Paris Blues
Paris Blues is a 1961 American musical romantic drama film directed by Martin Ritt, starring Sidney Poitier as expatriate jazz saxophonist Eddie Cook, and Paul Newman as trombone-playing Ram Bowen. The two men romance two vacationing American tourists, Connie Lampson (Diahann Carroll) and Lillian Corning (Joanne Woodward). The film also deals with American racism of the time contrasted with Paris's open acceptance of black people. The film was based on the 1957 novel of the same name by Harold Flender.
| Paris Blues | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Martin Ritt |
| Written by | Walter Bernstein Irene Kamp Jack Sher Lulla Rosenfeld (adaptation) |
| Based on | Paris Blues 1957 novel by Harold Flender |
| Produced by | Sam Shaw |
| Starring | Paul Newman Joanne Woodward Sidney Poitier Louis Armstrong Diahann Carroll Serge Reggiani |
| Cinematography | Christian Matras |
| Edited by | Roger Dwyre |
| Music by | Duke Ellington |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date | 27 September 1961 (USA) |
Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1.1 million |
The film also features trumpeter Louis Armstrong (as Wild Man Moore) and jazz pianist Aaron Bridgers; both play music within the film. It was produced by Sam Shaw, directed by Martin Ritt from a screenplay by Walter Bernstein, and with cinematography by Christian Matras. Paris Blues was released in the U.S. on September 27, 1961.