Once in a while I find myself disagreeing with everybody’s negative review of a movie. Such is this case. I don’t think this movie “fizzled.” It blazed!
I admire that William Holden and Audrey Hepburn took a chance in starring in an experimental film, so unusual in their careers, that poked fun of their own profession. This movie is a flat-out satire that at times borders on farce. Anyone looking for broad strokes drawn against the movie industry will enjoy the insider jokes and expressions.
Holden is a jaded screenwriter who has two days to come up with a script for his boss. Hepburn is the typist hired to help him put it on paper. Both actors are in top form, Holden handsome and athletic, Hepburn lovely and delicate. Set in perhaps the loveliest city in the world, this caper takes our two heroes across the Champs Elysees, Montmartre, Bois de Boulogne, Palais de Chaillot, and the Eiffel Tower.
The film lampoons the way movie scripts are written. In the movie’s best scene Holden sardonically explains the steps needed for a romantic thriller. Across his chic apartment, he lays out on the floor pages of his future script and then “reads” out the story: “boy meets girl,” “girl faces love triangle,” “boy recovers beloved cat,” and “boy kisses girl in the rain.” He glumly denounces this hackwork (it’s a blatant imitation of Breakfast at Tiffany). Nothing fresh comes to mind. That is, until Hepburn walks into his life.
With her beauty and quirky personality, she becomes his muse. The attraction is mutual, and inspiration blossoms. Feeding off each other’s energy, the two create scenes for a new script and then “act” them out against a Paris celebrating Bastille Day. The comedy within the comedy is tongue-in-cheek. Some of it doesn’t work, such as the fatuous Dracula and bi-plane scenes, but most do because Holden and Hepburn are soooo good at elevating the material.
Holden’s diction, as usual, is exquisite, with every word of every remark enunciated perfectly. This is a talky movie, and some of it refers to previous Holden/Hepburn films. For example, Sabrina and My Fair Lady are spoofed in the sidewalk café sequence. Beyond that, the movie laments the plight of writers forced to produce “a masterpiece” by a deadline.
There’s plenty of chemistry between the two stars, hinting of the passionate affair they had while filming Sabrina ten years earlier. Late in life, Holden confessed that Hepburn was the love of his life. The evidence is in their love scenes here. There is a yearning in Holden’s eyes as he gazes at Hepburn. Look for those moments before the “Dissolve” and “Fade out.” Ah, vive l’amour.
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April 20, 2021 "Please retry" | — | 1 | $15.98 | $8.47 |
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Paris When It Sizzles - DVD - Review - movie fizzled out
Audrey Hepburn is my all time Favorite actress. I own 16 of her movies on DVD.. . .Fashion and Costumes played a Big Role in Paris When It Sizzles movie, just like in most Audrey Hepburn movies.. . .I would rate Paris When It Sizzles as her 14th Best (or 3rd Worst) movie. Reasons are below.. . .(1) Movie is Monopolized by Several long winded Monologues from the Character portrayed by William Holden.. . .(2) Movie is Geared Towards screen writers, Not general audiences. Inside Jokes that are Aimed at Screen Writers are Not funny for General audiences.. . .(3) I almost Shut Off the DVD when the movie Jumped The Shark during the Vampire scene. Far Fetched scene was included Merely for the Sake of a Novelty. Scene was the Lowest Point of the move. Thankfully the movie Improved afterwards.. . .(4) Movie script was Not great. Producer, director, and writers Attempted to Cover Up the movie Flaws with the use of Cameos by well known actors. Tony Curtis, Marlene Dietrich, Mel Ferrer, Frank Sinatra (singing) are among the cameos. Tony Curtis had several Cameos during Paris When It Sizzles. Not sure why he was Not included as a Main Character during the Credits at the Beginning of the movie.. . .(5) Audrey Hepburn was good, but Not great. She was Limited by the Director and Writers for the movie Paris When It Sizzles. Her character had Potential but the producer, director, and writers Focused Too Much on the character portrayed by the older William Holden.. . .PS.. . .Audrey wore fashionable outfits, as usual. Most beautiful Smile and Eyes in Hollywood history.. . .
Top reviews from other countries
Amazonkundin
Paris When It Sizzles [UK Import]
Reviewed in Germany on September 25, 2013Alderson
Hepburn and Holden are very good together.
Reviewed in Canada on November 20, 2014
Meister
Audrey ist wie immer nett anzusehen
Reviewed in Germany on November 16, 2009