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8 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
The film's great asset was the fascinating background music…, 18 January 2009
7/10
Author: ironside (robertfrangie@hotmail.com) from Mexico

The story is about two young jazzmen Newman and Poitier who live in Paris…Newman is after a serious musical career… Poitier enjoys the tolerant atmosphere and the freedom from U.S. racial tensions… They work at a Left Bank cub owned by Barbara Laage who is having a casual affair with Newman… Serge Raggiani a gypsy guitarist who is a narcotics addict, and Louis Armstrong a trumpeter, are among their friends… Newman and Poitier meet a couple of American tourists, Joanne Woodward and Diahann Carroll who are visiting Paris on a two-weeks vacations…

A romance develops between Poitier and Carroll… Woodward and Newman also find that a feeling is growing between them… Woodward wants him to return with her to the U. S., but Newman believes that marriage would interfere with his career, and decides to remain…

As in "The Hustler," Newman plays a man whose devotion to making his talent better than second-rate prevents love… But he was natural as the pool player, and convinced us—through his movements, dialog and expressions—of his feelings for the music…

Woodward is more aggressive than Newman… Moved by his music, she displays genuine emotion, but Newman is so defensive, egocentric and selfish that he becomes hostile, stubborn, unpleasant and offensive… Woodward is determined to make something more of it, but he remains uninfluenced—willing to show slight affection but incapable of being sincerely tender… In their final bedroom scene, the two superb1y perform a progression from spontaneous domestic affection, to growing alienation, to his indifferent rejection of her love…

Legend Louis Armstrong shines in one flamboyant jazz interlude…

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14 out of 22 people found the following comment useful :-
"The Frenchmen's all prefer what they call, le jazz hot.", 15 December 2005
7/10
Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

The American in Paris theme has been done very often in American cinema. The tradition is huge splashy technicolor with Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Jane Powell, Audrey Hepburn cavorting around the well known streets and landmarks. Those are nice films, but that ain't what you get here.

No Louvre, no Arc de Triomphe, no Eiffel Tower, a brief shot of Notre Dame from a distance; that's about it from the well known Paris. The Paris we see here in this black and white film is of the jazz clubs of the Left Bank where two expatriate musicians, Paul Newman and Sidney Poitier, eke out a living doing what they love.

Newman has ambitions though, he'd like to be a serious composer not a trombonist all his life. Poitier has come to Paris for reasons of the race problems in the USA.

Into their lives two American tourists come, Joanne Woodward and Diahann Carroll. A couple of dual romances commence.

Carroll and Poitier have a spirited debate over civil rights. The movement is getting into high gear in America and Carroll wants him to return and be part of it. No thanks, says Poitier, he just wants to do his jazz thing where his skin color isn't anyone's problem least of all his own.

Interestingly Carroll was doing a kind of warm up for another part of a black woman in Paris on Broadway the following year in Richard Rodgers, No Strings. In that play she falls for an expatriate writer played by Richard Kiley. An interracial romance, one of the first shown on the Broadway stage, still a lot of the same issues were in that show.

Paris Blues is a different slice of Parisian life for an American film to explore. All four leads do just fine, though the film probably doesn't rank in the top work of any of them.

Lots of jazz music for the aficionado. And of course the presence of the incomparable Louis Armstrong. The highlight of the film is the jam session with those two ersatz musicians Newman and Poitier.

The way Satchmo is received by the public only proves the truth of that line he sang in High Society about the way the French love American jazz.

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14 out of 22 people found the following comment useful :-
Paris Blues, 23 November 2005
9/10
Author: curt-34 from United States

I recommend this movie whole heartedly. Some will say that Paris Blues is about love, but I say it is about living life despite love. The movie made me remember that there was actually a time when people dressed well, gathered in smoke filled rooms, and listened to live music. Living in Paris in the 1920s and 30s must have been great-compared to our shabby times where fun is relative to the size of your TV and the number of people who are NOT there with you! There are many actors and actresses in this movie who did not go on to well deserved greatness, but their message is clear: When feeling forced to forsake yourself for the sake of love, choose yourself and you'll have both. Choose love and have neither.

