DVD

Average customer rating:

Overly Broad Farce Doesn't Show Off Hepburn or Holden in the Best Light
Spare Us While it Fizzles
love it!
Paris When It Sizzles - Great Fun
Not Much Sizzle!

Paris When It Sizzles
Starring: William Holden , Audrey Hepburn , Grégoire Aslan , Raymond Bussières , and Christian Duvaleix
Director: Richard Quine
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Funny Face
How to Steal a Million
Love in the Afternoon
Charade
Two for the Road

ASIN: B00005ALMI
Release Date: 2001-04-10

Amazon.com

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. The basic problem with the film is its two stars: William Holden and Audrey Hepburn hardly sizzle with onscreen chemistry, and Hepburn's character, Miss Simpson, falls far too easily into the hands of Holden's drunken screen writer. However, the story is an interesting play on the typical Hollywood romance, with two plotlines running in parallel to each other. 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. 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. Not one of Hepburn or Holden's best, but worth a look purely for the interesting slant on the mechanical nature of Hollywood's romances. --Nikki Disney

Customer Reviews:

Overly Broad Farce Doesn't Show Off Hepburn or Holden in the Best Light.......2007-04-08

Even though this 1964 comedy is not a complete misfire, this is not remotely my favorite movie of either Audrey Hepburn or William Holden. A decade after their initial coupling in Billy Wilder's class-conscious romantic soufflé, "Sabrina", the two stars are re-teamed under the far more heavy-handed direction of Richard Quine in an overly contrived, intermittently funny screenplay by George Axelrod. The result feels like the old-style French farce upon which it is based but with the artificial veneer of 1960's Hollywood studio product (even though it was filmed primarily on Paris sound stages). That's a shame since Hepburn and Holden can be game farceurs when properly motivated, but here they are unfortunately made to play more broadly than usual with an over-reliance on their screen personas.

The frothy plot centers on aging Hollywood screenwriter Richard Benson, who is holed up in Paris attempting to beat the deadline set forth by big-time producer Alexander Meyerheim to finish his latest screenplay. Benson has to hand in the completed script in two days, but the problem is that he hasn't even started since he has been busy boozing and womanizing in typical alpha-male fashion. He hires impressionable Gabrielle Simpson as his live-in secretary and becomes inspired to write the aptly named "The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower" (complete with an opening theme from Frank Sinatra). The rest of the movie goes back and forth between the reality of the impending deadline at Richard's apartment and the fantasy scenes of the screenplay coming to life.

There is no suspense as to how it will end, but it does have its charms with some silly spy-caper turns and cameo appearances by Marlene Dietrich in a walk-on, Noel Coward as Meyerheim, and a particularly amusing Tony Curtis as Gabrielle's Method-style actor boyfriend. At 110 minutes, the movie feels overlong, and the film is visually hamstrung by phony backdrops and studio sets typical of the period. Right between "Charade" and "My Fair Lady", Hepburn is never less than charming here, while Holden keeps his innate hamminess in check. However, neither seems especially challenged by the comic proceedings. The only extra on the 2001 DVD is the original theatrical trailer.

Spare Us While it Fizzles.......2007-04-08

I'm a big William Holden fan. For a major star of the late 40's and 50's he doesn't have a large stock of motion pictures playing the Late Show or TCM. Thus I watch 'em when I can and I figured "Paris When it Sizzles" would be at least an average Holden-quality movie. Unfortunately, it isn't; at least not by my standards.

The concept is interesting; a once great film writer has a deadline on a script the day after tommorrow and he hasn't even begun. A typist is sent to help him "finish" and after some romantic fencing, they get down to crunch time. Their hasty ideas appear before us on the screen in a wide range of false starts and repeats. Eventually, we have to ask ourselves if they finished their task or was "Paris When it Sizzles" their final script (with the "joke" being on us). Along the way, I found myself caring not so much HOW it was going to end so long as it DID end. Holden has that great glib voice of his but there wasn't much of note coming from it. In the interst of trying to find something positive to say, I'll spare my opinions of Audrey Hepburn. On the positive note, this was one of the best performances I've seen by Tony Curtis. His was the one character that, however briefly, managed to really crack me up.

