Paris Blues

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Paris Blues

1961,

1h 38m,

Romance

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Watchlist

75%

12 Reviews

Tomatometer

68%

500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

75%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Despite being far from home, American jazz musicians Ram Bowen (Paul Newman) and Eddie Cook (Sidney Poitier) are content living and working in Paris. Ram knows it's the best place for him to develop his musical reputation, and Eddie is far away from the racism that once greeted him on a regular basis. But after meeting and falling in love with American tourists Lillian (Joanne Woodward) and Connie (Diahann Carroll), the pair must decide whether their artistic integrity is worth abandoning.

Stanley Kauffmann

The New Republic

Jan 27, 2016

Four writers have adapted Harold Flender's novel, whose sole asset was the idea they have minimized ...

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Melissa Anderson

Artforum

Jul 31, 2014

Despite how square this movie about hepcats seems -- if only from the admittedly unfair vantage point of more than five decades on -- expressions of raw emotion stir Paris Blues to life.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Jan 7, 2008

Within its snappy, flashy veneer is an undernourished romantic drama of a rather traditional screen school.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Jul 25, 2025

3.5/5

Whether or not one is interested in jazz music and beyond the acting performances, Paris Blues is worth checking out for Duke Ellington’s Oscar-nominated score.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jun 18, 2024

3.5/4

Paris Blues feels strikingly original in its ambience, relationships, and dialogue.

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Isabel Quigly

The Spectator

Jul 16, 2018

Paris Blues has something of his old intelligence and liking for authenticity.

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Finn M

Dec 23, 2017

The script does not allow for the characters to develop too much on screen, but their background stories suggested are interesting enough, if you make an effort to connect and project onto the script. Sydney Poitier's character is a jazz musician stifled by the US, looking for a way out in Paris. Paul Newman's character, the drifter. Joanne Woodward's story, although only sketched, also triggers some curiosity. The intentions of the movie are more commendable than the story at times: a critique of racial inequality and an ironical pass at the eternal traveller. Produced by the short-lived Pennebaker Productions, Marlon Brando's production company.

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Martin Ritt

Director

Paul Newman

Ram Bowen

Joanne Woodward

Lillian Corning

Sidney Poitier

Eddie Cook

Louis Armstrong

Wild Man Moore

Diahann Carroll

Connie Lampson

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Synopsis

Despite being far from home, American jazz musicians Ram Bowen (Paul Newman) and Eddie Cook (Sidney Poitier) are content living and working in Paris. Ram knows it's the best place for him to develop his musical reputation, and Eddie is far away from the racism that once greeted him on a regular basis. But after meeting and falling in love with American tourists Lillian (Joanne Woodward) and Connie (Diahann Carroll), the pair must decide whether their artistic integrity is worth abandoning.

Director: Martin Ritt
Producer: Sam Shaw
Screenwriter: Walter Bernstein, Harold Flender, Irene Kamp, Lulla Rosenfeld, Jack Sher
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Diane Productions, Monmouth, Monica Corp., Jason Films, Pennebaker Productions
Genre: Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 27, 1961, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 7, 2021
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Mono

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