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11 out of 17 people found the following comment useful :-
What is Cool?, 12 January 2006
9/10
Author: rhamil3863-1 from United States

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!

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14 out of 23 people found the following comment useful :-
The Indian Summer of America's honeymoon with Europe., 4 November 2005
8/10
Author: ianlouisiana from United Kingdom

Within 2 years of "Paris Blues" being released the US involvement in Vietnam began to sour the relationship between America and la rive gauche. French intellectuals affected to disdain the United States and all its works;one of the few aspects of Americana that were permitted to be still admired was jazz music. Even so the myth of the American jazz musician as a god-like figure had faded by the mid sixties.Giants like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington were still revered but the journeymen jazzers like Ram Bowen(Newman)no longer filled the clubs just because they were American. The Indian Summer of America's honeymoon with Europe peaked with "Paris Blues".

Beautifully shot in black and white in the quintessentially Parisian parts of the city where the 2 pairs of lovers could stroll hand in hand photogenically it was a love letter to the arondissements beloved of Scott Fitzgerald,Hemingway and Gertrude Stein 30 years after the affair had ended.

Paul Newman was never more charming,Sidney Poitier never more cool and self-effacing;their pairing considered quite daring at the time coming just a few years after the ground-breaking "The Defiant Ones". Duke Ellington wrote the score and his "Mood Indigo" is beautifully played by Murray McCeachern.Louis Armstrong plays himself - why his character is named Wild Man Moore one can only speculate.

I saw "Paris Blues" when I was 20 years old and my love affair with jazz was a its height. Looking at it now it doesn't seem all that special,the characters and situations have all become clichés;but perhaps that's a bit like saying "Hamlet"'s a good play but it's full of quotations.

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16 out of 27 people found the following comment useful :-
Please if you are French, read this review......., 5 December 2005
7/10
Author: MarieGabrielle from United States

I read all the other comments regarding this movie, and especially the commentator from Toronto, who stated that the trite clichés of American movies abound in this one; then Green Card and French Kiss were mentioned (Yes, those films WERE awful); The music is excellent; Duke Ellington's music is the backdrop; and Louis Armstrong appears in the film. Sidney Poitier is always right on the mark, sensitive and real; a superb actor. Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman play the ill-fated couple; and do quite well, as has already been mentioned in several reviews. While the story itself is not original, the cinematography is; you will see the street markets; walking along the Seine, Montmartre, Notre Dame, etc. (Compare this to the last big Hollywood film "Moulin Rouge", and I would prefer this film any day!).

This film is to be appreciated for the era it depicts; I have traveled to Europe, and always find that each person's impression is different; Americans who have never traveled unfortunately perpetuate the stereotype; That is sheer ignorance, however. I sincerely hope that all Europeans do not see Americans as portrayed by Meg Ryan, an imbecilic blonde American; or for example, "Le Divorce", with Kate Hudson and Naomi Watts; Please note that Hollywood does NOT represent educated Americans. This is in itself sad, because in the 1960's, when my mother traveled to Europe, I think the world was more friendly; now when even the U.S. is divided into "red" and "blue" states; we are consigned to trash films like "Le Divorce", which Hollywood makes for the lowest common denominator, instead of smaller "art" films which are a pleasant experience.

It is a shame that Hollywood portrays Americans as uncultured imbeciles; this is all about the bottom line (profits). I can honestly say that a real person has not been portrayed by American film blockbusters since the 1970's.

See this film for yourself. It is definitely worth it.

