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Paul Newman and Sidney Poitier star as two American ex-pat jazz muscians in Paris struggling for success. They have a fling with two American women and are faced with a decision about career and love. The score is by Duke Ellington.
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29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Paris Blues is based on Harold Flender`s novel of the same title and tells the story of two American jazz musicians living in Paris who fall for two American tourists, consequently forcing them to choose between love and music. Hollywood of course avoided controversy by side-stepping Flender`s original storyline of interracial love, so we get Paul Newman in the leading role and Sidney Poitier as his friend and side-man, with Joanne Woodward and Diahann Carroll as the respective love interests. Despite the "love story" label, the film is quite a serious little affair, dealing with issues of race, dedication to music and (hey, its in the Hollywood rule book) drug addiction in the life of jazz musicians.
For all that, its an entertaining and enjoyable little movie with a terrific Duke Ellington score and a cameo appearance by Louis Armstrong. The music is not sidelined either, with several complete numbers either as performance scenes (the great Britt Woodman dubbed for Newman`s trombone solos) or as background for location scenes. Much of the film was shot on location and it has that black and white 60`s nostalgia thing working for it. The print quality is pretty good, a few minor blemishes here and there, but the original film ratio has been kept (Optimum appear to have licenced the release from MGM so this is probably the best print we`ll get). The blurb on the box says "Paris Blues is a must-have for music and film fans alike" and I can`t argue with that. Buy it before they discover it has jazz in it and they delete it.
For all that, its an entertaining and enjoyable little movie with a terrific Duke Ellington score and a cameo appearance by Louis Armstrong. The music is not sidelined either, with several complete numbers either as performance scenes (the great Britt Woodman dubbed for Newman`s trombone solos) or as background for location scenes. Much of the film was shot on location and it has that black and white 60`s nostalgia thing working for it. The print quality is pretty good, a few minor blemishes here and there, but the original film ratio has been kept (Optimum appear to have licenced the release from MGM so this is probably the best print we`ll get). The blurb on the box says "Paris Blues is a must-have for music and film fans alike" and I can`t argue with that. Buy it before they discover it has jazz in it and they delete it.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By The CinemaScope Cat
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Set in the racially relaxed jazz scene in Paris in the early 1960s, this bittersweet Martin Ritt film focuses on two American Jazz musicians (Paul Newman, Sidney Poitier) living and working in Paris who encounter two American girls (Joanne Woodward, Diahann Carroll) on vacation. Romance ensues but with complications. Shot in handsome black and white by the great French cinematographer Christian Matras (EARRINGS OF MADAME DE ..., GRAND ILLUSION), director Ritt does a good job of recreating the feverish, smoky environs of the jazz scene as well as the carefree yet intense existence of the creative expatriate. The actual romantic entanglements aren't nearly as colorful. Newman is an old hand at this kind of role, the nonconformist with a touch of the heel (HUD, THE HUSTLER) but Poitier makes for a fine contrast as the decent black man living in Europe to avoid the racism of America. The score, by Duke Ellington, is authentic. With Serge Reggiani, Barbara Laage, Marie Versini and in a rare acting role, the great Louis Armstrong whose jam session is the highlight of the film.
The British import (it's not available in the U.S. at this time) via Optimum Classics is a crisp B&W print modestly letterboxed at 1.66:1, non anamorphic.
The British import (it's not available in the U.S. at this time) via Optimum Classics is a crisp B&W print modestly letterboxed at 1.66:1, non anamorphic.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Paris Blues would have deserved a better film to video transfer. Sadly, it is in this disc produced in a 4:3 letterboxed picture, and not provided with proper English subtitles. The original aspect ratio, namely 1.66:1, is easily transferred in an anamorphic fashion, with pillar box frame.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
paris blues
jazz excellent,plot weak acting shows Newman and Poitier were just starting out!Nice views of Paris colour a bit washed out
Published 4 months ago by A different slant on detective stories Keith Phillips cambridgeshire
3.0 out of 5 stars
hammy early 60's stuff
Although this film is well shot, the dialogue and acting are terribly hammy. I gave up half way through fed up with the throwaway lines and the male chauvinism that goes through... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr. Robert Marsland
5.0 out of 5 stars
Paris Blues review
The best race relations, jazz, love stories, do the right thing kind of movie ever made. What a cast! Every scene a winner!
Published on 6 Feb 2010 by Eugene Dinsfriend
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sad Film
This Film Kept the wife happy for a few hours she does like a good cry.
Published on 19 Aug 2009 by Mr. D. J. Edwards
5.0 out of 5 stars
Weel done Paul !!
Well done Paul, it was a rare 1961 Paul Newman's movie into a black and white Paris, always enchanting. Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2009
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