Paris When It Sizzles

PARIS WHEN IT SIZZLES is an effervescent concoction filled with light, breezy humor and a few moments of genuine hilarity. The film has one inspired running gag featuring an uncredited Tony Curtis, who is at his scene stealing best.[1] Paris When It Sizzles is an unusual screwball comedy to say the least. Whether it works is another matter, but the premise and humor are interesting enough to make it enjoyable.[2] Paris when it sizzles is officially my least favorite Audry Hepburn movie. I indend to watch all her stuff.[3]

[1] http://www.thecinemalaser.com/dvd2/reviews/paris-when-it-sizzles-dvd.htm
[2] http://www.very-clever.com/information/qkddhauiiq
[3] http://www.shi-town.com/blog/2006_09_01_archive.html


Holden narrates the action and he and Hepburn become the stars in his imaginary film. The problem with Paris When it Sizzles is that it's simply not funny.[4] Holden's Richard Benson has only two days to finish a script for an enigmatic producer (Noel . [5] Holden's Richard Benson has only two days to finish a script for an enigmatic producer (Noel Coward). Hepburn's Miss Simpson is drafted in as the typist and as the script is dictated it manifests itself on the screen, allowing the two lead characters to play out any number of romantic stories.[6]

[4] http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/1891/paris-when-it-sizzles/
[5] http://www.matchflick.com/flicks/3673
[6] http://www.swapshop.co.uk/paris_when_it_sizzles/dy/1/224507/details.aspx


Holden's Richard Benson is handsome, dapper, charming, seductive and without a shred of artistic integrity. Charlie Kaufman, as Nicolas Cage plays him, is all integrity, a fat, balding, sweaty slob who can barely bring himself to talk to other people, much less get the girl, even when she wants him.[7]

[7] http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/feature/85


Hepburn's Miss Simpson is drafted in as the typist and as the script is dictated it manifests itself on the screen, allowing the two lead characters to play out any number of romantic stories. It's the cameo appearances in the imaginary world that really steal the show, with the blink-and-you'll-miss-it last screen appearance by Marlene Dietrich, as well as Tony Curtis having fun with his own screen persona.[11] Hepburn herself seems to have carved out her own niche with regards to style of acting, and her characters appear to merge into one when looking through her filmography. [12] Hepburn plays a secretary called in to type his slurred ramblings. Meanwhile, in real life, writer and typist fall in love.[13]

[11] http://cordaleottleyfamily.com/movies/comedy/page7.html
[12] http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=4947
[13] http://www.combustiblecelluloid.com/classic/parissizz.shtml


Hepburn, by contrast, has no problem here, and indeed she's lovely throughout; if this is not one of her greatest performances, it's largely due to the fact that neither the screenplay nor the direction are top notch. The former is amusing but confused, aiming at too many targets without really hitting them and not providing enough payback on its interesting premise.[14] Hepburn is always delightful (and thank god she isn't singing in this one), and Holden is a desirable leading man, even when he doesn't seem to interested in you, so their presence doesn't hurt the film at all. This film is unfairly attacked for the wrong reasons.[15]

[14] http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuid=6684117&type=product&id=23776
[15] http://www.filmbug.com/asin/b00005almi


Yes, yes, by all means. Do you drop me a line now?[20] Yes, the two have overcome racial dislike amongst themselves, but have Cullen and Jackson's minds actually been changed totally with regards to their views on the opposite race on the whole? This is the film's main problem, in that it so rigidly ties the issue of race with Jackson and Cullen that it prevents itself from dealing with the issue on any sort of wider context.[21]

[20] http://dcairns.wordpress.com/2008/08/30/the-great-duvivier-giveaway/
[21] http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=5058