Paris Blues (1961) – Nostalgia Central

Two American expatriate jazz musicians have fled from the ulcer-pitch life of the big American cities to seek refuge in the gloomy jazz cellars on the Left Bank of Paris during the 1960s.

For horn man Ram Bowen (Paul Newman), whose world revolves around his slide trombone, five years among the shadows and beatniks has been a utopia. His music has taken the Paris jazz world by storm.

For black saxophone player Eddie Cook (Sidney Poitier), it has given him the opportunity to lift his head in public after years of racial persecution in the segregationist United States. The jazz world knows no colour bar.

But the arrival of two American tourists – one white and one, conveniently, black – threatens to undermine the foundation of the pair’s shady heaven.

Bowen meets the ladies at the station while welcoming top trumpeter Wild Man Moore (Louis Armstrong) at the start of a French tour.

A casual invitation brings the girls along to the cellar to hear Ram make music. They decide they dig Ram and Eddie – as well as their hot sound.

The Louvre, the Champs Élysées, the Eiffel Tower – all those carefully laid holiday plans are quickly forgotten. Instead, it’s long night jazz sessions under the boulevards, romantic trips by the Seine with the jazzmen during the day.

All very disturbing for Ram and Eddie who begin to re-awaken to the fact that there is more to life than just music.

In 12 short days, the girls have proved a big enough challenge to make the musicians seriously consider packing up and leaving their utopia to accompany them back home to the States and face the music they ran away from.

Meanwhile, Ram is troubled by an ex-flame and a drug-addicted guitarist.

Paris Blues isn’t big on story. It depends more on the atmosphere created by Duke Ellington’s music and the shadowy jazz cellars to carry it through. Not to mention, of course, a top-line cast.

Paul Newman, whose gesticulating hands seem to be operated by his vocal chords, makes a successful screen partnership again with Mrs Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, as tourist gal Lillian.

But Poitier and Diahann Carroll (as Connie) take so many walks together through Paris streets that your feet will be aching before the end credits!

Ram Bowen
Paul Newman
Lillian Corning
Joanne Woodward
Eddie Cook
Sidney Poitier
Wild Man Moore
Louis Armstrong
Connie Lampson
Diahann Carroll
Marie Séoul
Barbara Laage
René Bernard
André Luguet
Nicole
Marie Versini
Mustachio
Moustache
Pianist
Aaron Bridgers
Bass Player
Guy Pedersen
Michel ‘Gypsy’ Devigne
Serge Reggiani

Director
Martin Ritt