The romantic distractions of two American jazz musicians in Paris. Very cool stars in the shape of Paul Newman and Sidney Poitier (neither actually playing the instruments), attracted to Diahann Carroll and Joanne Woodward. When we're not in Alexander Trauner's sets, there's good Paris location footage, with quite a bit I think up in Montmartre.
Great Duke Ellington score, both in the performances and in the score. The highlight is when Louis Armstrong's band invades the club and they have a sort of musical duel-off. Great touch in that Armstrong's concert posters have been spotted all over Paris but in the final scene there's one being papered over in the background.
The dramatic side to this story is perhaps less interesting than the music, though does have some reference to the jazz musician's endless problem - heroin. There's a fabulous bit of solo flamenco guitar as well.
With Barbara Laage, André Luguet, Moustache (an uncredited butcher in Love in the Afternoon, In the French Style, How to Steal a Million - just to confuse things, the 'Moustache' character in Irma La Douce is played by Lou Jacobi), Serge Reggiani (I Hired a Contract Killer, Il Gattopardo, Le Doulos, Casque D'Or).
Written by Jack Sher, Irene Kamp, Walter Bernstein. Has one of those somewhat downbeat endings you seem to associate with Newman in the sixties (The Hustler, Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy). Photographed by Christian Matras.
Ritt also directed Newman in Hud, The Outrage and Hombre.
An independent Pennebaker production for UA.
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