Paris Blues (1961)

63% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(484 ratings)

The second film of director Martin Ritt with both Paul Newmanand Sidney Poitier, it's set in a city that has long been a haven for black musicians eager to escape the racism of the U.S. Newman is Ram Bowen, a trombone player who makes his living in a jazz group, which also includes tenor man Eddie… More The second film of director Martin Ritt with both Paul Newmanand Sidney Poitier, it's set in a city that has long been a haven for black musicians eager to escape the racism of the U.S. Newman is Ram Bowen, a trombone player who makes his living in a jazz group, which also includes tenor man Eddie Cook (Sidney Poitier), while studying music and aspiring to a career as a "serious" composer. Eddie stays in Paris to bask in the respect that its people feel for his music, a respect rarely accorded him in the States. A pair of tourists, Connie Lampson (Diahann Carroll) and Lillian Corning (Joanne Woodward) arrive in the city for a two-week vacation, and the two musicians lose no time in hooking up. Soon both relationships take a serious turn and the musicians are forced to make some important decisions about the possibility of returning to their native soil. ~ Michael Costello, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Martin Ritt
Written By: Walter Bernstein, Harold Flender, Jack Sher, Irene Kamp, Lulla Adler
Genres: Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1998 Wide

Critic Reviews

, TIME Magazine
All it lacks is something to pull these parts into a sensible whole.
Variety Staff, Variety
Within its snappy, flashy veneer is an undernourished romantic drama of a rather traditional screen school.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Louis Armstrong lends his legendary horn to great effect in a musical sequence in this classic gem of a movie.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
A low key, plotless but charming film that benefits from its appealing cast, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Sidney Poitier and Diahann Carroll, on location shooting in Paris, and Oscar-nominated jazz music from Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.
Shawn Levy, Oregonian
Newman is terrific in the picture, running both hot and cool, but he's upstaged by Woodward, who delivers stunning and surprising emotion in the final scenes. It's really worth seeing.
Dan Jardine, Apollo Guide
Roman Holiday for beatnik hipsters
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The story is slim but the jazz is great.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The jazz is hot, the romance is not so hot.

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Michael G

Paul Newman, Sidney Poitier and Louis Armstrong. Score by Duke Ellington, directed by Martin Ritt. Jazz musicians in Paris. This movie sounds amazing and should be astonishing, right? The problem is that its not. The fifth of the movie that actually has to do with jazz gets farted on… More
Paul Newman, Sidney Poitier and Louis Armstrong. Score by Duke Ellington, directed by Martin Ritt. Jazz musicians in Paris. This movie sounds amazing and should be astonishing, right? The problem is that its not. The fifth of the movie that actually has to do with jazz gets farted on by how dislikable Newman's character is or how little you care about Joanne Woodward's character. The whole Poitier contrived social consciousness thing where he walked around with Diahann Carrol for half the movie was dull. Not to mention the nonsensical yet predictable ending. But for as much as I bitch about this movie the scenery and photography were great as was any scene with Armstrong.
Andre T

Filmed on location in Paris, starring Sidney Poitier as expatriate jazz musician Eddie Cook, and Paul Newman as trombone-playing Ram Bowen. The two men romance two vacationing American tourists, Connie Lampson (Diahann Carroll) and Lillian Corning (Joanne Woodward) respectively. The… More
Filmed on location in Paris, starring Sidney Poitier as expatriate jazz musician Eddie Cook, and Paul Newman as trombone-playing Ram Bowen. The two men romance two vacationing American tourists, Connie Lampson (Diahann Carroll) and Lillian Corning (Joanne Woodward) respectively. The film also features trumpeter Louis Armstrong as Wild Man Moore and jazz pianist Aaron Bridgers; both play musicians within the film. It was produced by Sam Shaw, directed by Martin Ritt from a screenplay by Walter Bernstein, and with the fantastic black & white cinematography by Christian Matras. A little silly in the screenplay, but climatic and cool as Jazz.

Cast

Paul Newman
as Ram Bowen
Joanne Woodward
as Lillian Corning
Sidney Poitier
as Eddie Cook

Louis Armstrong
as Wild Man Moore
Diahann Carroll
as Connie Lampson
Serge Reggiani
as Michel Duvigne

See full cast

Paris Blues (1961)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Michael G

Andre T

Cast