Comment du Jour

Paris/Hollywood

France's fascination with American movies is well known.  Just walk around Paris and see the kiosks advertising what's playing in les Cinemas.

Equally Hollwood is enchanted with the City of Light.  Our correspondent in France bring us news of the new expo at Hotel de Ville (city hall) "Paris Seen by Hollywood." Without question Paris is the foreign city most portrayed in Hollywood films. We discover that over 800 movies have been shot either in Paris or in re-creations of Parisian scenes.

Sophisticated stories, romantic comedies, and the famed detective thrillers are all part of the
cinematic heritage.   The memorable Audrey Hepburn films such as Funny Face and Charade recall the era in the 1960's when it was ever so chic to be and film in Paris.   Who can forget the Hepburn film Sabrina (with Humphrey Bogart as a Yale alum executive) where Audrey runs
off to cooking school in Paris? 

Or Silk Stockings (1957) the cold war comedy with Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse?

Sabrina (1954) with Oceanliner scenes, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) with Marilyn Monroe (also oceanliner crossing scenes) or Audrey's How to Steal a Million (1966) (great Citroen DS 19 shots),  form part of this wonderful cinematic experience.

In contemporary times the Da Vinci Code (2006), Midnight in Paris (2011) an interesting Woody Allen film, and Hugo (2011) by Martin Scorsese round out the list.   

Paris Seen by Hollywood is on exhibit until 15 December 2012 at Hotel de Ville.  It's free and well worth the time!