ok last question - Paris movies?
 

I'm talking about movies about Paris, set in Paris to set the mood for the trip. This will be my first trip to Paris and I am soooo excited! Some of my obvious choices are: The Last Time I saw Paris, Gigi, An American in Paris, Grand Hotel, Funny Face (that's set in Paris, right?). Heck, I'm even considering The Aristocats, and Rugrats in Paris. Any suggestions? Foreign film titles are also welcome. Thanks!!!

Hi Mary <BR>I love that you mentioned "Funny Face"--I can never look at my beloved "Winged Victory" in the Louvre without thinking of that movie. <BR>I think there have been previous suggestions on this subject here; you might want to do a search on Paris Films or Paris Movies and see if anything comes up. <BR>I'd also suggest <BR>"Everybody Says I Love You", (Woody Allen, Goldie Hawn, Alan Alda, et al, and also wonderful for Venice) <BR>"Forget Paris" (Billy Crystal and Debra Winger)

Definitely "Ronin". <BR> <BR>It's set both in Paris and the south of France. Not only do I love it for its scenes of Montmartre, the Metro, the Pont Alexandre III etc., but because it adds (another) layer of mystery to Paris for me. I find myself wondering what kind of covert meetings and cloak-and-dagger operations could be taking place around me right now, as I walk through the city! <BR> <BR>The film's also notable for what I think are great performances from every actor, including Robert de Niro, Stellan Skarsgård, and Jean Réno... and for what's arguably the best car chase of all time. :) <BR> <BR>Enjoy your movies, and enjoy your trip! <BR> <BR> - Quicksilver -

French Kiss (part of it in Paris; try to forget Kevin Kline's French accent); Rendevouz in Paris (dir. Eric Rohmer); Love in the Afternoon (dir. Billy Wilder, with Gary Cooper and Audrey Hepburn); Is Paris Burning? (not as good as the book, but ...); Funny Face (great Paris scenery); Charade (Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn; Metro scenes are neat); How to Steal a Million (Peter O'Toole and Audrey Hepburn), Diva (great film), and a personal favorite, Window to Paris (about some Russians in St. Petersburg who find what is literally a window to Paris in their rundown apartment house; a nice little foreign-film gem, really funny in places). I know there are more. Lots more. These are the ones that come to mind at the moment. Happy viewing!

Fodors <BR> <BR>Dear Ms Connolly, <BR> <BR>You might revisit "Casablanca". The Paris sequence there is central to the film, and the people in the film are Paris people, there to escape Hitler, and also, the real point, it's a great film. <BR> <BR>A footnote. When the people in Rick's cafe break into the Marseillaise, they song with huge fervour. The reason is that Hollywood gathered the extras for the film from real central Europeans who were real refugees from Hitler. <BR> <BR>From France, Jacques Tati's "Mon Oncle" <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London <BR>

I, too, am looking for such films, especially those I can share with my kids before we take our first trip to Paris later this month. We have already watched An American in Paris. I believe there is a film about Toulouse-Lautrec called Moulin Rouge which is supposed to be set in Paris but may have been filmed entirely in HOllywood. There is also a children's movie called the Red Balloon which, if my memory serves me correctly, takes place in Paris. Please post any other ideas.

Mary and Lynne: "Madeleine" a great little movie I watched with my niece not too long ago....very nice scenes of Paris. Quicksilver: I already agree with "Ronin" being a great vehicle for some Paris scenes....loved it! I loved The Red Balloon too! It has been a while since I saw it... a very long while, hmmm part of a college project if I remember correctly. Judy

Irma la Douce with Shirley MacClaine and Jack Lemmon. For kids the Madeleine movie. I'm not a kid but saw it anyway and loved the shots of Paris in it. <BR>Also Frantic, with Harrison Ford is good. Mary had some good suggestions and I think I've seen all of those movies.

A quick note to Lynn: You may already know this, but "Ronin" is pretty violent. Not enough to bother me--or most adults, I imagine--but I was worried about it getting mixed in with recommendations for things like "Madeleine" and "The Red Balloon" elsewhere in this thread. <BR> <BR>Cheers! <BR> <BR> - Quicksilver -

