Idol of Paris

For the silent film, see The Idol of Paris (1914 film).

Idol of Paris is a 1948 British film directed by Leslie Arliss and starring Beryl Baxter, Michael Rennie, Christine Norden and Andrew Cruickshank.^[3] It was written by Stafford Dickens, Norman Lee and Harry Ostrer, based on the 1935 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.^{[citation needed]}

The Idol of Paris
Directed by	Leslie Arliss
Written by	Stafford Dickens Norman Lee Harry Ostrer
Based on	Paiva, Queen of Love (novel) 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 (1948)
Running time	106 min
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	less than £100,000[1][2]

Plot

In the 1860s, a woman rises from poverty to become the toast of Paris.

Cast

• Beryl Baxter as Theresa
• Michael Rennie as Hertz, one of Theresa's lovers
• Christine Norden as Cora Pearl
• Miles Malleson as Offenbach
• Andrew Osborn as Antoine
• Andrew Cruickshank as Prince Nicholas
• Kenneth Kent as Emperor Napoleon
• Margaretta Scott as Empress Eugenie
• Patti Morgan as Bellanger
• Genine Graham as Barucci
• Henry Oscar as Lachman
• Sybille Binder as Mrs. Lachman
• Leslie Perrins as Count Paiva
• Campbell Cotts as George Tremer Sr.
• John Penrose as 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

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 (1945).^[4]

Filming started in August 1947. It was shot at MGM's British studios.^[5]

The cast includes Australian Patti Morgan, who Ostrer put under a seven-year contract.^[6][7]

Reception

Critical

Reviews were very bad.^[8]

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote that "the film is over-exaggerated in every detail and will appeal only to the very unsophisticated."^[9]

Kine Weekly wrote: "Its rags-to-riches tale is magnificently staged, but the very fine sets fail to conceal the unevenness of the acting or the ingenuousness of its drama and sentiment. ...The play is incredibly hammy in the first half and, in spite ol the range and splendour or its settings, very nearly borders on burlesque. Fortunately, the acting, direction and dialogue improve as the extravagant tale progresses, and towards the finish some genuine wit and excitement are sandwiched between its music and mush."^[10]

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."^[11]

Leslie Halliwell said: "Unintentionally hilarious copy of the Gainsborough period romances which had been so popular; much criticised because the leading ladies fight a duel with whips, but that's the least of its faults."^[12]

Box office

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.^[13]

The careers of Leslie Arliss and Beryl Baxter never recovered either.^[14][1][15]

References

1. Maurice Ostrer Archived 13 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine at Britmovie
2. Robert Murphy, Gainsborough's Producers
3. "Idol of Paris". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
4. "Film role for Sydney model". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. 31 August 1947. p. 36. Retrieved 16 June 2020 – via Trove.
5. "BRITISH FILMS". The Sun. No. 2317. Sydney. 7 September 1947. p. 19. Retrieved 13 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "Film Contract For Australian Girl". The Central Queensland Herald. 16 October 1947. p. 29. Retrieved 16 June 2020 – via Trove.
7. "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.
8. "Mary Armitage's FILM CLOSE-UPS". The Mail. Adelaide. 20 March 1948. p. 3 (SUNDAY MAGAZINE). Retrieved 16 June 2020 – via Trove.
9. "Idol of Paris". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 15, no. 169. London. 1 January 1948. p. 30.
10. "Idol of Paris". Kine Weekly. 372 (2130): 15. 26 February 1948 – via ProQuest.
11. "Idol of Paris". Variety. 10 March 1948. p. 22.
12. Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 504. ISBN 0586088946.
13. "Sydney model loses job when Ostrer shuts down". The Mail. Adelaide. 30 October 1948. p. 3 (SUNDAY MAGAZINE). Retrieved 16 June 2020 – via Trove.
14. Murphy, Robert (2003). Realism and Tinsel: Cinema and Society in Britain 1939-48. Routledge. pp. 120–121. ISBN 9781134901500.
15. Maurice Ostrer at BFI Screenonline

External links

• Idol of Paris at IMDb
• Idol of Paris at Park Circus
• Idol of Paris at Letterbox DVD
• Idol of Paris at the British Film Institute^{[better source needed]}