Is Paris Burning?

I don't know what to say except it is in cool monochrome and it is like showcase for film actors although there is no doubt some higher or lower purpose to it. It makes me recall that scene from Marathon Man where he talks about long French opera.

Not a documdrama about Ms Hilton with an STD but a 1966 film about the liberation of Paris from the Nazis. Very much in the same vein as The Longest Day, with excellent black and white photography showing the city at its best and in unfamiliar light - deserted with some old cars rushing around during the occupation. This is the main reason I'm giving it four stars.

It picks up right after Valkeryie, as a German general visits the Fuhrer and sees the remnants of a failed assasination. That general is played by Gert Frobe aka Auric Goldfinger and he is soon given control of Paris, with strict orders to burn it down should the Allies advance. Hitler is in his mad ranting Downfall mode.

It's a good-ish film. However, it fails a bit because it can't be a war movie like The Longest Day in structure and films about the Resistance work best if only from their point of view, imo. Sadly, the head of the Red Cross (played by Orson Welles) and even the German general himself are easier to relate too. And if anything, it appears the efforts of the Resistance make it more likely the Germans will react and set alight to 1000 years of art and architecture. I must admit I had to pause the DVD to allow my mind to wander a bit. The second half is more along the lines of The Longest Day and is let down by Anthony Perkins as a dopey US soldier rapsodising about getting to see Paris for the first time.

The French resistance are backed up by silly, sexyish accordion music and the German officers are so brave and dignified that this film seems to be saying undercover exactly the opposite of what it says on the surface - whose side are we audience really supposed to be on?

Amazing cast of both French & anglo-saxon actors. The film has aged well and the scenes of Paris are great. I'm pleased to have caught up with this film!

An entertaining older film packed with stars of the era it was made