I would 'second" FRANTIC ... <BR> <BR>Others that may not have been mentioned (and that I remember) are: <BR> <BR>DIVA (THE best movie EVER, if you love both Paris and Opera) <BR>The Lodger (or perhaps, renter - it's Polanski, and probably not for the kiddies) <BR>An American Werewolf in Paris (not as good as the London one but a bit of fun and good special effects and the kids will like it) <BR>Valmont (the European version of Dangerous Liasons - far funnier, more entertaining and the characters are more likable) <BR> <BR>Two movies that I have not yet seen but may be worth catching are: <BR> <BR>Quills (about the Marquis de Sade - very highly rated by the critiques but I would imagine that kiddies should not see it) <BR>Chocolate ((not set in Paris - small village in France) read the book, have not seen the movie - it would be a wonderful book to bring with you to read while you are there. <BR> <BR>Also, other books about France to bring with you - The Pleasing Hour (Lilly King - Young U.S. girl takes a job as au-pair in paris and lives on a house-boat on the Seine)WHen the World was Steady - Clair Messud (Set in Nice area, young girl coming of age, family ex pat colonists from North Afica). <BR> <BR>Have a lovely trip....Ger <BR>

How could I forget these? Breathless (dir. Goddard); Children of Paradise (dir. Carne); The Last Metro (dir. Truffaut). Like others have noted, Frantic is great. So is The Red Balloon, but it's very short (about a half-hour long). There is also some Paris scenes later in L'Atalante (dir. Vigo), but you really don't see a lot of the physical Paris. Still, the movie was made in 1934, and it's interesting to see the canal docks and such at that time, and how people from the French "sticks" thought of Paris. You could also see the video "One Against the Wind," with Judy Davis, which was a Hallmark presentation about Mary Liddell, a British woman living in Paris who gets involved with Resistance in WWII. <BR> <BR>Also, this movie isn't set in Paris but it's a great mood-setting piece: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (dir. Demy). The whole thing is sung, like an operetta. It made Catherine Deneuve's career. <BR> <BR>I know there are lots more Paris movies out there! I've never seen Ronin, but if it's got Jean Reno, it's on my to-see list. I hope more people add to this thread.

Yes, Mary, <BR> <BR>I had forgogotten "Breathless" - it is a classic as is ... "Belle de Jour" with Catherine Deneuve. <BR> <BR>How about "Too Beautiful for You" with Gerard Depardieu - I loved that one. <BR> <BR>Also, recently available on video is "The Dinner Game" - an absolute delight! <BR> <BR>

I second the mentions of Ronin, Frantic, and Rendezvous in Paris. Also, Lovers on the Bridge, with Juliette Binoche.

Wow! You guys are great! Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions! I will definitely watch Ronin, Diva, Frantic, Everybody Says I Love You, Window to Paris (a Parisian version of Being John Malkovich, no?) and will try to see all the others, too. Except that I've already seen French Kiss. I agree with Ger, Valmont is a great movie. Although, my opinion is to watch both Valmont and Dangerous Liasions to get both sides of the coin. Thanks Mary, I just rented Breathless a few days ago and plan to watch it tonight! Quicksilver, you seem so interesting. I like the other postings I've seen from you sprinkled thoughout this website. Elaine, thanks for all your help, too. I will most welcome and treasure your Paris file. You guys are great! (e-pat on the back for everyone) :-)

and other Mary, I like your taste in movies. I love Audrey Hepburn flicks. In a way, she personifies my perceptions of Paris.

Ah, I completely forgot about Window to Paris, a wonderful movie! Thanks for the reminder.

Mary, Don't forget Trois Couleurs: Blanc (Three Colours: White) with Julie Delphy directed by the late Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski. <BR>There are some great street,court and metro scenes of Paris before it moves to Poland and it really is a very favourite movie of mine. <BR>(If somone could tell me what actually happened to Dominique in the end I would be grateful! Like many of these wonderful European movies, endings can be a little obscure!)

Start the revolution without me, with Gene Wilder and Donald Sutherland is a good choice. TCM has the 31 days of Oscar and Moulin Rouge shows the day bfore I leave for Paris, unfortunately Gigi will air while I'm there. Frantic, as mentioned before is good. Also Pret a Porter has good views of Paris, and is entertaining. Of course The three Musketers (I can't spell), I like the old one with Gene Kelly and the 70s version with Faye Dunaway and Charleton Heston. Also the TV version of the Man in the Iron Mask with Richard Chamberlain.

One of my favorites is Subway, a Luc Besson movie with Christophe Lambert and Isabelle Adjani, very stylistic/punk about people living in the Metro station Chatelet (which proves my point about avoiding that stop for transfers--not because of the people living there, but because of the size). Most of it is underground, but it starts with a great scene of a car hurtling through the streets of Paris (and into the Metro station). Not for kids--the language in parts is raunchy.

Seberg and Belmondo in "Breathless"; Depardieu in "Danton" are both worthwhile.

