Product Details

• Actors: William Holden, Audrey Hepburn, Grégoire Aslan, Raymond Bussières, Christian Duvaleix
• Directors: Richard Quine
• Writers: George Axelrod, Henri Jeanson, Julien Duvivier
• Producers: Richard Quine, Carter De Haven Jr., George Axelrod, John R. Coonan
• Format: Color, HiFi Sound, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: April 10, 2001
• Run Time: 110 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6300215776
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #211,964 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Paris When It Sizzles is an unusual screwball comedy to say the least. Whether it works is another matter, but the premise and humor are interesting enough to make it enjoyable. The basic problem with the film is its two stars: William Holden and Audrey Hepburn hardly sizzle with onscreen chemistry, and Hepburn's character, Miss Simpson, falls far too easily into the hands of Holden's drunken screen writer. However, the story is an interesting play on the typical Hollywood romance, with two plotlines running in parallel to each other. Holden's Richard Benson has only two days to finish a script for an enigmatic producer (Noel Coward). Hepburn's Miss Simpson is drafted in as the typist and as the script is dictated it manifests itself on the screen, allowing the two lead characters to play out any number of romantic stories. It's the cameo appearances in the imaginary world that really steal the show, with the blink-and-you'll-miss-it last screen appearance by Marlene Dietrich, as well as Tony Curtis having fun with his own screen persona. Not one of Hepburn or Holden's best, but worth a look purely for the interesting slant on the mechanical nature of Hollywood's romances. --Nikki Disney

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE GIRL WHO STOLE THE EIFFEL TOW--NO, WAIT, HOW ABOUT THIS?, July 2, 2000

By 

CHUCK WEST - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paris When It Sizzles [VHS] (VHS Tape)

If you are French or of French ancestry, celebrating Bastille Day (July 14) outside of France, this is the film for you. Audrey Hepburn and William Holden are great in this stream-of- conciousness story of a writer and his typist creating an original script in just one weekend, about a plot that takes place, in Paris, all in one day-Bastille Day (July 14). Although some viewers, who are not willing to watch with an open mind, may find it hard to follow, those who watch with the proper perspective will thoroughly enjoy this spoof on the difficulties involved in the creative process. Watching Audrey Hepburn's and William Holden's characters distill their sudden ideas and sudden blocks into a cohesive and logical storyline are a joy to follow along with. Even though it can be a start-stop-start-stop train of thought, that's the real fun of this movie: watching the "story- within-the-story" evolve. You don't what to expect next, what parts of what you just watched will be deleted, will they move backward or forward? THAT'S the challenge and the FUN of this great, visionary (and for its time,experimental) film! Of course, the wonderful scenery, fashions, and production values are in keeping with what viewers would expect from an Audrey Hepburn comedy. Watch for Tony Curtis in a hilarious cameo role as Audrey Hepburn's beatnik boyfriend. Audrey's Gabrielle is equally hilarious trying to communicate with him in beatnik-speak, and winds up sounding like France's first (Loire)Valley Girl..."Oh, Maurice, I'm, LIKE, so happy for you..." Also watch for cameos by Marlene Dietrich, and others, including a voice-over cameo by Frank Sinatra, as imagined singing the would-be title song of the film being created, "The Girl Who Stole The Eiffel Tower." Break out the baguettes, the escargot, and the Perrier: the scene in which the writers order room service will have you salivating on the spot. And remember, "it's a twist on a twist on a twist on a twist on a twist on a twist on a...."

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A most romantic movie!, November 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Paris When It Sizzles [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I bought this movie a week ago and have watched it about 12 times already. It's one of the most romantic movies I've ever seen! Which accounts for some of the bad reviews it's gotten -- by men. But men are notorious for not caring for romantic movies. Here's my assessment, ladies: Holden is a sun-tanned, shirtless, gorgeous specimen of manhood, with that damn sexy dimple that drives women wild! And Hepburn is the epitome of femininity, spirit, and charm. Their screen personas are not far from their own personalities. Holden plays a cynical, insecure screenwriter badly in need of a jolt of fresh inspiration, idealism, and joy for life -- all of which Hepburn's character exudes in spades! Which, of course, explains Holden's own attraction to Hepburn. After seeing this movie I bought 3 book biographies and 3 video biographies on Holden and Hepburn. This is a wonderful romantic comedy written by George Axelrod ("Breakfast At Tiffany's"). It's a gem!

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stupid, but still has fun moments..., September 12, 2004

By 

R. Gawlitta "Coolmoan" (Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paris When it Sizzles (DVD)

There's so much to say. I saw this in 1964 when it was first released, and thought to myself that George Axelrod was having writer's block, so he wrote a movie about it. Richard Quine directed most of the bubbly comedies in the 60's (which are now justifiably forgotten), and this is almost one of them. There are many things, however, that make this film compelling to a film aficianado (as I like to think of myself). The acting is unforgivably hammy, but the hamminess is energetic. Let's not forget that Hepburn (Roman Holiday) and Holden (Stalag 13), both won the top acting Oscars in 1953, and they were paired the following year by the great Billy Wilder in "Sabrina". There, they had absolute chemistry; 10 years later...where'd it go? There are an awful lot of very clever one-liners. I liked most of them. Especially clever was when she was chased around the table by the vampire, and terrific product placement has a bottle of Heinz Steak Sauce visible. There are clever cameos from Noel Coward, Marlene Dietrich, Tony Curtis and Frank Sinatra (vocal). Unfortunately, clever one-liners do not make a plot. There really isn't one. Still, it's some great actors having more fun than the viewer. Hepburn is quite radiant; Holden still has charm (mixed with smarm). There's also Fred Astaire singing "That Face", which I think is original for this film. Not a bad song. Referring to Audrey, the song is appropriate. She never looked so beautiful, even in "My Fair Lady", released the same year. I guess it's a pretty lousy film overall, though production values are high. The DVD has a nice 1.85:1 LBX, though Paramount had VistaVision, which was wider (20th Century Fox had Cinemascope, United Artists had Panavision, etc). The price is right, but if you want to really watch great actors chew up scenery, hammy 'n all, wait for the DVD release of "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte". It might happen...It's a GREAT display of film-making and production values. As a film achievement, "Paris When It Sizzles" ...fizzles...