MovieChat Forums > Paris - When It Sizzles (1964) Discussion > Brutal...so frigging brutal

Brutal...so frigging brutal

posted 19 years ago by robobeatnik
25 replies | jump to latest

I just finished watching this film and I have to say, not only was it complete *beep* but it was also the worse Audrey Hepburn film I have ever had the misfortune of viewing. I love Audrey Hepburn, but this was just too brutal. As I watched the film, I couldn't help but wondering why, if Holden's character thinks all these initial ideas for a script are too terrible to write down, then why in the hell would the viewers want to be subjected to them? I can't believe it took THREE screenwriters to write this piece of crap!

[–] AudreyHepburnJR 18 years ago

I have to agree with you! I had to force myself to sit through the entire movie. THere were a few cute parts, but the vampire scene was very stupid, as well as many other scenes.

Audrey Hepburn herself said that this movie was the one she least enjoyed making! I'm glad she also has good judgment!

"Quel Rat"

[–] Divtal-1 18 years ago

I agree! I loved Audrey Hepburn...still do. But, this was impossible. It's actually a reflection of itself -- a story about a movie with no plot.

It came out when I was in High School, and I always looked forward to the release of her films. Just before I saw it, a neighbor said that it was terrible. I figured that she had no taste, whatever. But, I couldn't say that to one of my "elders," so I held my tongue.

Then, I went to see it. I cannot believe that those two could turn out one of the worst films, ever put on celluloid...but they did. Not even my drooling envy of Audrey's wardrobe could save this one for me.

[–] Fletista 18 years ago

The worst? What about that... thing she did with Fred Astaire called "Funny Face"?

Well, I remember the begining of "Paris - When it..." as quite original, but the typical combination Audrey Hepburn-Paris-American Dandy was too much for me.
I have to recognize I don't like how Audrey acts in every movie she did -excepting "My Fair Lady"-, but it's on this movie where I really got mad. The plot is an horrible cliché and both characters are completely stupid. Maybe they wanted to do a kind of play with a lot of glamour and pink dresses -maybe I'm wrong, but I remember this movie with a shocking pink dress- but the plot was not inteligent, was grotty. The other problem is how Audrey overacts, opening her big eyes with all her grip constantly. I shout every time I see that pathetic scene where William Holden makes a path in the floor with the folios and she walks between them with her typical dress -always the same pattern- and doing those exaggerated grimaces to make her face ultra-cute. She was cute, I'm sure, but she was not natural on that movie, because she KNEW she was so cute. All her expressions seemed very controled.

[–] katza_33 18 years ago

Funny Face is OK. But this movie is so much better! My top 3 Audrey movies ar: Breakfast at Tiffany's
Paris When It Sizzles
My Fair Lady

Miss Caswell: I don't want to cause trouble... All I want is a drink

[–] Shell-Shock 18 years ago

If anyone thinks this film is awful they should see Alex and Emma, an updated version :p

A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men!

[–] nubka 17 years ago

The worst was that bomb she starred in with her husband, Mel Ferrar..."Green Mansions." Boring!!!

[–] usersince03 17 years ago

This isn't my favourite Audrey movie but I liked it better than Sabrina.

[–] Cdsoccer489 17 years ago

Its deff not my fave but I thought it was really cute. MUCH better than Alex and Emma like someone up there has said.
I personally think its underrated!

"No more rhymes, I mean it!"
"Anybody want a peanut?"

[–] stevenvh 17 years ago

oh dear...
Sabrina: 10 - PWIS: 3

--
I never make mistakes. Once I thought I did, but I was wrong.

