BEST PARIS MOVIES
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1939):
Charles Laughton makes an outstanding Quasimodo in this hugely atmospheric version of the Victor Hugo novel, which has been filmed numerous times. With the fourth season of Netflix’s “Emily in Paris” starting Thursday, Aug. 15, it’s an appropriate time to revisit such movies.
“An American in Paris” (1951): Some of the most stunning dance sequences ever put on screen are included in this genre masterpiece, thanks to star Gene Kelly and director Vincente Minnelli.
“Funny Face” (1957): A fashion photographer’s (Fred Astaire) search for the ideal model eventually takes him and his choice, a shop clerk (Audrey Hepburn), to — you guessed it — Paris.
“Gigi” (1958): Life and love among several generations of the French gets a delightful portrayal in this Lerner and Loewe musical, which benefits greatly from the knowing presence of veteran talent Maurice Chevalier.
“The 400 Blows” (1959): Director Francois Truffaut’s influential drama begins the saga of troubled youth Antoine, played in this and four subsequent films by Jeanpierre Leaud.
“Can-can” (1960): Cole Porter music sparks this tale of a French nightspot operator (Shirley Maclaine) who wants to enable a scandalous dance to keep being performed.
“Gay Purr-ee” (1962): This animated feature (from the makers of the “Mr. Magoo” cartoons) gets charm from a voice cast that includes Judy Garland and Robert Goulet, along with wonderful interpretations of Parisian sites. “How to Steal a Million” (1966): Reunited with his “Roman Holiday” star Audrey Hepburn, director William Wyler makes great use of the heart of Paris in this artswindle comedy.
“French Postcards” (1979): American exchange students have personal adventures during their year studying in Paris in this engaging comedy.
“Frantic” (1988): Roman Polanski’s thriller examines the underbelly of Paris, as Harrison Ford plays an American visitor desperately seeking his missing wife. “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006): Though the bulk of it is set in New York, this comedy makes fine use of
Paris in a late section of the film that takes an imperious magazine editor and her assistant (Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway) there for a major fashion show.