie.
I watched a really crap movie the transporter just cos it was filmed near Frejus.........
Captain Correlli's Mandolin always gets me cos i luv Kefalonia too, as does Stealing Beauty for Tuscany!

Scot, Cara's new book will be out in March!

bookmarking--staying in Montmartre in June, 2008.

Besides Chocolat, watch a few older movies made by the French, not the Americans. I would suggest Belle de jour, starring Catherine d'Neuve, and any movie starring Alain Delon. My impression is that the American public has no idea who he is, yet he is so quintessentially French. The same is true for Catherine d'Neuve.

My goodness, Gina where you got that Idea. We film goers know who Alain Delon is. Did you know he made the best Talented Mr Ripley based on Patricia Highsmiths book?
The title wghen shown here is "Purple Noon" His "Le Samarai"
has a cult following. I've even seen the little known "Icy Breasts."
As for Deneuve, all of her films are shown here. The first i saw her in was "Les damoisells de Rochefort"
She co=starred with her beautiful sister who later in life died in a car crash.

Cigalechanta,

just because you know, it doesn't mean everybody does. I have met lots of people who have never heard of him. As for Catherine d'Neuve, she is, of course, much better known, I did not mean her.

Of course everybody doesn't. I don't know the names of alot of American actors on the other hand

I guess, they are not really as great.

"Chocolat" and Year in Provence

Treated myself to two movies over the holiday; both being set or having scenes in Paris:
1. "Broken English" directed by Zoe Cassavetes. Starring Parker Posey and French actor, Melvil Poupaud (be still my heart!)
2. "8e Arr. Avenue Montaigne". French movie directed by Danielle Thompson.

I enjoyed both for some light-hearted entertainment and a short visit to Paris.