Once in Paris...

Last updated

Once in Paris...
Once in Paris.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Frank D. Gilroy
Written by Frank D. Gilroy
Produced by Gérard Croce
Manny Fuchs
Frank D. Gilroy
Starring Wayne Rogers
Gayle Hunnicutt
Cinematography Claude Saunier
Edited by Robert Q. Lovett
Music by Mitch Leigh
Production
company
Distributed by Atlantic Releasing Corporation
Release date
  • November 9, 1978 (1978-11-09)(New York City)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Once in Paris... is a 1978 American drama film film written and directed by Frank D. Gilroy and is inspired by his experiences in Paris during the filming of the 1970 film adaptation of his play The Only Game in Town . [1]

Contents

Plot

An American screenwriter encounters love while working on rewrites of a script being filmed in Paris.

Cast

Production

The story is inspired by Gilroy's experiences working in Paris on the film adaptation of his stage play The Only Game in Town starring Elizabeth Taylor, who insisted that it be shot in Paris, France despite being set in Las Vegas. This is alluded to when the chauffeur looks at the screenwriter's small hotel room and remarks, "Elizabeth Taylor's closet was bigger than this."

Like The Only Game in Town, Once in Paris... was shot in Paris, albeit with a French crew (whereas The Only Game in Town used an American crew). [2]

Jack Lenoir, who plays the chauffeur in Once in Paris..., was actually Gilroy's chauffeur during the filming of The Only Game in Town. [3] [4]

Reception

Reviewer Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "This is a very New York film, with its emphasis on characterization rather than style, with its cast composed of actors rather than movie stars. [...] 'The Luckiest Man in the World' is the kind of film that many people would enjoy; it has more substance than chic, and its sensibility and perspective are comfortably middle-aged." [5]

A reviewer for The New York Times wrote, "Though its hero, a high-powered screenwriter, travels by Concorde, Frank D. Gilroy's 'Once in Paris' appears to be a tale out of the comparatively naïve, propeller-driven 1950's rather than the more jaded, jet-propelled 1970's, the period when it's all supposed to take place. [...] The film means to be a romantic lark, but this lark seldom becomes airborne." [6]

A reviewer for Variety wrote, "Writer-director Frank Gilroy has come up with a highly personalized tale of a rough around-the-edges Yank screenwriter’s relationship with a worldly chauffeur and a bauteous British aristocrat. Gilroy’s developed the triad in subtle, believable, intelligent and often humorous fashion making Once in Paris a super film." [2]

Reviewer John Skow of Time wrote, "Uncloudable sunniness of mood is what is required to sit through this decorative but unsubstantial comedy without snarling. [...] But lines are what Gilroy has not provided, and the film's failure to be better than mediocre is the clear result of his slovenliness." [7]

Reviewer Gary Arnold of The Washington Post wrote, "Written and directed by Frand D. Gilroy, 'Once in Paris' seems to be onto something fresh and entertaining, but Gilroy isn't quite the film-maker to nurture it into a satisfying experience. [...] You warm to the humor inherent in this situation, but Gilroy gets little comic mileage out of it." [4]

A reviewer for misacor.org.au wrote, "Once In Paris describes itself as a bittersweet romance. It has been done so many times before but, of course. the love story will always be with us. Paris locations enhance this one, plus a sympathetic performance from Wayne Rodgers as a married American screenwriter infatuated by glacial beauty Gayle Hunnicut. The film highlights the bitter and inevitable futility of a sweet passing affair - by the ironic device of the hero's doctoring a romantic screenplay. But the film is transformed entirely by the unexpected and totally engaging performance by Jack Lenoir as a Parisian conman chauffeur. He certainly makes the film - publicity says Lenoir was writer-director Frank D. Gilroy's chauffeur once in Paris ..." [3]

In a review of the film for the series Sneak Previews , Gene Siskel said, "One of my biggest complaints about movies in general is that we rarely are given characters that seem as real or as bright or as entertaining as even Roger. But good news, Once in Paris... is an American-made film that gives us three bright, lively, and real characters." [8] Roger Ebert responded, "I never believed the relationship between these two people. The only person in the movie I did buy, did like, did appreciate was the chauffeur, Jack Lenoir. I thought that he was a very good character. Well-acted." [8]

Accolades

Gilroy's screenplay was nominated for the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Comedy but did not win. [9] [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Goldman</span> American novelist, screenwriter and playwright

William Goldman was an American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. He first came to prominence in the 1950s as a novelist before turning to screenwriting. Among other accolades, Goldman won two Academy Awards in both writing categories—once for Best Original Screenplay for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and once for Best Adapted Screenplay for All the President's Men (1976).

