As with Star Wars, the George Lucas-produced Indiana Jones trilogy was not just a plaything for kids but an act of nostalgic affection toward a lost phenomenon: the cliffhanging movie serials of the past. Episodic in structure and with fate hanging in the balance about every 10 minutes, the Jones features tapped into Lucas’s extremely profitable Star Wars formula of modernizing the look and feel o…
James Bond’s fourth adventure takes him to the Bahamas, where a NATO warplane with a nuclear payload has disappeared into the sea. Bond (Sean Connery) travels from a tony health spa (where he tangles with a mechanized masseuse run amuck) to the casinos of Nassau and soon picks up the trail of SPECTRE’s number-two man, Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi), and his beautiful mistress, Domino (Claudine Auger),…
Amazon.com essential video Released in 1962, this first James Bond movie remains one of the best, and serves as an entertaining reminder that the Bond series began (in keeping with Ian Fleming’s novels) with a surprising lack of gadgetry and big-budget fireworks. Sean Connery was just 32 years old when he won the role of Agent 007. In his first adventure James Bond is called to Jamaica where a col…
When Ridley Scott’s cut of Blade Runner was finally released in 1993, one had to wonder why the studio hadn’t done it right the first time–11 years earlier. This version is so much better, mostly because of what’s been eliminated (the ludicrous and redundant voice-over narration and the phony happy ending) rather than what’s been added (a bit more character development and a brief unicorn dream)….
Oscar Wilde’s clever parody provides an entertaining twist on the traditional gothic horror story. A gauche, materialistic American family moves into the English mansion of Canterville Chase, much to the annoyance of the resident ghost. Wilde creates an unforgettable gallery of characters, from Hiram B. Otis and his children to Lord Canterville and the chain-clanking ghost Sir Simon. This brillian…
We may never know how Audrey Hepburn ended up playing opposite William Holden in the romantic comedy “Paris – When It Sizzles”. What we can say without doubt is that it was the worst movie of her illustrious career.
She did not even look comfortable in the role of Gabrielle “Gaby” Simpson, a young assistant to Richard “Rick” Benson (William Holden), a lazy, inept, alcoholic Hollywood screenwriter more interested in frittering away his time than working.
The improbable plot for this movie was based on a story by Julien Duvivier and Henri Jeanson with the screenplay by George Axelrod. Let us not mince words on Axelrod’s screenplay—it is one of the most wasted efforts in movie history. My disdain for Director Richard Quine is none the less as he did nothing to make the script better.
In short, Rick is paid in advance to write a script for a Hollywood producer, and has spent months in Paris doing nothing. When push comes to shove, he has two days to do the work that should have been all but completed. Rick hires Gaby to help him do the impossible.
Rick does not have a clue where to begin, so Gaby comes up with every idea, and then the movie sends us through a convoluted series of switches wherein Gaby comes up with an idea and the two of them play out the scene on screen. To say this script gets a little confusing in the process would be an understatement. The plot becomes an absolute circus of confusion without drawing the viewer into the apparent predicament.
Is this film bad? Naw, it is worse than terrible; it is unconscionable, unnecessary and inappropriate. It is bereft of value at any level.
Audrey Hepburn was and still remains Hollywood’s most complete actress. There has never been another actress in the history of movies that has combined her four timeless qualities of beauty, fashion, grace and humility. Some actresses have achieved beauty and fashion, a very few have added grace, but none of them—past or present—have also been able to add Audrey’s sense of humility.
To cast her in this film was a travesty.
Audrey Hepburn won a Best Actress Oscar and a Golden Globe for her debut performance in “Roman Holiday”, then won 3 other Academy Award nominations for Best Actress is “Sabrina”, “The Nun’s Story” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” before making “Paris – When It Sizzles”.
After suffering through Paris – When It Sizzles, she received a 5th Academy Award nomination for “Wait Until Dark”.
It has been said that every leading man who played opposite Audrey Hepburn fell in love with her. William Holden was no exception. When awards time came, this film disaster was completely ignored; it was really that terrible.
Did I mention that Audrey Hepburn also received a Best Actress Golden Globe Award for “Roman Holiday” as well as another 7 nominations for Best Actress Golden Globe Awards?
Audrey’s son Sean Ferrer later confirmed that Paris – When It Sizzles was her least favorite film. He said it taught her a lesson, that “just because a film is easy to make does not mean it is going to be very good.” Amen to that, Audrey. She did her part, but nothing could have saved the film.
It is a good thing that there are so many other great moments to remember in Audrey Hepburn films.
About the Author:
Read more of my movie reviews on films with a lot of substance, depth and feeling, including:
“A Christmas Story” – “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” – “Secondhand Lions” – “The Chorus (Les Choristes in French)” – “Waking Ned Devine” – “Chariots of Fire” – “Steel Magnolias” – “Chocolat” and “Radio”
These are all excellent films.
