ONCE IN PARIS
US, 1978, 100 minutes, Colour.
Wayne Rogers, Gayle Hunnicut, Jack Lenoir.
Directed by Frank D.Gilroy.
Once In Paris describes itself as a bittersweet romance. It has been done so many times before but, of course. the love story will always be with us. Paris locations enhance this one, plus a sympathetic performance from Wayne Rodgers as a married American screenwriter infatuated by glacial beauty Gayle Hunnicut. The film highlights the bitter and inevitable futility of a sweet passing affair - by the ironic device of the hero's doctoring a romantic screenplay. But the film is transformed entirely by the unexpected and totally engaging performance by Jack Lenoir as a Parisian conman chauffeur. He certainly makes the film - publicity says Lenoir was writer-director Frank D. Gilroy's chauffeur once in Paris ...
1 . The tone and focus of the title, the fairytale style, the significance of the three dots, Michael's mention of future memories of loving once in Paris?
2. The evocations for the audience of Paris? Audiences arriving with Michael, sharing his experience and visiting from America, the impact of Paris, modern, old, the visuals, the beauty, the charm? Its reputation, its capacity for changing people? The overtones of romance?
3. The style of the story and its relationship to such writers as W. Somerset Maugham, Henry James ~ the American abroad, the experience of Europe versus the innocence of America, the effect on naive Americans believing things at face value without checking the sophistication of the old world, naivety changing into experience, the risks of change?
4. The appeal of the love story - its conventions, conventionality? The story of affairs? The fact that Michael was ripe for an affair, his attitude towards his wife, his initial noticing of Susan? The story of such a relationship presented in the permissive '70s? The effect on people involved in the affair - the bittersweet ending? A light exploration of love, intimacy, separation? Was this an average love story, better than average?
5. The importance of the film-making setting, the cinematic style of the screenplay, visual effects, dialogue? The artificiality and attention drawn to it? The world of film-making, producers and directors, screenwriters and rescuing films, work in the studios? The expected personalities of the producer, the director? The ironies of the screenplay in the film and the screenplay of this film? Their parallel running?
6. Audience response to Jean- Paul - the ordinary driver, his gradually obtruding his presence on the audience as he did on Michael, the audience sharing Michael's initial reaction to his pushiness, looking in the mirror, conversation, suggestions? His gradually taking over? The appeal of his Gallic charm, a conman? An amiable conman? His role as a chorus and observer during the film? The French qualities that he stood for, the contrast with American values? (And his American-style English!)? His influence on Michael - the changing of the room, picking him up after breakfast, commenting on Susan, introducing him to the French game and getting him to play it, make bets, win? His driving him around, rescuing him from the tourist show? Introducing him to his family, the meal? The restaurant sequence and getting him drunk and taking him hone? The races and the running bet? Jean- Paul's reputation at the studio and people warning Michael against him? Audience reaction to these warnings? His permitting things to happen, his attitude towards affairs and his theory about anger and the necessity of affairs? The influence on Michael? His enjoyment of going to the fashionable party, his posing as a Captain and his carrying off the situation, the comment about homosexuality and the two men helping him to escape? His warning of Michael about Wednesday and the suffering? The discovery of Susan's bag, his decision to take it up, spend the night with her? How deliberate, for himself, to help the break for Michael? The final clash, the breaking of his arm, his refusing the money? The visit at the studio - the reason for his giving more money to Michael, the humour of the bet and the fact of his left arm being injured, the final freeze-frame with the two smiling at each other? How good a character study, an interesting and entertaining character, how would the film have been different without him?
7. The character of Michael Moore - the typical American, his arrival in Paris, attempts to learn French, his not being able to use his French much? The humour of his ordering in the restaurant? His reaction to Jean- Paul's driving? The impact of Jean- Paul, his being tired and not liking him, eventually relying on him? His work at the studios and his success? The initial view of Susan, his devices to met her, the irony of his phoning his wife and his very offhand attitude and style with her? The story of his eight years of marriage, his devotion to his children - especially his talking about them to Susan? The effect of the game and winning it on him, agreeing to go to the restaurant, the incident with the woman in the restaurant and her husband attacking him? Going on the tourist bus and happily going with Jean- Paul, meeting his family and enjoying it (and persuading him to throw away the whip), the races? The encounter with Susan and his response to her touching him with her foot? Going home, the immediacy of the beginning of the affair, the lyric presentation of their outings together, their sharing the experiences with each other, intimacy? The limits of the time available, the limits of the commitment? How did this change Michael? The party, Jean- Paul's performance, going home and its enjoyment? Her distancing herself from him, his disappointment, his resentment towards Jean- Paul? The final talk with her and her being a memory?
8. The portrait of Susan - glamour and beauty, her world and escorts, brittleness? Her leading Michael on with her foot, the immediate intimacy, the shared happiness, his talking to her in the bed and her pretending to be asleep? How much did she feel for him? Was it her decision to stop? Spending the night with Jean-Paul? Her final words about guilt, memories? How would she remember this affair - as one amongst many? The type of sophisticated European and her moral values and relationships?
9. The portrait of an affair - its frequency, how each partner had to cope, the effect on each? The inevitable futility in the affair, the necessary break-up? The aftermath especially on the faithful American husband? How would Michael return home and see his wife and family?
10. A light presentation of a love affair, audience entertainment and interest? A point of view, presentation of values?
