Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14897 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-09-03
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish, Turkish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 106 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Paris When It Sizzles is an unusual screwball comedy to say the least. Whether it works is another matter, but the premise and humour are interesting enough to make it enjoyable. The basic problem with the film is its two stars: William Holden and Audrey Hepburn hardly sizzle with onscreen chemistry, and Hepburn's character, Miss Simpson, falls far too easily into the hands of Holden's drunken screen writer. However, the story is an interesting play on the typical Hollywood romance, with two plot lines running in parallel to each other. Holden's Richard Benson has only two days to finish a script for an enigmatic producer (Noel Coward). Hepburn's Miss Simpson is drafted in as the typist and as the script is dictated it manifests itself on the screen, allowing the two lead characters to play out any number of romantic stories. It's the cameo appearances in the imaginary world that really steal the show, with the blink-and-you'll-miss-it last screen appearance by Marlene Dietrich, as well as Tony Curtis having fun with his own screen persona. It's not one of Hepburn or Holden's best, but is worth a look purely for the interesting slant on the mechanical nature of Hollywood's romances.

On the DVD Paris When It Sizzles offers little of any note in regards to special features, with only an extended trailer (which seems to try and sell the film on the merits of the stars alone). The mono soundtrack is nothing special, though the print has cleaned up nicely, offering a 1.78:1 widescreen picture that brings the Technicolor to life. --Nikki Disney

DVD Description
DVD Special Features
Theatrical Trailer
Languages: English
Subtitles: English for the Hearing Impaired, English, Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Swedish, Turkish.
Running Time: 106 mins approx

Synopsis
A veteran Hollywood screenwriter goes to Paris to write the screenplay of his career--in three days. Lacking fresh ideas, he turns to his gamine secretary to provide fuel for his imagination, and they come up with various scenarios for his screenplay, called THE GIRL WHO STOLE THE EIFFEL TOWER. Richard Quine (BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE) ably helms PARIS WHEN IT SIZZLES, which travels back and forth between fantasy and reality. William Holden and Audrey Hepburn heat up the main characters, with terrific supporting help from the likes of Frank Sinatra, Noel Coward, Tony Curtis, Fred Astaire, Marlene Dietrich, and the glorious city of Paris.

Customer Reviews

Get the Audrey Hepburn Boxset
This film sizzles. Many criticise the chemistry but this is not a love at first sight film this is a winning of a girl's heart from a younger more handsome man.

Full of charm and craft and more humour than any other Hepburn film.

My wife and I simply fell in love with this story and it is now our favourite Audrey Hepburn film and it shares alot of similarities with our second favourite Roman Holiday. William Holden is not as good as Gregory Peck, but then again very few can match him. I felt that some of the lack of charm in the performance seemed to reflect the character; a cynical, heavy drinking 'hack' who finds a new passion for his work and life.

Oh Dear.....what a disappointment.........
The only saving grace for me was Noel Cowards portrayal as the enigmatic catalyst behind the Holden/Hepburn relationship in the film. Really thought that it was going to more, what a terrible vehicle for Hepburn and actually the real life relationship between the two just didn't transpose to screen. Hey ho, you can't win em all!!

Paris When It Sizzles
This is a very likeable film. It was a brave choice to set the film inside a duplex hotel room and keep the conversation and electricity of ideas flowing without any major bloomers, but it was successfully achieved. The direction itself is nothing more than charming, but does it need to be? The actors keep the screen fizzing with excitement; Holden's comic timing and world weary commentary is near perfect and Hepburn's role is lovingly delerious enough for her not to go unnoticed.
The plot is individual and uncomplicated, and yet sophisticated enough not to bore even the most urbane of tastes. The music is romantic and naive and yet, quite obviously from my own enjoyment, timeless.
There is nothing to dislike about the production, it is escapist, but then it doesn't pretend to be anything else.
Who wants the reality when the dream is just so much better?