Description
Sipping champagne on the banks of the Seine, a passionate kiss in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, bumbling policemen, a strolling accordionist; while not all of the cliches portrayed in the Paris of American cinema are true, it is hard to deny that they have cultivated an image of the French capital that has captivated generations of movie goers. Paris--as habile in accommodating a romantic comedy or mystery as it is in hosting an action-packed thriller--is by far and away the foreign city that appears most frequently in Hollywood movies; over the years, it has served as the backdrop for over 800 American films. Romantic, elegant, sophisticated, and enticing, effortlessly graceful and stylish, it is easy to see why the City of Light has held such fascination among American filmmakers for well over a century. In "Paris by Hollywood," essays by eminent film experts and commentators uncover Hollywood's role in the cultivation of now timeless Parisian cliches, examining seminal films such as "An American in Paris," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "Sabrina," and "The Da Vinci Code." Chapters on Audrey Hepburn's Parisian persona; Disney's and Woody Allen's personifications of Paris; the American fascination with the enigmatic, glamorous "Parisienne"; and Hollywood's depictions of the French Revolution explore a cultural relationship that has as much to do with the allure of Paris itself as with Hollywood's desire to paint a picture of European exoticism and mystery. Interviews with eminent filmmakers and actors including Marin Scorsese, Julie Delpy, and Leslie Caron bring us behind the scenes and provide intimate insider's perspective. In addition to a review of the most important American works depicting Paris, this volume also includes insightful and accessible analysis as to the reasons why Hollywood has invested, and continues to invest, so much in depicting the French capital; an often mutually beneficial economic and cultural relationship. Organized chronologically and covering over 100 years of movie-making, from silent movies to the animated world of Disney, via Cancan films and action-packed blockbusters, "Paris by Hollywood" is the perfect companion for lovers of American cinema and those captivated by the magic of the French capital.
