Made in Paris

'Made in Paris' was just another flop (film-critical wise) in Ann-Margret's film career, which had started off extremely successful with 'Bye Bye Birdie' and Elvis' most entertaining movie 'Viva Las Vegas' and then kind of took a wrong turn with 'Kitten with a Whip', which she, or better her managers, took instead of 'Cat Ballou'. It was a good movie but a critical disaster. One could say the only really good movie of her early career was 'The Cincinnati Kid', although her presence makes everyone of her films quite a pleasure to watch, even 'The Swinger'.

Yes, this 'romantic comedy' here is not bad. Unfortunately I would have to lie to say it was good. You'll not be harmed by watching it but don't expect The Godfather, though. Despite being a "comedy" the film is not very funny, except maybe for Richard Crenna, who gives the best acting performance here and has the best lines (relatively speaking, this is not Woody Allen quality). Jourdan does his usual French sophisticated charm routine and he and the other supporting players are all quite good.

Of course the simple romantic story was nothing spectacular. The highlight is, as you probably expected, the No. 1 sex kitten of the Sixties, a woman I can easily call the quintessential American beauty and sex symbol of her time and perhaps even all: Ann's sexy dance numbers are energetic, she's a fine dancer and the outfits are well-chosen, showing just enough of cleavage and legs. And that's about it. No surprise: She looks absolutely stunning here and if you happen to be unmoved by her looks, you should NEVER watch it. If you're an Ann-Margret fan, you should definitely give this one a try. Her acting is quite fine (although there's not enough character in the screenplay that could allow a great performance), and her unbelievable charisma and screen presence make this a very watchable movie in the end. Watch it for her and nothing else.

An American fashion-buyer is sent to Paris on assignment and immediately gets on the wrong side of a major French designer. Soon though, she almost inadvertently manages to charm him, as well as two other men. What is Ann-Margret doing to drive all these eligible bachelors crazy? As far as we in the audience can see: nothing. Yes, she gets to dance a little and sing a pretty ditty on the docks, but the character is haphazardly written. One minute she's a firebrand, the next she's icy, almost frigid. Judging from her teasing and emotional schizophrenia, it's unlikely that suave Louis Jourdan would even give her the time of day. There's a funny gay-misunderstanding gag involving Richard Crenna (who is a lot more appealing than he's supposed to be), however this is one of A-M's weakest starring vehicles of the 1960s. *1/2 from ****

Made In Paris is not referring to something that happens to Ann-Margret while in Paris. Not that there aren't three men willing to take on that assignment. No in fact it refers to Ann-Margret's first assignment taking over as a department store buyer in place of Edie Adams who is going to get married. No Ann's in Paris to get designer clothing for her store with that all important label in the fashion industry.

The three men in her life are designer Louis Jourdan, reporter Richard Crenna and the son of the store owner Chad Everett. Jourdan and Everett are in heat over her, Crenna just sits back and offers cynical comments hoping the other two kill each other off.

Ann-Margret was just a wee bit too innocent for this comedy with pretensions of sophistication. Not the best films for any of her leading man for that matter either. But entertaining and pleasant enough for a Saturday afternoon.

Ann-Margret is simply irritating trying to play a naive and coy young lady wandering into Paris for her very first time with two (2) men both trying to woo her affections. I could not help but compare it to the earlier 196 film Gidget Goes to Rome starring James Darren, and Cindy Carol which was a more genuine adorable movie for young first time lovers.

Made in Paris was a big disappointment. It also reminded me of any number of Jerry Lewis's 1960's slapstick films. So for a so called Romance genre film it tanked big time.

I give it a lowly 4 out of 10 IMD rating.

TCM ran this tonight, and I had to wander why. There's plenty of talent here, but not in the script or the direction.

Poor Ann-Margret, who was an accomplished dancer - and, of course, a very attractive woman - gets stuck in a role where her only dancing is a very bad knock-off of what made her famous in Bye, Bye Birdie. She plays someone so naive and puritanical that all her sex appeal fails to overcome the impression that she's one frigid, repressed basket case.

The rest of the movie isn't much better. Good to very good actors get stuck in roles that barely have two dimensions.

And don't let the "Paris" in the title fool you. Most of this movie was filmed not just on sets - after all, that was true of An American in Paris as well, and that is a stupendous movie - but uninteresting sets, hotel rooms that may have been left over from MGM's 1939 Ninotchka. The only atmospheric moment is an embarrassment. AM and Louis Jourdain appear on the set used for Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron in AAIP, the great Seine River scene where the two great dancers dance and fall in love. This time, however, that same set is shot without any of the poetry that has immortalized it in AAIP. The song is not great Gershwin, but an forgettable flop. And there is no dancing. Even though AM was a great dancer. Talk about wasting an opportunity! In short, there really is nothing to recommend this movie. Those in it all did better, much better, elsewhere. It's often embarrassing to watch them here.

Skip it.