On P List of Movie Reviews

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Paris When It Sizzles (1964)

Rate: 8
Viewed: 3/24

3/24: Given the pairing of William Holden and Audrey Hepburn for the second and last time, Paris When It Sizzles is far better than Sabrina.

It may be that Audrey Hepburn had become a seasoned actress at this point. She's at her classical best as the typist while William Holden is a longtime outstanding actor who turns in another strong performance. He's the main reason why Paris When It Sizzles works while she's happy to oblige.

I don't get why the film was a box-office failure back then, and people didn't like it, too. The only negative is the writing which can be overwhelming at times, especially at the beginning. The film within the film, if it ever comes to fruition, is the worst, but thankfully, Richard Benson knew better by throwing his script into the fireworks.

It's not that my time was wasted, but the editing is clever to accommodate the absurdities. If anyone wants to be a screenwriter, this is the perfect place to begin to learn the process. I like how William Holden described some movie techniques and types of actors and then poked fun of them including Marlon Brando. Even two films that starred Audrey Hepburn are ironically mentioned: Breakfast at Tiffany's and My Fair Lady which wasn't yet made (Paris When It Sizzles was actually filmed in 1962 but didn't get released until two years later).

All in all, Paris When It Sizzles is worth watching for William Holden and Audrey Hepburn, but the screenplay needs to be pared down.

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