I love that everyone gets what I'm looking for in a movie for Paris: good acting/actors, great scenery, good action, and something beyond the norm. <BR> <BR>Sarah- thanks for the Trois Coleurs: Blanc suggestion. I'll rent it if I can find it. <BR> <BR>Yvonne- is that TMC the Movie Channel? And thanks for your suggestions on movies. I'll just rent Gigi. I think Blockbuster has a 30 days of 30 movies for around $8. Not a bad deal. <BR> <BR>Sue- thanks for the suggestion on Subway. I am intrigued! I've heard about it. Good choice. Punk is always cool, and so is Isabelle Adjani. Thanks. <BR> <BR>Wes- I rented Breathless and was supposed to watch it last night, but I will definitely watch it tonight. It seems to have gotten rave reviews along with Ronin, Window to Paris, & Diva. All are now in my Top 5. I'll let you know how it goes. <BR> <BR>Bon soir!

Mary C: TCM is the "Turner Classic Movies" station. <BR> <BR>.

Ahhh! Should've guessed that but I didn't. Thanks! :)

Not for the kiddies: <BR>La Femme Nikita <BR>Jules et Jim (the villa is in the 20eme) <BR>Cousin, Cousine <BR>Until September <BR>Fatal Image <BR>Maigret films <BR>

Lots of great suggestions here. I would add "Damage" with Juliette Binoche and Jeremy Irons, set partially in Paris if I recall correctly. I loved that movie -- great acting -- but be forewarned that it's not a happy-dappy pick-me-up (I guess you can tell that from the title).

Elvira took the words out of my mouth with La Femme Nikita. Another very dark movie would be Hate/La Haine, about bigotry and the suburbs of Paris; a very impressive movie. The Blue/White/Red series (in my opinion, particularly Blue) is wonderful. <BR> <BR>Les Miserables is incredible -- not the Uma Thurman one, but the one with Belmondo (1995), transposing the Victor Hugo story onto World War II France as Jean Valjean saves a Jewish Cosette and her family from the Nazis. A breathtaking, epic, change-your-life movie. Part in Paris, part in French countryside. <BR> <BR>Other good ones: Coeur en Hiver (with Emmanuelle Beart -- one of the most beautiful people in the world) and The Dinner Game (French farce). <BR> <BR>For kids: Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame. <BR> <BR>L'Apartment is another one not for the kids -- beautifully done.

A third vote for La Femme Nikita, as well as Blue/White/Red (though I think Red was my favorite. And Les Miserables was a great movie--it's incredible that it wasn't nominated for Best Foreign Film as French entry (French Twist instead!).

Elvira, I, too, love La Femme Nikita! After seeing Point of No Return with Bridget Fonda I had a terrible time trying to find it; finally located it and have loved it ever since. It seems more film noirish than Point of No Return. <BR> <BR>And jhm, I like your suggestion of Les Miserables with Belmondo; a twist on a classic!! And Coeur en Hiver sounds intriguing. <BR> <BR>Lisa, thanks for the tip on Damage. Wonder if Rex has seen that one? He LOOOOOVES Julietter Binoche! Rex, Darling? Have you? <BR> <BR>And with all the votes for Blue/White/Red, I think it may be de rigeur for me to watch it. <BR> <BR>Thanks to everyone for sharing their favorites. It's been a fun thread!! <BR> <BR>Mary C :~)

From a slightly different perspective, (especially if you're going to be in Paris for a decently long week or more) go see an English-language movie with French subtitles one night. We saw "The Big Lebowski" (?) near Bastille one nighta couple years ago. We were the only non-French couple in the theater and it was really fun. Even if you only have "high school French" you can do a pretty good job of matching the subtitle to what is being said. It was interesting to see what got the biggest laughs from the Parisians.

Just a quibble- Trois couleurs: Rouge is actually set in Geneva not Paris -but who cares - it certainly has that wonderful French atmosphere.

another mary.... <BR> <BR>all great movies listed, surprised that no one mentions "Charade" with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, considering the fans of Ms. Hepburn here... but forget all the hollywood paris' which are fun, but add a couple of true artistic classics by the reknowned director Bernardo Bertolucci - one of the best films ever made "The Conformist" with Jean Louis Trignignant for an amazing unconformist poetic film in both its story, production design and cinematography!!!! classic parisian style and intriguing story.... then of course, Bertolucci's decadent "Last Tango in Paris" with Marlon Brando... these are a Paris rarely depicted anymore with such eloquence... BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, NOTE: it is all fine and well to watch these movies BEFORE you have ever been to Paris... but the REAL treat is once you have been, when you return and see them again... you never view them the same again! Your insights from your travels make them more personal and allow you to re-visit paris more often (vicariously as opposed to reality).... SUCH IS THE DELIGHT OF MOVIES! Bon Voyage!

