The Last Time I Saw Paris a Post WWII Love Story
Decadence Takes a Toll on Americans Living in France in 1954 Movie
Sep 6, 2009
The Last Time I Saw Paris is a love story about an American who marries an beautiful ex patriot in Paris, France during the post World War II years. The 1954 film, directed by Richard Brooks, stars Van Johnson, Donna Reed, Elizabeth Taylor and Walter Pidgeon.
Charles Wills (Van Johnson) is an American who returns to Paris after an absence to see his daughter . Charles stops in for a drink at a French cafe owned by his old friend Maurice (Kurt Kaszner) and starts to reminiscence about his years in Paris.
Charles (Van Johnson) Recalls His Years in Paris
The story is told in a long back flash, as Charles remembers in Paris, starting with VE Day, when he worked as a reporter form The Stars and Stripes. Charles recalls celebrating on the street with the Americans, when he runs into his friend Claude Matine (George Dolenz). Claude who introduces him to an American ex-patriot Marion Ellsworth (Donna Reed), who has lived in Paris for the duration of World War II. Marion takes the men to a party being hosted by her father. At the party Charles is attracted to Marion's vivacious younger sister Helen (Elizabeth Taylor), making Marion jealous.
The Ellswirth family enjoys a decadent lifestyle in Paris, living merrily beyond their means. James owns an oil field in Texas, but the land has been unproductive, making it the family joke. Charles starts out as the conservative American from Milwaukee, Wisconsin; who gets drawn into the decadent lifestyle in Paris.
After a brief romance Charles and Helen marry and have a daughter. Charles dreams of writing a novel, but is repeatedly rejected by publishers. As the years pass, Charles becomes increasingly despondent. Everything changes when the Texas oil fields strike oil and the family is suddenly rich.
The decadent lifestyle that the family enjoys takes a toll as Charles drinks heavily and his character changes. He begins a flirtation with a rich socialite Larraine (Eva Gabor). Helen retaliates by contemplating a relationship with Paul Lane (Roger Moore). On one drunken night Charles locks Helen out of the house leaving her on the snowy street in an evening gown. Helen gets sick and declares her eternal love for Charles before dying. In anger Marion sues for custody of the daughter that her sister had with Charles, Vicki (Sandy Descher).
The Last Time I Saw Paris a Tragic Love Story
The Last Time I Saw Paris is a tragic love story told in flash back. The movie begins and ends in the present time, when Charles visits his daughter and hopes to return to America with her. Van Johnson as Charles offers the sad portrait of a man with regrets, who must move forward. Elizabeth Taylor as Helen changes from a spirited young woman to a women brokenhearted and dismayed over the behavior of her husband. Donna Reed as Marion portrays the woman who hides her love for her sister's husband.
Cast and Crew of The Last Time I Saw Paris
- Van Johnson as Charles Wills
- Donna Reed as Marion Ellswirth
- Kurt Kasznar as Maurice
- Roger Moore as Paul Lane
- Celia Lovsky as Mama
- Elizabeth Taylor as Helen Ellswirth
- Walter Pidgeon as James Ellswirth
- Eva Gabor as Larraine Quarl
- George Dolenz as Claude Matine
- Sandy Descher as Vicki Wills
- Peter Leeds as Barney
- Directed by Richard Brooks
- Produced by Jack Cummings
- Story by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Screenplay by Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein
The Last Time I Saw Paris sometimes appears on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and is also available on DVD.
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