I've alluded to it earlier and I'll close by stating it more directly; "Paris When it Sizzles" appears to me to be the result of a writer who had to put something together in two days while balancing that time with fun and games.

love it!.......2007-02-22

a diamond in the rough! very silly with lots of twists! you will enjoy it!

Paris When It Sizzles - Great Fun.......2007-01-25

Paris When It Sizzles follows a writer played by William Holden who has to get a script finished within two days. He gets the help of the lovely Audrey Hepburn. Together they digg deeply in their minds, making up the most ridicilous but oh so fun stories, as they try to succeed in completing a story they can deliver to the waiting movieproducer...

After being together on the screen in the romantic comedy Sabrina (1954), William Holden and Audrey Hepburn team up once again to bring a nice sixties comedy with Paris when it Sizzles. The chemistry between the two is nice and together they take you through the exciting world of movie writting. It is real fun to see how they come up with the most ridicilous stories. From Dracula to spies in trenchcoats, from planes to indians, it's all in their wonderful made up stories.
Considering the acting, the film is fine. William Holden was nicely cast as the writer Richard Benson. He plays the role with great enthusiasm and is also charming. With Audrey Hepburn you just can't go wrong. Even if the movie is bad, her charm makes you respect it. Her role in this film is pure fun as she also acts enthusiastic next to Holden. You can see that she had a lot of fun portraying her character.
They may react a bit unrealistic to one another sometimes, it is an absolute joy to see it. Especially as they play the main characters in their own stories with fun overreacted acting.
Another fun fact is that there are cameo roles of famous fifties and sixties moviestars in the film. If you watch alot of movies out of this period, you will be delightfully surprised by the familiar faces.
Also, the locations are colorful, the music is fun, which gives a great atmosphere and enjoyable 60's movie entertainment.

This film is definitely a must see for want to be future Writers. There is alot to learn from this film. But if you are just in search of some nice 60's fun on a boring night, I would recommend you this film also. Be surprised by the switch on a switch on a switch, and enjoy the funny comedic sizzling stories these two come up with.

Not Much Sizzle!.......2007-01-24

The premise of this plot is not bad, but the execution is labored and sometimes too off the wall. With a great starring cast it is a big disappointment.

Audrey Hepburn 5-Pack (Funny Face - SCE, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday, Sabrina - 1954, Paris When it Sizzles)

Average customer rating:

Your sunny, funny face

Audrey Hepburn 5-Pack (Funny Face - SCE, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday, Sabrina - 1954, Paris When it Sizzles)
Starring: Audrey Hepburn
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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Customer Reviews:

Your sunny, funny face.......2007-06-20

Audrey Hepburn was -- and remains -- the perfect illustration of elegance and sophistication in Hollywood. A lot of actresses have tried to imitate her look, but they couldn't manage the same grace and skill, both onscreen and off.

And the "Audrey Hepburn Five Pac" brings together five of the films that helped shape that image, including her three top starmaking roles. Okay, they're not her most impressive. But even when they're uneven ("Paris When It Sizzles"), her movies are charming, sweet and just a little bit quirky.

Bored young Princess Ann (Hepburn) goes on a "Roman Holiday," when she has a bad reaction to a sedative. She wanders straight into struggling American journalist Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck). When he realizes she's the missing princess, he takes her on a fun vacation in Rome, with his pal taking photos for a hit article. Yet he's also falling in love with Ann... and she's torn between love and duty.

