Writer of The Last Time I saw Paris, F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896 - 1940) and director Richard Brooks (1912 - 1992) brings us this star-studded cast unto the streets and hearts of the city of amor. With bright young things such as a very beautiful Elizabeth Taylor (aged 22 years) and Van Johnson taking the lead roles as the poor but vitality filled youths who must, and in the case for poor Charles Wills retrace his paths and once again revisit this Babylon city.
Filled with the likes of Walter Pidgeon, Donna Reed, Roger Moore and a young Eva Gabor (sister to Zsa Zsa), and too, the tiny tot Sandy "THEM!" Descher, this fairytale of love, relationships, resentment, jealously and rude awakenings is a glam fest of lost love, missed opportunities and bitter rivalries; these are, at times, shallow people who have to deal with deeper consequences that climaxes into a most touching ending indeed. Each has their own skeletons hiding, and what makes this movie work is the way in which the bitterness shows no remorse for its self-inflicted victims, and too, the excellent acting from all, bare with it till the end, and you will see alcoholic Van Johnson begging for his young daughters return both captivating and his breathtakingly agonising plight only builds up the finale to a higher level. Wonderful stuff.
Great performance's from all; tight, constant and believable, and given a script and dialogue that can be both acid tongued and emotional from the very start, we also see, very quickly, that this movie belongs to Elizabeth Taylor. As movie legend denotes MGM bought into this project from Paramount to propel this evergreen beauty further into the glamour and beauty that is the Elizabeth Taylor myth, no expense spared; the best gowns, chic hairstyles and the look of the Goddess Aphrodite, oh, and her acting is also superb, playing the lovelorn woman with graceful respect of her role and showing depth and maturity to boot. Ms. Taylor's script, Ms. Taylor's role, is empty of the panache of the Hollywood style of being over-produced, but it is a lovingly small and tender rendition of how one can turn less into more. Tremendous stuff.
Working on human emotion rather than gimmicky egos, The Last Time I Saw Paris is a charming novella that will take you far beyond the walls of Babylon and have you reminiscing the beautiful nights in the City of Love. Have you your one-way ticket bought yet?
Filled with the likes of Walter Pidgeon, Donna Reed, Roger Moore and a young Eva Gabor (sister to Zsa Zsa), and too, the tiny tot Sandy "THEM!" Descher, this fairytale of love, relationships, resentment, jealously and rude awakenings is a glam fest of lost love, missed opportunities and bitter rivalries; these are, at times, shallow people who have to deal with deeper consequences that climaxes into a most touching ending indeed. Each has their own skeletons hiding, and what makes this movie work is the way in which the bitterness shows no remorse for its self-inflicted victims, and too, the excellent acting from all, bare with it till the end, and you will see alcoholic Van Johnson begging for his young daughters return both captivating and his breathtakingly agonising plight only builds up the finale to a higher level. Wonderful stuff.
Great performance's from all; tight, constant and believable, and given a script and dialogue that can be both acid tongued and emotional from the very start, we also see, very quickly, that this movie belongs to Elizabeth Taylor. As movie legend denotes MGM bought into this project from Paramount to propel this evergreen beauty further into the glamour and beauty that is the Elizabeth Taylor myth, no expense spared; the best gowns, chic hairstyles and the look of the Goddess Aphrodite, oh, and her acting is also superb, playing the lovelorn woman with graceful respect of her role and showing depth and maturity to boot. Ms. Taylor's script, Ms. Taylor's role, is empty of the panache of the Hollywood style of being over-produced, but it is a lovingly small and tender rendition of how one can turn less into more. Tremendous stuff.
Working on human emotion rather than gimmicky egos, The Last Time I Saw Paris is a charming novella that will take you far beyond the walls of Babylon and have you reminiscing the beautiful nights in the City of Love. Have you your one-way ticket bought yet?