[–] marxist_princess 16 years ago

I agree with that, although personally I think Holden is good. It's rare to hear anyone fault Hepburn, who is so beloved, but I feel she is cute too a fault, to the point that she almost becomes a charicature. I really wonder if the people who so adore Hepburn love her for her acting, or whether they just love the Hepburn 'persona', which is what we get in a lot of her movies. Didn't she ever tire of playing the ingenue? The thing is, I thought Holden was great in this movie...when you watch him, he seems to be working so hard, and his dry sarcastic wit is so funny! Audrey's cuteness completely grates with it. It is like the actors are in two different movies, almost two different genres. Actually, Hepburn's girlish character almost seemed to be a parody of herself. Was this deliberate? I don't know. And I'm not sure how else the secretary character COULD have been played, but I just think that the way it was didn't work. If they'd had a Bacall, or Katherine Hepburn type for the sectretary to match Holden wit-wise, I wonder if it might have worked better?

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] csu16387 17 years ago

I absolutely agree with you. I watched this last night on TCM, and it was dreadful. William Holden and Audrey Hepburn's performances weren't bad, and Tony Curtis has a terrific cameo. However, that wasn't nearly enough to save this film. I kept falling asleep during the last hour, and was thinking they should have changed the title to Paris- When it Fizzles. It's by far the worse film I've seen featuring William Holden or Audrey Hepburn.

"Dry your eyes baby, it's out of character."

[–] djkst35 17 years ago

I agree. This was on TCM last Friday night and I couldn't get through the second hour. Unfortunately, I feel asleep! Horrible, horrible movie.

[–] bobbobato 16 years ago

Ummm... wasn't the WHOLE movie a parody of stuupid movies, not just the movie-within-a-movie?

[–] brite_n_bubbly 16 years ago

Yes. Yes it was.

And it's not plotless like people say. The plot (ie: movement) of the movie is Holden's and Hepburn's growing attraction to each other. The ways that they both try to resist and seduce each other is shown through their constant changes to the plot of the screenplay that they are working on.

I love this film :)

[–] PaulK2008 16 years ago

Just saw this today, absolutely loved it, was laughing through out and as a budding screenwriter was able to identify with the creation process depicted lightheartedly in the film. Dont know why people hate on it, was very funny, witty and was MEANT TO BE very silly, almost a spoof. It was not supposed to be taken seriously, they were trying something different, having a little fun. Enjoyed some of the more serious, intimate moments too, like Holden sending her off to sleep instead of taking advantage of her, and Holden's monologue about being too much of a rogue to settle down. Also like how they identified with the movie characters and how the situations in the movie were similar to theirs.

I think it was way ahead of its time so people then didnt quite get it, and people who dont like it now compare it to her more serious movies and were hoping for more of the same whereas this is a different beast altogether.

And yes, she said this was the film she enjoyed making the least. Well most actors say that about their films that bomb. She was in the business after all and had to play the hollywood game everyone else plays. If she didnt like the idea why do it in the first place after reading the script? The movie was a gamble and if it did well she probably wouldnt have said that!!

ITS THE SAFE SEX COMMANDMENTS WHAT!! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C8i4BJSm0U

[–] missalex 16 years ago

I just took it as a light hearted comedy that shouldn't be picked apart and hated. This is because the film doesn't take itself too seriously so we shouldn't either. It was pretty entertaining! Not the best movie obviously but I did get a few good laughs in, especially at the beginning! I was laughing when Holden was doing the voiceover for the introduction to the film. When he said "maybe we will get Frank Sinatra to sing the opening theme" and then Frank sings "The girl that stole the eiffel tower, also stole my heeeaaaarrrtttt" I was laughing so hard! The vampire scene was awful. The rest was comedic and over the top, but it was meant to be that way. And wow, Holden seducing Audrey in his apartment really made my heart flutter! That man was irresistable, LOL. Crazy to think that in real life, William Holden truly loved Audrey and wanted to marry her. Not only was Holden a mess at this point in his life over his constant battle with alcoholism, but he was still in love with Audrey and the thought of having to be this close to her again, (but this time she was married and so he knew that couldn't have her) really made things much worse for him! Poor guy!
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[–] BlueGreen 15 years ago

I couldn't watch it. Which is incredible, because I rarely stop watching even bad films, but I found it SO boring and annoying I simply could not make myself watch it to the end.

I find it bad and boring to the point of being shocking.