Favorite Films Set in Paris
Below is a list of my favorite films either set or partially set in Paris, France:
FAVORITE FILMS SET IN PARIS
1. "The Day of the Jackal" (1973) - Fred Zinnemann directed this superb adaptation of Fredrick Forsyth's novel about an assassin known only as "the Jackal", who was hired by French right-wing extremists to assassinate President Charles de Gaulle. Edward Fox portrayed the mysterious assassin.
2. "Dangerous Liaisons" (1988) - Glenn Close, John Malkovich and Michelle Pfieffer starred in what I believe to be the best cinematic version of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos' 18th century novel, "Les Liaisons dangereuses". Stephen Frears directed.
3. "Gigi" (1958) - Considered the last of MGM's musical classics, this movie adaptation of Colette's novella about a young girl trained to become a courtesan in turn-of-the-century Paris starred Leslie Caron, Louis Jordan, Hermione Gingold and Maurice Chevalier. Vincente Minelli directed this sumptious nine-times Academy Awards winner.
4. "The Bourne Identity" (2002) - Doug Liman directed and Matt Damon starred in this second adaptation of Robert Ludlum's novel about an amnesiac attempting to discover his true identity amidst a clandestine conspiracy within the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to track him down for inexplicably failing to carry out an officially unsanctioned assassination.
5. "The Three Musketeers" (1973) - Richard Lester directed this seventh or eighth (and my favorite) version of Alexander Dumas' classic adventure novel. It starred Michael York, Oliver Reed, Faye Dunaway, Raquel Welsh, Richard Chamberlain, Frank Finlay, Christopher Lee, Geraldine Chaplin and Charlton Heston.
6. "French Kiss" (1995) - Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline are magic in this funny romantic comedy about a woman who flies to France to confront her straying fiancé, but gets into trouble when the charming crook seated next to her uses her for smuggling. Lawrence Kasdan directed.
7. "Ronin" (1998) - John Frankenheimer directed this exciting thriller about former special forces and intelligence agents who team up to steal a mysterious, heavily guarded suitcase, while navigating a maze of shifting loyalties and alliances. Robert DeNiro and Jean Reno starred.
8. "All This, and Heaven Too" - Bette Davis and Charles Boyer starred in this top-notch adaptation of Rachel Fields' novel about a French governess' impact upon an aristocrat and his family in the 1840s. Directed by Anatole Litvak.
9. "A Shot in the Dark" (1964) - Peter Sellers portrayed Inspector Jacques Clouseau for the second time in this hilarious adaptation of Harry Kurnitz's play about the murder of a wealthy plutocrat's chauffeur. Blake Edwards directed.
10. "The Night of the Generals" (1967) - Anatole Litvak also directed this interesting, yet flawed adaptation of Hans Hellmut Kirst's novel about a German intelligence officer's investigation of three generals who might be a serial killer of prostitutes in Nazi-occupied Warsaw and Paris.