Paris Blues

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?

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.

Paris Blues (1961)

*** (out of 4)

American Jazz musicians Ram (Paul Newman) and Eddie (Sidney Poitier) are living in Paris where they spend all night practicing their music. Americans Lillian (Joanne Woodward) and Connie (Diahann Carroll) find themselves in Paris on vacation and soon they meet the musicians and sparks fly. The two week vacation soon has Lillian having major feelings for Ram but he knows if he decides to go with her it would mean going away from his love of music.

Paris BLUES comes from director Martin Ritt who made a number of films with Newman but this one here has to be the most underrated. I really don't understand why this film isn't better known because it features a terrific cast and has some outstanding music as well as being a lot more sexual and mature than a lot of films made during this period.

The main reason to watch this are for the performances and especially the chemistry of Newman and Woodward. The couple was already married by the time they made this and that chemistry between them just jumps right off the screen and especially the sexual tension between the two. Newman is very good in his rather grumpy role and he nails that part perfectly but he also nails the romantic side. Poitier is basically playing second fiddle here but it's still a lot of fun seeing him and Newman work together. Carroll is excellent in her supporting role and it was a lot of fun seeing Louis Armstrong.

The Jazz music score is perfect and I thought the film did a terrific job at playing up the Paris nightlife and the life of two musicians who are up all night. I thought the four stars had an excellent chemistry together and it makes for their journey to be quite entertaining. It also doesn't hurt that the film also deals with race relations without beating the viewing over the head. Paris BLUES really deserves to be seen by more people as it's certainly a nice little gem.

PARIS BLUES won't change your life unless you were one of those people (and I count myself one of them) that has been teetering on the verge of Euro-philia and this is the final straw to make you sell off all that crap you've acumulated over the years and live like a peddler just to be in Paris. Even if you are not, this movie could make you think twice. The core of the film is basically by-rote romances that, in themselves, would be non-descipt except for the fact that nothing Paul Newman touches can be bland. It is the elements surrounding these two romances that makes the film worth watching. Generally, to be a watchable film, the sum of the parts have to add up to more than the whole. Here, the film is simply the sum of it's parts...and those parts are wonderful. If I was to tell somebody there was a film out there where Paul Newman romances Joanne Woodward in a fifties jazz club in Paris alongside Sidney Pointier while they compete with Louis Armstrong most would go "What?Where? What movie?" which was exactly my reaction. Paris, Jazz, coffee...Newman. It's a confection with absolutely no nutritional value and yet you feel so much better having tried it.

For starters, this is one of those rare movies that would not have been as good if it had been shot in colour. B&W somehow fits the mood, the story and the setting. Yet it's not really a sad or dark story. As in many older B&W films, the lighting is magnificent with highlights and shadows and textures that simply aren't workable in colour. The performances are universally superb. The script is free of the usual clichés. And the music is great. (How could you possibly make a bad movie with the likes of Louis Armstrong, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Sidney Poitier and Diane Carrol?) Nor, in that era (1961), did Hollywood zoom in and linger obsessively on sexual acrobatics. This is a mature, sexy film without any graphic sex. Those were the rules back then and this film is the better for them. A thoroughly enjoyable movie with a great cast that has stood the test of a half century very well indeed.