Paris When It Sizzles * (1964, William Holden, Audrey Hepburn, Grégoire Aslan, Noël Coward) – Classic Movie Review 11,128

Director Richard Quine’s 1964 film Paris When It Sizzles is a star-studded comedy lacking both style and panache. It wastes the many talents of its stars on a torpor-inducing script, based on a French original screenplay (La fête à Henriette) by Julien Duvivier and Henri Jeanson.

William Holden stars as a drunken, writer’s blocked screenwriter, Richard ‘Rick’ Benson, known as The Writer, an American in Paris fantasising various endings for his film script, after being given just two days by Hollywood producer Alexander Meyerheimer (Noël Coward) to complete it in time and hiring a temporary secretary to help him. He enacts various different plot ideas with his new female assistant (Audrey Hepburn) Gabrielle ‘Gaby’ Simpson, known as The Secretary, and with himself taking on a variety of roles.

Even the cameo appearances by stars such as Marlene Dietrich, Tony Curtis and Mel Ferrer cannot save the day and it just fails to sizzle. In fact, it fizzles.

Also in the cast are Grégoire Aslan as Police Inspector Gilet, Raymond Bussières as François 1st Gangster, Christian Duvaleix as Maitre d’Hotel and Michel Thomass as 2nd Gangster.

Frank Sinatra performs The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower (music by Nelson Riddle, lyrics by Richard Quine).

Mel Ferrer was married to Audrey Hepburn from 25 September 1954 – 5 December 1968 (divorced, one child).

Holden fell for Hepburn when they made Sabrina. Hepburn rejoined Holden to try to help his career and battle with alcohol, but he continued his drinking throughout filming.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,128

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