# Movies set in Paris **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 30, 2003, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445 "2003-05-30T03:30:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/1 "2003-05-30T03:30:57Z")
I’m going to Paris in a year and would like to see all of the movies that I can that are set in Paris. _An American in Paris_ _Charade_ _Funny Face_ (Any genre is fine.) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/91b2a8/32.png) [@Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_of_Sandwhich)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/2 "2003-05-30T03:59:49Z")
“Paris, Texas” ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/3 "2003-05-30T04:28:59Z")
Well, _Is Paris Burning, Gigi, Irma La Douce, Gigot, A Shot in the Dark_ all jump quickly to mind. But let me think for a few minutes and we’ll see what else comes to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/91b2a8/32.png) [@Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_of_Sandwhich)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/4 "2003-05-30T04:29:41Z")
Alright, sorry. “The Red Balloon.” “Jefferson in Paris” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/5 "2003-05-30T04:52:09Z")
_An American Werewolf in Paris._ Probably not the sort of film you had in mind, was it? Okay, how about: _Armageddon_ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/6 "2003-05-30T04:54:54Z")
_Last Tango in Paris_ you’d butter see that. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/7 "2003-05-30T05:12:47Z")
_ **Groan…** _ That should cover _Paris, Texas_ and the butter. Earl, you redeemed yourself with _The Red Balloon._ tv time, what is _Gigot_? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/8 "2003-05-30T05:58:50Z")
Bits of _The Bourne Identity_ _Amelie_ among French films Part of _Night On Earth_ _The Train_ _What’s New Pussycat_ _Frantic_ _The Accidental Tourist_ last bit _Pret A Porter_ ?SP “Ready to Wear” the bad Altman movie. _Everyone Says I Love You_ some of Allen’s scenes _Ronin_ _A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries_ _Rififi_ for an unsentimental portrait of '50’s Paris. Another French film. Sorry 'bout the butter. And of course _Killing Zoe_ ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/9 "2003-05-30T07:06:48Z")
Alphaville (1965) Bon Voyage! (1962) Breathless (1960) Darling (1965) Diva (1981) European Vacation (1985) La Femme Nikita (1990) The 400 Blows (1959) Full Moon in Paris (1984) Henry & June (1990) How to Steal a Million (1966) Jules and Jim (1962) The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954) A Little Romance (1979) Love in the Afternoon (1957) Lovers on the Bridge (Les Amants du Pont-Neuf) (1991) Madeline (1998) A Man and a Woman (1966) Le Million (1931) Moulin Rouge (1952) Orpheus (1949) Paris Blues (1961) Paris — When It Sizzles (1964) Quatorze Juillet (1933) 'Round Midnight (1986) Sabrina (1995) Under the Roofs of Paris (Sous les toits de Paris) (1930) What’s New, Pussycat (1965) Zazie dans le métro (1960) ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/10 "2003-05-30T10:29:25Z")
A large number of movies (including many of the ones listed above) use Paris as a backdrop, but don’t really give you any feel for life in the city. Two people (at least one of whom is usually an American) meet and fall in love, violins play, and the Eiffel Tower is seen in the background. If you want to see the real Paris, lean very heavily towards French movies as opposed to Hollywood movies set in France. Since most of the ones you can rent in the US will be subtitled rather than dubbed, you’ll also get a chance to practice your language comprehension skills! I’ll second [Amélie](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0211915) and throw in two fairly recent, but very different favorites: [When the Cat’s Away (Chacun cherche son chat)](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0115856), 1996 --sweet tale set in the 11th _arrondissement_. [Hate (La haine)](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0113247), 1995 – racial alienation in the Paris “projects”, a total antithesis to the standard romantic Hollywood-Paris fare. **Zoe** , how long will your stay in Paris be? Just a quick visit, or are you going there to study or work? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/11 "2003-05-30T12:08:47Z")
The IMDb is a handy tool for finding films that were shot in a certain location. Go to its [filming locations browser](http://us.imdb.com/Sections/Locations/) and type in “Paris” and you’ll get more than 1500 results… ---
**Author:** ![Tusculan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Tusculan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tusculan)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/12 "2003-05-30T12:34:53Z")
To add to what the others already mentioned. What about _Forget Paris_? I’m not trying to be facetious; it is a nice little romantic comedy with Billy Crystal and Debra Winger, part of which is set in Paris. Though for preparation for a trip it probably shows too little of the city. [Belphegor, Phantom of the Louvre](http://uk.imdb.com/Title?0214529), shows a lot of sights, even if the movie is a bit silly. [Subway](http://uk.imdb.com/Title?0090095) is a stylish movie of French youth sub-culture set mostly in the Paris underground. [The Tenant (Le Locataire)](http://uk.imdb.com/Title?0074811) , by Roman Polanski, is also set in Paris and gives a view of how those Parisian houses actually look like inside. I’m afraid that there are far too many movies set in Paris for you to all see before your trip. Do you have any preferences? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/13 "2003-05-30T12:47:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zoe \* > \*\*tv time, what is _Gigot_? \*\* Jackie Gleason playing a mute. Really. Gene Kelly directed; it’s extremely sloppy and sentimental. Add to the list: **Can Can Playtime** (though one of the jokes is that it never looks like Paris) **Casablanca** (for a flashback – here’s looking at you, kid) **Gold Diggers in Paris** **Forget Paris** **Gay Purr-ee** **The Hunchback of Notre Dame** **The Three Musketeers** And to keep things straight: **Is Paris Burning?** is set in Paris, but **Paris is Burning** is not. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/14 "2003-05-30T13:12:09Z")
The eerie 1915 serial [Les Vampires](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0006206) (available on video) was shot in and around WWI-era Paris, and is quite an eyeful! Lots of sex, violence and dastardly criminal activity, too. ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/15 "2003-05-30T14:02:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tusculan \* > \*\*What about _Forget Paris_? I’m not trying to be facetious; it is a nice little romantic comedy with Billy Crystal and Debra Winger, part of which is set in Paris. \*\* I would also apply the Nice Little Romantic Comedy tag to _French Kiss_ with Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline, part of which is set in Paris. Mrs. Pash and I leave for a week in Paris on Tuesday. I can’t wait! Pash ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/16 "2003-05-30T14:04:44Z")
Victor, Victoria. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/17 "2003-05-30T14:44:33Z")
Bourne Identity was already mentioned, but I thought it was particularly neat that they shot some of the Paris part in a very easy to find area, right on the famous bridge I can’t remember the name of. Twas neat. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/18 "2003-05-30T15:11:57Z")
Although it’s been mentioned, _Paris Blues_ is pretty much forgotten today despite its all-star cast, a real oddity with Sidney Poitier and Paul Newman playing ex-pat jazz musicians. The story is straightforward, but there are nice scenes of lovers in Paris. But the true attraction of the movie is when Louie Armstrong comes in and wails away to a score written by Duke Ellington. A must-see for jazz lovers and Paris is a great city for jazz. ---
**Author:** ![FairyDust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@FairyDust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyDust)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/19 "2003-05-30T17:17:52Z")
[Ninotchka](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0031725) ---
**Author:** ![Peg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Peg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peg)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-set-in-paris/178445/20 "2003-05-30T17:52:32Z")
This isn’t a movie, but I highly recommend **Paris to the Moon** by Adam Gopnik. The author, a writer for _The New Yorker_, moved his family to Paris for a number of years, and the book is a collection of stories about his observations living in Paris. It has some wonderful insights about life as an ex-pat in France. See: [http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=1-0375758232-23](http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=1-0375758232-23)