<i>Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid</i> 1969 American Western buddy film by George Roy Hill

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is a 1969 American Western buddy film directed by George Roy Hill and written by William Goldman. Based loosely on fact, the film tells the story of Wild West outlaws Robert LeRoy Parker, known as Butch Cassidy, and his partner Harry Longabaugh, the "Sundance Kid", who are on the run from a crack US posse after a string of train robberies. The pair and Sundance's lover, Etta Place, flee to Bolivia to escape the posse.

<i>Orpheus</i> (film) 1950 French film

Orpheus is a 1950 French film directed by Jean Cocteau and starring Jean Marais. It is the central part of Cocteau's Orphic Trilogy, which consists of The Blood of a Poet (1930), Orpheus (1950), and Testament of Orpheus (1960).

<i>The Bourne Identity</i> (2002 film) 2002 action film directed by Doug Liman

The Bourne Identity is a 2002 action-thriller film directed by Doug Liman and written by Tony Gilroy and William Blake Herron. Based on Robert Ludlum's 1980 novel of the same name, it is the first installment in the Bourne franchise, and the film stars Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen, Brian Cox, and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. In the film, Jason Bourne (Damon) suffers from psychogenic amnesia and is forced to fight to unlock his identity and his mysterious connection to the CIA.

<i>Billy Jack</i> 1971 film directed by Tom Laughlin

Billy Jack is a 1971 American action drama independent film, the second of four films centering on a character of the same name which began with the movie The Born Losers (1967), played by Tom Laughlin, who directed and co-wrote the script. Filming began in Prescott, Arizona, in the fall of 1969, but the movie was not completed until 1971. American International Pictures pulled out, halting filming. 20th Century Fox came forward and filming eventually resumed but when that studio refused to distribute the film, Warner Bros. stepped forward.

<i>Escape to Victory</i> 1981 film

Escape to Victory is a 1981 sports war film directed by John Huston and starring Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Max von Sydow and Pelé. The film is about Allied prisoners of war who are interned in a German prison camp during the Second World War who play an exhibition match of football against a German team.

<i>The Brady Bunch Movie</i> 1995 film by Betty Thomas

The Brady Bunch Movie is a 1995 American comedy film that parodies the 1969–1974 television series The Brady Bunch. The film was directed by Betty Thomas, with a screenplay by Laurice Elehwany, Rick Copp, and Bonnie and Terry Turner, and stars Shelley Long, Gary Cole, and Michael McKean. It also features cameos from Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, RuPaul, and some of the original cast of The Brady Bunch in new roles.

<i>The Villain</i> (1979 film) 1979 American Western comedy film

The Villain is a 1979 American metrocolor Western comedy film directed by Hal Needham and starring Kirk Douglas, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ann-Margret, Paul Lynde, Foster Brooks, Strother Martin, Ruth Buzzi, Jack Elam, and Mel Tillis. It is a parody of Western films, blended with an homage to the Warner Bros. cartoon Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner.

Jon Vitti is an American writer best known for his work on the television series The Simpsons. He has also written for King of the Hill, The Critic and The Office, and has served as a screenwriter or consultant for several animated and live-action movies, including Ice Age (2002), Robots (2005), and Horton Hears a Who! (2008). He is one of the eleven writers of The Simpsons Movie and also wrote the screenplays for the film adaptations Alvin and the Chipmunks, its "squeakquel" and The Angry Birds Movie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Higgins</span> Australian-American filmmaker (1941–1988)

Colin Higgins was an Australian-American screenwriter, actor, director, and producer. He was best known for writing the screenplay for the 1971 film Harold and Maude, and for directing the films Foul Play (1978) and 9 to 5 (1980).

<i>Paris Blues</i> 1961 film by Martin Ritt

Paris Blues is a 1961 American musical romantic drama film directed by Martin Ritt, starring Sidney Poitier as expatriate jazz saxophonist Eddie Cook, and Paul Newman as trombone-playing Ram Bowen. The two men romance two vacationing American tourists, Connie Lampson and Lillian Corning. The film also deals with American racism of the time contrasted with Paris's open acceptance of black people. The film was based on the 1957 novel of the same name by Harold Flender.