"Sabrina" (Hepburn) is the daughter of the chauffeur at the palatial Larabee estate, and is in love with the ne'er-do-well second son, David (William Holden). After a stint at a cooking school, where she gains sophistication and confidence, she returns to enthrall David. But since his brother Linus (Humphrey Bogart) has arranged a business marriage for David, Linus starts to woo Sabrina instead... and falls for her as well.

"Breakfast at Tiffany's" is a daily ritual for Holly Golightly, a social butterfly. When kept man Paul Varjak (George Peppard) moves into a nearby apartment, he is instantly enchanted by the ditzy, sweet-natured Holly. But for all Holly's fun, Paul starts to realize that all is not well with her. As Holly's life starts to deteriorate, Paul sets out to show her what her life will be like without real love.

"Funny Face" becomes a concern for a fashion photographer Dick Avery (Fred Astaire) who is assisting a fashion queen with the new "pink" look and the intellectual model look. After a disastrous shoot at a boho bookstore, Avery is struck by the owner Jo's (Hepburn) look, and convinces her to become their newest model -- and she only agrees to get to Paris so she can meet her favorite philosopher. But she's also falling in love with Dick and her modelling career.

"Paris When It Sizzles" features Richard Benson (William Holden), a laconic playboy screenwriter, who procrastinated on his forthcoming script until just a few days before the deadline. So he hurriedly hires a secretary, Gabrielle (Hepburn) to help him come up with an idea and write it -- except that all they can come up with, as they fall in love, are all sorts of completely bizarre scenarios.

Yes, they are all romantic comedies, completely unrelated except that all of them have Audrey Hepburn. But all three are fun, well-written ("You can't live here! I live here!" "Hi, neighbor!"), and taking place in chic apartments, palatial mansions, Parisian runways, and the streets of Rome. And each has a theme: love that doesn't come easy, whether the problem is one of the people involved, parents or just different personalities.

There's also slapstick comedy (David injuring his butt on champagne glasses), and more sophisticated comedy (like when Anna and Joe pretend that they were speeding on their way to get married). And Hepburn provides plenty of it, such as her crazy club dance or her encounter with a vampire.

Unlike many actresses, Hepburn's best-known roles were NOT all alike, nor were they all carbon copies of her -- we have wistful bohemians, party girls, timid teens, and chained-back princesses. Even when we shouldn't really like the characters, she gave them warmth, sensitivity and likability that can't be faked. And she could be very funny too -- it's hard not to laugh when Holly yells "Timber!", as a drunken guest keels over.

The Audrey Hepburn Five Pack clusters five of Hepburn's most chic, charming movies, for those are just falling in love, or who appreciate a good romantic comedy. Charming, cute and sweet.

Average customer rating:

Overly Broad Farce Doesn't Show Off Hepburn or Holden in the Best Light
Spare Us While it Fizzles
love it!
Paris When It Sizzles - Great Fun
Not Much Sizzle!

Coward, Noel | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Curtis, Tony | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Dietrich, Marlene | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Ferrer, Mel | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Hepburn, Audrey | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Holden, William | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

General | Comedy | Genres | VHS | Video

Quine, Richard | ( Q ) | Directors | VHS | Video

Deals Under $8 | Today's Deals in Video | Features | VHS | Video

Funny Face
How to Steal a Million
Love in the Afternoon
Charade
Two for the Road

ASIN: 6300215776
Release Date: 2001-04-10

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Overly Broad Farce Doesn't Show Off Hepburn or Holden in the Best Light.......2007-04-08

Spare Us While it Fizzles.......2007-04-08

love it!.......2007-02-22

a diamond in the rough! very silly with lots of twists! you will enjoy it!

Paris When It Sizzles - Great Fun.......2007-01-25

Not Much Sizzle!.......2007-01-24

The premise of this plot is not bad, but the execution is labored and sometimes too off the wall. With a great starring cast it is a big disappointment.

Average customer rating:

Paris When It Sizzles

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
ASIN: B000RKTO64

Product Description

This is a PAL Region 2 DVD.

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