INNOCENTS IN PARIS

UK, 1953, 102 minutes, Black and white.
Alastair Sim, Margaret Rutherford, Jimmy Edwards, Claire Bloom, Laurence Harvey, Ronald Shiner.
Directed by Gordon Parry.

Innocents in Paris is a pleasantly inconsequential British comedy of the early '50s. It relies for its success on the appeal of the range of stars from Alastair Sim and Margaret Rutherford to Claire Bloom to Ronald Shiner and Jimmy Edwards. Laurence Harvey appears in an early role as a French waiter. The film also presupposes that people think that Paris is a naughty place for a weekend and humour is to be derived from that. The film seems to also be a kind of travel brochure film for British Airways.

1. Entertaining comedy? British? British types in Paris? Satirical touch?

2. Black and white photography, the tourist style presentation of Paris? Musical score?

3. The title and Paris as a naughty city? The English as innocents abroad?

4. The focus on the British tourists, their going off for a weekend, British Airlines? The need for the British to go to Paris for holidays?

5. The seven tourists and their stories being interwoven, the anecdotal nature of the stories? Interest, entertainment value, insight?

6. Sir Norman Barker and his place in the government, the customs officers and his insistence on the laws and his knowledge of them, the meetings in Paris, his assistants, the clash with the Russians, the outing, the drinking, the goodwill between the two groups, the Russians saying yes instead of no? The agreement between the two groups, Sir Norman getting the signature on the tablecloth? Alastair Sim's comic style, the turn of the nose and the sneer, the offhand remark? His enjoyment of the Russian dancing? His having to pay the bill -and use up all his jewellery? The customs officer on the way back?

7. Susan as a genteel woman, on the continent, her encounter with Max, going with him, his romantic intentions, her British naivety -even to British cuisine?

8. Dickie Bird and the armed forces on the loose in Paris, Ronald Shiner's broad comedy, the sex jokes?

9. The eccentric English artist, Margaret Rutherford's humorous bumbling, her encountering the artist in the Louvre who had painted the Mona Lisa so many times, buying a painting, their friendship?

10. Stilton and Jimmy Edwards' very British style, going to Paris to the British bar, the French and cricket?

11. Gloria and her being stood up by her businessman friend, Paris, the encounter with Francois? The satire on the business affairs?

12. Andy the Scotsman, his enjoying his visit, a night out, the girl and thinking she had stolen his wallet, finding her again, finding the wallet, romance?

13. A view of the British? Humour? Satire?