<i>The Only Game in Town</i> (1970 film) 1970 film by George Stevens

The Only Game in Town is a 1970 American romantic comedy-drama film, the last directed by George Stevens. It stars Elizabeth Taylor and Warren Beatty. The screenplay by Frank D. Gilroy is based on his play of the same name which had a brief run on Broadway in 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Gilroy</span> American screenwriter and producer (born 1976)

Henry Alan Gilroy is an American film and television screenwriter and producer. He is best known for co-writing the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

<i>Possessed</i> (1931 film) 1931 American film by Clarence Brown

Possessed is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Clarence Brown, starring Joan Crawford and Clark Gable and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film is the story of Marian Martin, a factory worker who rises to the top as the mistress of a wealthy attorney. The screenplay by Lenore J. Coffee was adapted from the 1920 Broadway play The Mirage by Edgar Selwyn. Possessed was the third of eight film collaborations between Crawford and Gable.

<i>Diamond Jim</i> 1935 film

Diamond Jim is a 1935 biographical film based on the published biography Diamond Jim Brady by Parker Morell. It follows the life of legendary entrepreneur James Buchanan Brady, including his romance with entertainer Lillian Russell, and stars Edward Arnold, Jean Arthur, Cesar Romero and Binnie Barnes.

Frank Daniel Gilroy was an American playwright, screenwriter, and film producer and director. He received the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play The Subject Was Roses in 1965.

<i>Staircase</i> (film) 1969 British film by Stanley Donen

Staircase is a 1969 British comedy-drama film directed by Stanley Donen and starring Richard Burton and Rex Harrison. The screenplay was by Charles Dyer, adapted from his 1966 play of the same name.

<i>Journey into Fear</i> (1943 film) 1943 film by Norman Foster

Journey into Fear is a 1943 American spy film noir directed by Norman Foster, based on the 1940 Eric Ambler novel of the same name. The film broadly follows the plot of the book, but the protagonist was changed to an American engineer, and the destination of his journey changed from France to the Soviet Union—reflecting the changes in the war situation since the original Ambler book was written. The RKO Pictures release stars Joseph Cotten, who also wrote the screenplay with Orson Welles. The Mercury Production was also produced by Welles, again uncredited.

<i>The Eternal Struggle</i> 1923 film by Reginald Barker

The Eternal Struggle is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Reginald Barker. Distributed by Metro Pictures, the film is based on the 1913 novel The Law-Bringers, written by Edith Joan Lyttleton.

<i>The Bourne Legacy</i> (film) 2012 action thriller film directed by Tony Gilroy

The Bourne Legacy is a 2012 American action-thriller film directed by Tony Gilroy, and is the fourth installment in the series of films adapted from the Jason Bourne novels originated by Robert Ludlum and continued by Eric Van Lustbader, being preceded by The Bourne Identity (2002), The Bourne Supremacy (2004), and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007). The film centers on black ops agent Aaron Cross, an original character. In addition to Renner, the film stars Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton.

References

  1. ↑ "The Only Game in Town". TVGuide.com.
  2. 1 2 Staff, Variety (January 1, 1978). "Once in Paris".
  3. 1 2 MALONE, Peter. "Once in Paris". misacor.org.au.
  4. 1 2 Arnold, Gary (June 17, 1979). "'Once in Paris' Is Not Enough, but Almost". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on May 25, 2024.
  5. ↑ Thomas, Kevin (May 5, 1989). "Movie Reviews : 'Luckiest Man': Alive With Fine Acting, Humor". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ↑ Canby, Vincent (November 9, 1978). "Screen: Gilroy's 'Once in Paris':All Abroad". The New York Times– via NYTimes.com.
  7. ↑ Skow, John (January 29, 1979). "Cinema: Fizzled Farce". TIME.
  8. 1 2 "The China Syndrome, Fast Break, Once in Paris, The Deer Hunter, 1979 – Siskel and Ebert Movie Reviews". siskelebert.org.
  9. ↑ http://librarycatalog.wgfoundation.org/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=ZWRlYjgxZTctZGQ3OS00ZmM1LTg0ZjgtZjBmYjA5OTMwNzJm&rID=MzQ4MTk=&qrs=RmFsc2U=&q=ZnJhbmsgZ2lscm95&ph=VHJ1ZQ==&bckToL=VHJ1ZQ==&rrtc=VHJ1ZQ==
  10. ↑ https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000710/1979/1/
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.