Paris Blues (1961)

Director:

Martin Ritt

Writers:

Walter Bernstein (writer)
Harold Flender (novel)
(more)

Release Date:

27 September 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

A Love So Spectacular, So Personally Exciting, You Feel It Happening To You!

Plot:

Ram Bowen and Eddie Cook are two expatriate jazz musicians living in Paris where, unlike America at the time...

Plot Keywords:

Musician | Jazz | Composer | Expatriate | Love

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Paul Newman	...	Ram Bowen
Joanne Woodward	...	Lillian Corning
Sidney Poitier	...	Eddie Cook
Louis Armstrong	...	Wild Man Moore
Diahann Carroll	...	Connie Lampson
Barbara Laage	...	Marie Seoul
André Luguet	...	Rene Bernard
Marie Versini	...	Nicole
Moustache	...	Drummer
Aaron Bridgers	...	Pianist
Guy Pederson	...	Bass Player
Serge Reggiani	...	Michel Duvigne
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Emilien Antille	...	Man with alto sax in jazz cave when Armstrong enters
Roger Blin	...	Gypsy Guitarist / Junkie (uncredited)
Françoise Brion	...	(uncredited)
Hélène Dieudonné	...	The Pusher (uncredited)
Niko	...	Ricardo (uncredited)
Michel Portal	...	Musician (uncredited)
María Velasco	...	Pianist (uncredited)
Dominique Zardi	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Martin Ritt

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Walter Bernstein		writer
Harold Flender		novel
Irene Kamp		writer
Lulla Rosenfeld		adaptation (as Lulla Adler)
Jack Sher		writer

Produced by
George Glass	....	executive producer
Walter Seltzer	....	executive producer
Sam Shaw	....	producer
Lee Katz	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Duke Ellington
Billy Strayhorn		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Christian Matras		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Roger Dwyre

Art Direction by
Alexandre Trauner

Makeup Department
Carita	....	hair stylist
Michel Deruelle	....	makeup artist
Renée Guidet	....	hairdresser (as Renee Guidet)

Production Management
Michel Rittener	....	production manager
Christian Ferry	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bernard Farrel	....	assistant director
André Smagghe	....	second unit director (as Andre Smagghe)

Sound Department
Joseph de Bretagne	....	sound (as Jo de Bretagne)
Jack Fitzstephens	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Henri Tiquet	....	camera operator

Music Department
Leon Birnbaum	....	music editor

Other crew
Dagmar Bolin	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Diane Productions
• Jason Films
• Monica Corp.
• Monmouth
• Pennebaker Productions

Distributors

• United Artists (1961) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1965) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | USA:Approved (PCA #19792)

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company:

Diane Productions

Trivia:

Although Duke Ellington received an Academy Award nomination for Best Music, Scoring a Musical Picture, this film is not a musical, but rather a romantic drama in a jazz-music setting.

Quotes:

Lillian Corning: I'd like to give you a going away present. You may not like it, but I don't care. It's just this: you're never gonna forget me. You're gonna walk down the street of wherever you happen to be, you're gonna see me, even when you know I'm not there. And nobody is ever gonna be as right for you as I was for twelve days in Paris in the autumn 'cause that was your gift to me.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Century of Black Cinema (2003) (V)

What is Cool?

This movie is one of my all time favorites. It epitomizes the "cool" of integrated 1960's Paris where so many Americans of all races sought refuge and escape from the limitations posed by racism in America. It also explores the issues of and differences in race in the USA and in France(Paris). The music is "grand" and the scenario is spectacular. I think it's a fun and interesting film that should be in any jazz lovers library. Paul Newman and Sidney Poiter click so well, and the ladies(Joanne Woodward and Diane Carroll) are simply fabulous. I don't think this movie would have the same appeal and believability if it had been filmed in the USA. I believe this film was a labor of love and friendship on the parts of its cast members, and it shows. I love Paris!