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Paris (1929 film)
1929 film From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Paris is a 1929 American sound (All-Talking) pre-Code musical comedy film, featuring Irène Bordoni. It was filmed with Technicolor sequences: four of the film's ten reels were originally photographed in Technicolor.
Paris was the fourth color film released by Warner Bros.; the first three were The Desert Song (although it was only a part-color film), On with the Show, and Gold Diggers of Broadway, all released in 1929. (Song of the West was actually completed by June 1929 but had its release delayed until March 1930). The film was adapted from the Cole Porter Broadway musical of the same name. The musical was Porter's first Broadway hit. Only fragment film elements of Paris are known to exist, although the complete soundtrack survives on Vitaphone disks. The sound tape reels for this film survive at UCLA Film and Television Archive.
Paris was the fourth film Warner Bros. made under their Technicolor contract. The filmmakers used a color (Technicolor) process of red and green, at the time it was the third process of Technicolor.[2][3][4]
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Plot
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Andrew Sabbot (Jason Robards), a naïve young man from the American Midwest, is sent to Paris by his stern, conservative mother, Cora Sabbot (Louise Closser Hale), to study art. While in the City of Light, Andrew becomes captivated by Vivienne Rolland (Irène Bordoni), a glamorous and spirited actress who reigns as the toast of the Parisian stage.
Vivienne, intrigued by Andrew’s earnest charm and provincial innocence, quickly warms to him. She declares her intent to marry him—on the condition that his mother approves. Determined to secure Cora’s blessing, Vivienne makes every effort to win her over.
Cora, however, disapproves of actresses and travels to Paris herself, bringing along her demure companion, Brenda Kaley (Margaret Fielding), intending to put an end to the romance. Vivienne meets Cora with grace and humility, pledging not to marry Andrew without her consent. But Cora is unwavering and flatly refuses.
Complicating matters is Guy Pennell (Jack Buchanan), Vivienne’s suave and dashing leading man in the revue. Guy is secretly in love with Vivienne and, once he recognizes the budding romance between her and Andrew, decides to sabotage it.
After Cora faints from the shock of Parisian decadence, Guy gives her brandy to revive her. Cora, surprisingly taken with the taste, becomes tipsy—and liberated. Emboldened by her new attitude, she undergoes a stunning transformation: bobbing her hair, adopting the latest fashions, and indulging in a flirtatious liaison with none other than Guy Pennell himself. Their increasingly outrageous behavior embarrasses Andrew, who is heartbroken by his mother’s wild conduct.
Meanwhile, Vivienne, growing suspicious of Guy’s true feelings, orchestrates a scheme to test him. She orders her maid to light smoke pots backstage to simulate a fire and incite panic. Nearly-naked chorus girls and costumed performers pour into the streets in confusion. But the plan misfires—Vivienne and Cora are both ushered out before Guy has the chance to "heroically" save either woman.
Undeterred, Cora and Guy announce their engagement, to Andrew’s dismay. Devastated by the turn of events, Andrew tries to stop the marriage, but fails. In the fallout, Vivienne and Andrew have a final argument, during which she returns his ring and he departs, accompanied by Brenda.
Afterward, Vivienne uncovers the truth: Cora’s scandalous transformation was an act, and she had conspired with Guy to break up Vivienne and Andrew. Enraged by the deception and betrayal, Vivienne sends Guy away. But as he leaves, she realizes her true feelings for him and chases after him—calling him back into her arms. The film ends with Vivienne embraced by Guy, choosing passion over propriety.
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Cast
- Irène Bordoni as Vivienne Rolland
- Jack Buchanan as Guy Pennell
- Louise Closser Hale as Cora Sabbot
- Jason Robards as Andrew Sabbot
- ZaSu Pitts as Harriet
- Margaret Fielding as Brenda Kaley
- Ruth Eddings as Chorus Girl (uncredited)
- Peggy Larson as Chorus Girl (uncredited)
- Gloria Stratton as Chorus Girl (uncredited)
- Irene Thompson as Chorus Girl (uncredited)
- The Larry Ceballos Girls as Dancers (uncredited)
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Production
Warner Bros. paid the celebrated French music hall star and Broadway chanteuse Irène Bordoni $10,000 a week to star in this film, playing the role she had originated on Broadway, introducing the enduring Porter standard "Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love". While this film was being shot, the studio was in the process of completing their all-star revue The Show of Shows (1929), so they had Bordoni film a number for the revue. Their initial intention was to have Bordoni star in two musical features, but due to the poor box-office reception of Paris, they decided not to make any more films with her.[5]
It was Buchanan's first American film.[6]
Songs
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Paris used advertisements of a type which were common for its time, featuring the talking in the film and Irène Bordoni starring. One ad for Paris said "See the talking picture of the future".
Preservation
One of the color reels from Paris exists at the British Film Institute (BFI) archive.[7] The complete soundtrack also survives on Vitaphone disks. The sound tape reels for this film survive at UCLA Film and Television Archive. According to the George Eastman Museum 2015 book The Dawn of Technicolor, 1915-1935, there are three fragments at the Seaver Center. In 2018, BFI discovered a one-minute Technicolor fragment being used as a film leader, along with fragments of various other films, which are included in video posted to YouTube on April 27, 2018.[8]
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Box office
According to Warner Bros. records, the film earned $632,000 domestically and $541,000 in other markets.[1]
See also
References
External links
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