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Young Newman and Poitier playing jazz, 19 March 2007
Author: tatashady from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Paris Blues (1961) - starring Paul Newman and Sidney Poitier is an excellent film. The film offers a unique retrospect of attitudes in America and Paris of the early 60's especially in regard towards race, romance and the musician's love of their music. Several scenes dealing with these complex issues were extremely well acted, especially Sidney Poitier and Diahnn Carroll's discussions dealing with race. On the lighter side, to me personally, it was a special treat to see the seemingly eternal film superstar Paul Newman, known to today's youth as "the salad dressing" and "microwave popcorn dude", in his youth. The youthful Newman's powerful portrayal of the "hipster jazz musician" was very entertaining. It was humorous, yet compellingly believable. Particularly priceless was hearing Newman using the now timeless slang that has since permeated our culture and is still in as common usage today as it was in the early 60's period of its origin. Overall, this movie was pure entertainment. The jazz soundtrack, featuring a special appearance by jazz legend Louie Armstrong, was enjoyable even to the non-jazz listeners such as myself. The ending was wonderful, leaving the viewer to arrive at their own conclusions as to whether Newman and Poitier would follow love back to America or remain in the Paris music scene.

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5 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
multiple subplots - deeper than suggested, 21 February 2007
9/10
Author: amyvogtwardle from United States

this movie has been mischaracterized as a fluffy love story, it is not. this film examines racial equality and the differences between France and the us in accepting people of color as more than "help" or as something to fear. this film also touches on the popularity of jazz music, and showcases authentic early jazz as well as painting a picture of the hip jazz subculture, including smoky clubs, late nights and loose women. the film also shows the journey of young musicians trying to find their style and find a place for themselves as jazz composers- not just as musicians. finally, this movie does reflect aspects of a love story- but in examining the film on a deeper level one finds that there really is no love, rather it is a commentary on disconnected, self-indulgent lust. finally - Louis Armstrong appeared and played in the movie- Does it get any better?

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
"Bluer" than meets the eye (or ear), 14 August 2009
8/10
Author: mike dewey from canton, ohio

This is not merely a movie about race, jazz, drug use, love affairs, Parisian scenery, etc. It's a movie about all the aforementioned and then some. Ritt & Co. go deeper than just superficially touching on so-called hip, trendy issues. Each character portrayed has his/her own set of "blues" to contend with and no individual set of "blues" is merely confined to one sole issue, but rather a complex mixture of many factors that comprise each of our character's makeup. It is in the intertwining of each character's individual persona with the other characters' own traits and idiosyncrasies that lets the story unfold and take cohesive shape. Successes and failures are inextricably linked, as in Ram's (Newman) fame as a jazz soloist counterpointed with his rejection as a serious composer/arranger. Eddie (Poitier) also has his own set of personal conflicts that are duly explored here.

Joanne Wodward, Diahann Carrol and Barbara Laage (in a more minor role, albeit soulful and penetrating) all hit their mark with humor, depth and candor. Serge Reggiani's role as the junkie guitar player adds his own set of "blues" to an already spicy mixture of music, love, rejection and pathos. "Satchmo" and company provide a most welcome musical interlude at just the right time to lighten up the plot just a bit!

A timelessly entertaining film.

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5 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
See it for Louis!, 6 April 2005
7/10
Author: destarke from New York, New York

If you're looking for a film on the level of Godard's "Breathless" , which was made in the same year (1961), forget it. Belmondo and Seberg coolly ride the crest of the New Wave in some other Paris. But there's never a good reason not to see Louis Armstrong, who is wonderful, so if nothing, see it for him. And where else are you going to get Paul Newman and Sidney Poitier hanging out in a jazz cave with hipsters looking like they just flew in from planet square, but in the process looking a lot cooler than the people trying to look cool.

The love scenes are as melodramatic and corny as they can be, bordering on camp, with a lot of hand wringing and flinging about and running, but c'mon! Newman and Woodward and Poitier and gorgeous Diahann Carroll? Rent this with Diva or Charade or both and it can be a Paris street scene night., although Diva and Charade are far superior. You can definitely do a lot worse.

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