Paris Blues

Paris Blues
Directed byMartin Ritt
Written byWalter Bernstein
Irene Kamp
Jack Sher
Lulla Rosenfeld (adaptation)
Based onParis Blues
1957 novel
by Harold Flender
Produced bySam Shaw
StarringPaul Newman
Joanne Woodward
Sidney Poitier
Louis Armstrong
Diahann Carroll
Serge Reggiani
CinematographyChristian Matras
Edited byRoger Dwyre
Music byDuke Ellington
Production
companies
Pennebaker Productions
Diane Productions
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • September 27, 1961 (1961-09-27) (USA)
Running time
98 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.1 million[1]

Paris Blues is a 1961 American musical romantic drama film directed by Martin Ritt, starring Sidney Poitier as expatriate jazz saxophonist Eddie Cook, and Paul Newman as trombone-playing Ram Bowen.[2][3] The two men romance two vacationing American tourists, Connie Lampson (Diahann Carroll) and Lillian Corning (Joanne Woodward). The film also deals with American racism of the time contrasted with Paris's open acceptance of black people. The film was based on the 1957 novel of the same name by Harold Flender.[4]

The film also features trumpeter Louis Armstrong (as Wild Man Moore) and jazz pianist Aaron Bridgers; both play music within the film. It was produced by Sam Shaw, directed by Martin Ritt from a screenplay by Walter Bernstein, and with cinematography by Christian Matras. Paris Blues was released in the U.S. on September 27, 1961.

  1. ^ "1961 Rentals and Potential". Variety. 10 Jan 1961. p. 58.
  2. ^ Variety film review; September 27, 1961, p. 7.
  3. ^ Harrison's Reports film review; September 23, 1961, p. 150.
  4. ^ "Paris Blues by Harold Flender" (review), Kirkus.