Just watched "Ninotchka" this weekend -- a Greta Garbo classic with lots of great scenes in Paris, including one at the Eiffel Tower. It is a very funny movie (Billy Wilder is credited as one of the writers).

Mary, Forgive the digression. My husband is from NYC and we would often go to visit his family. When my boys were in grammar school they got new skates, so we took them skating in Rockefeller Center. When Home Alone 2 was released I was disappointed that they showed no recognition of the sight. On a subsequent visit to this sight my boys exclaimed "This place was in Home Alone!". I was quite frustrated....Linda

First of all, I want to thank everyone who responded to this question initially. I received a ton of excellent movie ideas and, consequently, have added a number of favorites to my repertoire.<BR><BR>Anyway, I just saw the best movie this weekend, "AMELIE", one that I had put off a couple of weeks before seeing. BIG MISTAKE as it’s one of the best movies I’ve seen in a while!<BR><BR>"AMELIE", is a French foreign film in sub-titles, set in Paris with the most wonderful Parisian scenes (many Metro spots, scenes of Sacre Couer, you get the idea), so I thought I'd add it to this list!<BR><BR>Plus, it was just such a cute and charming film with many funny spots. Even the guys (I'm sure they were thinking beforehand that this is such a chick flick) were laughing. Very, Very Funny!!! : )<BR>

Mary,<BR><BR>Yes, Amelie is a great movie. We went and saw it yesterday as well, and my husband enjoyed it as much as I did!<BR><BR>Just curious, were you able to rent Breathless from your local video store? I can't seem to locate it.

I was just thinking of a question on this, as I watched "Une Liaison Pornographique" this weekend, with Nathalie Baye (one of my favorite actresses). I think this film is sometimes called Une Liaison d'Amour to soften it, also (translated as An Affair of Love in the USA, quite a switch). Now, I found the area of the city they were doing their rendezvousing in very attractive and liked their hotel, also (does anyone know that hotel?), but I found they seemed to obscure all metro and street signs, etc, although the metro stop appeared to have the original Art Nouveau Guimard decoration, which limits it (maybe the 16th?). Does anyone know where that location was? One thing that threw me was when I read the credits, it made it appear that it was shot in Luxembourg, where I've never been but didn't know there was such a nice city there with a metro. Anyone have any clues on this one? (I think the metro must have been Paris due to the Guimard entrances). Anyway, I liked that movie very much. I saw Amelie a few weeks ago and it was ok, but I didn't like it as much as I expected too from the positive reviews. I just thought it was kind of silly in most parts and didn't find it that uplifting etc anyway as it is advertised (something like the feel good movie of the year); I like more realistic movies with more real photography. I did like Damage, I bought that one, and I loved Un Coeur en Hiver, I own that also. As far as Breathless goes, that is on TV several times a year in my area, on Bravo or A&E, I taped it from that, so keep a lookout for it.

MaryC~we saw Amalie this past week also and yes, it was sooo charming and cute.The same actress is in another movie out now called Happenstance..try to see it.I can see myself living in a small apartment like hers, somewhere in Paris, with all those eccentric neighbors~C

Yes, Nancy, I rented "Breathless" at Blockbuster and watched it twice before going to Paris. I was confused at first and then charmed by the 2 principal characters' relationship in this movie (although she dies at the end).<BR><BR>If you can't locate it at Blockbuster, then try the local library; you may have better luck there.<BR><BR>Incidentally, I was crushed to find out that Jean Seberg had died, but was comforted to know that she rests in one of the Parisian cemetaries (the Montparnasse cemetary, I believe).<BR><BR>Christina, I'm sorry you didn't care for Amelie. As for the film you noted, maybe it's supposed to be set in Luxembourg and they just used the Metro shots from Paris but tried to obscure the signs to make it less confusing.<BR><BR>I thought maybe you had seen it, C, and was sure you'd like it! Thank you for the suggestion on "Happenstance". I'll look for it this week.<BR><BR>Mimi Taylor, thank you for starting the other Paris movies thread. : ) I'm topping this for you!!!

You can buy Breathless for about $19 at facets, there is an 800 number. Their inventory for foreign films is astounding. Mary, you're going to love Paris. When are you going?

Mimi, I started this thread last March before my first trip to Paris. It was fantastique!!!<BR><BR>And I'm going again this April for a week!!!! Magnifique!!!!<BR><BR>Did you go at Christmas? If not, when did you last go? And more importantly, when will you go again????!!! ')