Idol of Paris
| The Idol of Paris | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Leslie Arliss |
| Written by | Stafford Dickens Norman Lee Harry Ostrer |
| Based on | novel Paiva, Queen of Love by Alfred Schirokauer |
| Produced by | R. J. Minney executive Maurice Ostrer |
| Starring | Beryl Baxter Michael Rennie Christine Norden Andrew Cruickshank Kenneth Kent Margaretta Scott Miles Malleson |
| Cinematography | Jack E. Cox |
| Edited by | Bert Bates |
| Music by | Mischa Spoliansky (composer), Louis Levy (musical director) |
| Distributed by | Premier Productions Ltd Warner Brothers (US) |
Release date | 1948 |
Running time | 106 min |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | less than £100,000[1][2] |
Idol of Paris is a 1948 film based on the novel Paiva, Queen of Love by Alfred Schirokauer, about a mid-19th century French courtesan Theresa who sleeps her way from poverty to the top of Second Empire society. It was an attempt by its makers to imitate the success of the Gainsborough melodramas.
Plot[edit]
In the 1860s, a woman rises from poverty to become the toast of Paris.
Cast[edit]
- Beryl Baxter – Theresa
- Michael Rennie – Hertz, one of Theresa's lovers
- Christine Norden – Cora Pearl
- Miles Malleson – Offenbach
- Andrew Osborn – Antoine
- Andrew Cruickshank – Prince Nicholas
- Kenneth Kent – Emperor Napoleon
- Margaretta Scott – Empress Eugenie
- Patti Morgan – Bellanger
- Genine Graham – Barucci
- Henry Oscar – Lachman
- Sybille Binder – Mrs. Lachman
- Leslie Perrins – Count Paiva
- Campbell Cotts – George Tremer Sr.
- John Penrose – George Cremer Jr.
- April Stride as Countess de Molney
- Donald Gray as Police Inspector
- June Holden as Marie
- Frederick Bradshaw as Chamberlain
- Marianne Stone as Theresa's Secretary
Production[edit]
The film was produced by Maurice Ostrer who moved into independent production after leaving Gainsborough Pictures. He set up his own company, Premier Productions, and made the film in association with R. J. Minney and Leslie Arliss who had all collaborated on The Wicked Lady.[3]
Filing started in August 1947. It was shot at MGM's British studios.[4]
The cast includes Australian Patti Morgan, who Ostrer put under a seven-year contract.[5][6]
Reception[edit]
Critical[edit]
Reviews were very bad.[7]
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote that "the film is over-exaggerated in every detail and will appeal only to the very unsophisticated."[8]
Variety said Ostrer "forgot that recent successful mellers leaned on stars for clicks with this 'first independent production. He boasts that the team that made his "Wicked Lady" has turned out this picture, but he has no James Mason and no Margaret Lockwood to carry the burden of an ill- written, corny script., Instead, he has comparative newcomers, who unfortunately do not merit leads in an ambitious picture. Its boxoffice prospects are dim. It would be a waste to export it to America."[9]
Box office[edit]
The movie was not a financial success and led to Maurice Ostrer quitting the film business for good. He cancelled plans to make a film Wild Marriage and dropped eight artists who he had under contract.[10]
The careers of Leslie Arliss and Beryl Baxter never recovered either.[11][1][12]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Maurice Ostrer Archived 13 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine at Britmovie
- ^ Robert Murphy, Gainsborough's Producers
- ^ "Film role for Sydney model". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. 31 August 1947. p. 36. Retrieved 16 June 2020 – via Trove.
- ^ "BRITISH FILMS". The Sun. No. 2317. Sydney. 7 September 1947. p. 19. Retrieved 13 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Film Contract For Australian Girl". The Central Queensland Herald. 16 October 1947. p. 29. Retrieved 16 June 2020 – via Trove.
- ^ "Patti Morgan has a start on road to film fame". The Australian Women's Weekly. 28 June 1947. p. 17. Retrieved 16 June 2020 – via Trove.
- ^ "Mary Armitage's FILM CLOSE-UPS". The Mail. Adelaide. 20 March 1948. p. 3 (SUNDAY MAGAZINE). Retrieved 16 June 2020 – via Trove.
- ^ "Idol of Paris". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 15, no. 169. London. 1 January 1948. p. 30.
- ^ "Idol of Paris". Variety. 10 March 1948. p. 22.
- ^ "Sydney model loses job when Ostrer shuts down". The Mail. Adelaide. 30 October 1948. p. 3 (SUNDAY MAGAZINE). Retrieved 16 June 2020 – via Trove.
- ^ Murphy, Robert (2003). Realism and Tinsel: Cinema and Society in Britain 1939-48. Routledge. pp. 120–121. ISBN 9781134901500.
- ^ Maurice Ostrer at BFI Screenonline
External links[edit]
- Idol of Paris at IMDb
- The Idol of Paris at AllMovie
- Idol of Paris at Park Circus
- Idol of Paris at Letterbox DVD
- Idol of Paris at the British Film Institute[better source needed]
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