Find my articles at: http://www.edbagleyblog.com http://www.edbagleyblog.com/MovieReviews.html
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, framed black metal, white matte. Beautiful Highest Quality Frame, Solid Finish, LOW SHIPPING!!! Price includes price of print Poster. Framing includes dry mounting, acrylic glazing. Comes ready to hang. and is a better quality then your local framing store Guaranteed….
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, framed black wood, white matte. Beautiful Highest Quality Frame, Solid Finish, LOW SHIPPING!!! Price includes price of print Poster. Framing includes dry mounting, acrylic glazing. Comes ready to hang. and is a better quality then your local framing store Guaranteed….
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective by unknown.Total Size : 17.00 inches width by 11.00 inches height.This is the Highest Quality Art Print Reproduction of the Original Work. Fully Authorized by the Artist. OnlineWall is the worlds best quality art print, poster and framing store with over 25 years custom framing experience our quality of art prints cannot be beat ….
If someone ever put together a what-were-they-thinking top 10, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues would surely make the list. Based on Tom Robbins’s ’70s ode to freedom, whooping cranes, and ambisexuality, this Gus Van Sant film sat on the shelf for almost a year before its brief release. More of a curiosity than anything else, it tells the convoluted story of Sissy Hankshaw (Uma Thurman), the world’s g…
Sooner or later, the new breed of coming-of-age comedy (good ones like Superbad, not-so-good ones like College) had to inspire a parody of itself, and that self-conscious knock-off is the sporadically funny Sex Drive. A road movie about a virginal nice guy, Ian (John Zuckerman), who drives cross-country in his brother’s car to score with a girl he met online, Sex Drive sounds like just another tee…
Sooner or later, the new breed of coming-of-age comedy (good ones like Superbad, not-so-good ones like College) had to inspire a parody of itself, and that self-conscious knock-off is the sporadically funny Sex Drive. A road movie about a virginal nice guy, Ian (John Zuckerman), who drives cross-country in his brother’s car to score with a girl he met online, Sex Drive sounds like just another tee…
Batman Begins is one of the greatest movies of our generation. For a limited time, you can Watch Batman Begins Online. Don’t pay $5 or more to rent the Batman Begins DVD or download Batman Begins illegally and face criminal fines – you can now Watch Batman Begins Online for just $0.99.
If you want to Watch Batman Begins Online, ZML.com is a perfect choice for you. This website lets you download thousands of great movies, including Batman Begins to your computer in minutes. Best of all, if you sign up at ZML.com using the link above, you’ll get a one day trial membership for only $0.99 – just think about all the great, DVD quality movies you can download for less than $1. This new website is less expensive and better than NetFlix, because it lets you watch movies online instantly! Watch Batman Begins Online tonight by clicking on the link below and signing up:
Batman Begins is a 2005 superhero film based on the fictional DC Comics character Batman, directed by Christopher Nolan. It stars Christian Bale as Batman, along with Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Cillian Murphy, Morgan Freeman, Ken Watanabe, Tom Wilkinson, and Rutger Hauer. The film reboots the Batman film series, telling the origin story of the character and begins with Bruce Wayne’s initial fear of bats, the death of his parents, and his journey to becoming Batman. It draws inspiration from classic comic book storylines such as Batman: The Man Who Falls, Batman: Year One, and Batman: The Long Halloween.
This retro-futuristic adventure depicts a 1964 in which Hitler won the war and Joe Kennedy Sr. is U.S. president. Europe is known as Germania and opens its borders to American journalists, hoping to line up the U.S. as an ally against Russia. Set design and costumes very effectively create a potent and prosperous state, culled both from imagination and the history books. More downbeat and perhaps …
When Ridley Scott’s cut of Blade Runner was finally released in 1993, one had to wonder why the studio hadn’t done it right the first time–11 years earlier. This version is so much better, mostly because of what’s been eliminated (the ludicrous and redundant voice-over narration and the phony happy ending) rather than what’s been added (a bit more character development and a brief unicorn dream)….
When Ridley Scott’s cut of Blade Runner was finally released in 1993, one had to wonder why the studio hadn’t done it right the first time–11 years earlier. This version is so much better, mostly because of what’s been eliminated (the ludicrous and redundant voice-over narration and the phony happy ending) rather than what’s been added (a bit more character development and a brief unicorn dream)….
THIS HIGH-INTESITY, VISUALLY STUNNING STORY WILL GET PULSES RACING AS A LUXURY LINER CARRYING 3700 PASSENGERS SUFFERS 2 TERRORIST-INDUCED BLASTS THAT TURN THE POSEIDON BELLY UP & SEND EVERYONE ON BOARD SCRAMBLING FOR A WAY OUT….
Recent Comments