The Last Time I Saw Paris

Plot

American reporter Charles Wills arrives in Paris in 1945 to cover the Victory celebrations and meets the beautiful Helen Ellswirth after a brief flirtation with her more serious sister Marion. Despite their different backgrounds—Charles being a practical writer and Helen a free-spirited Parisian—the couple falls deeply in love and marries. Charles takes a monotonous job at a newspaper wire service to support their lifestyle while pursuing his dream of writing a novel, but their marriage strains under financial pressures and Charles's creative frustrations. When an unexpected investment makes them wealthy overnight, their relationship begins to unravel as Helen embraces their new social status while Charles becomes increasingly disillusioned and turns to alcohol. The story culminates in tragedy when Helen dies in a car accident, leaving Charles to confront his failures and attempt to reconnect with their young daughter, ultimately realizing too late what he has lost.

Historical Background

The film was produced during the height of the Cold War and McCarthy era in Hollywood, a time when the film industry was under intense scrutiny for perceived political content. The story's focus on American expatriates in post-war Paris reflected a continuing fascination with European culture among Americans, while also serving as a metaphor for the American dream and its potential corruption. The 1950s saw a surge in literary adaptations, particularly of works by authors like Fitzgerald, as studios sought to lend cultural legitimacy to their productions. The film's treatment of alcoholism was somewhat groundbreaking for its time, reflecting growing awareness of substance abuse as a social issue. Additionally, the movie was released just as television was beginning to challenge cinema's dominance, prompting studios to invest in lavish productions with major stars that couldn't be replicated on the small screen.

Making Of

Director Richard Brooks fought with MGM executives over the film's ending, wanting to maintain the tragic tone of Fitzgerald's original story rather than providing a more hopeful conclusion. The studio initially wanted a happier ending but eventually relented to Brooks' vision. Elizabeth Taylor and Van Johnson reportedly had a tense working relationship, with Taylor feeling Johnson was too old for his role and Johnson finding Taylor difficult to work with. The production utilized some of MGM's most elaborate sets, including a full-scale recreation of a Parisian café and apartment building. The film's Paris location footage was shot by a second unit while the main cast remained in California. The wine cellar scene was particularly challenging to film, requiring special lighting effects to create the appropriate atmosphere of Charles's descent into alcoholism. MGM invested heavily in the production, seeing it as a prestige vehicle for Taylor following her success in 'A Place in the Sun.'

Visual Style

The cinematography, by Joseph Ruttenberg, utilized Metrocolor to create rich, vibrant images that emphasized the romantic and glamorous aspects of Paris while also capturing the darker tones of the story's tragic elements. Ruttenberg employed soft focus lighting for the romantic scenes and harsher, more contrasted lighting for Charles's descent into alcoholism. The film features several elaborate tracking shots through recreated Parisian streets, showcasing MGM's technical prowess. The wine cellar sequence uses dramatic lighting and camera angles to convey Charles's psychological deterioration. The cinematography also makes effective use of reflections and mirrors throughout the film, symbolizing the characters' dual natures and the theme of self-deception. Ruttenberg's work earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography, Color.

Innovations

The film showcased MGM's technical capabilities in several areas, particularly in its elaborate set design and construction. The art department, led by Cedric Gibbons and Edward Carfagno, created detailed Parisian street scenes and interiors that were remarkably convincing for studio-bound productions. The film's use of Metrocolor technology produced rich, saturated colors that enhanced the romantic atmosphere while also allowing for dramatic visual contrasts in the darker scenes. The production employed innovative camera techniques for the time, including complex crane shots that moved through the recreated Paris locations. The costume department, led by Helen Rose, created authentic period fashions that helped establish the film's historical setting. The film's sound design effectively balanced dialogue, music, and ambient sounds to create an immersive Parisian atmosphere.

Music

The musical score was composed by Conrad Salinger, with the famous title song 'The Last Time I Saw Paris' by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II featured prominently throughout the film. The score blends romantic orchestral themes with jazz elements reflecting the Parisian setting. The music enhances the emotional arc of the story, with lighter, more optimistic themes during the courtship and early marriage, gradually becoming more somber and dissonant as the tragedy unfolds. The film also includes several period-appropriate songs that help establish the post-war atmosphere. The soundtrack was released on LP record and became popular among fans of film music. The title song's integration into the score helps tie the narrative together thematically, with variations of the melody appearing throughout key emotional moments.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening Victory in Europe Day celebration in Paris, where Charles first meets the Ellswirth sisters amid the jubilant crowds
• The wedding sequence showing Charles and Helen's joyous marriage and early happiness together
• The scene where Charles receives news of their unexpected fortune, leading to a montage of their newfound luxury
• The emotionally charged confrontation in the wine cellar where Helen discovers Charles's alcoholism
• The tragic car accident scene and its immediate aftermath
• The final scene where Charles attempts to reconnect with his daughter at Helen's grave

What Critics Said

Contemporary reviews were generally positive, with particular praise for Elizabeth Taylor's performance and the film's visual beauty. Bosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote that 'Miss Taylor gives a deeply moving performance' and noted that 'the film has a handsome pictorial quality.' However, some critics felt the adaptation strayed too far from Fitzgerald's original story, with Variety noting that 'the Fitzgerald flavor has been pretty well cooked out of it.' Modern critics have been more mixed, with some appreciating the film's melodramatic qualities and others finding it overly sentimental. The film is often regarded today as a solid example of 1950s Hollywood melodrama, with Taylor's performance standing out as its strongest element. Retrospective analyses have noted how the film reflects both the glamour and the underlying anxieties of post-war American society.

What Audiences Thought

The film was a moderate box office success, earning approximately $3.75 million in North America against its $1.69 million budget. Audiences responded positively to the romantic elements and Taylor's star power, though some found the tragic elements depressing. The film's themes of love, loss, and redemption resonated with 1950s moviegoers, particularly women who identified with Helen's character. The movie developed a cult following over the years, especially among fans of Elizabeth Taylor and classic Hollywood romances. Its reputation has grown in subsequent decades, with many modern viewers appreciating its lush production values and emotional intensity. The film's availability on home video and streaming platforms has introduced it to new generations of classic film enthusiasts.

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