From the smoky cellar bistros of Paris’ Left Bank comes this tender, bittersweet tale of two American expatriate jazz musicians and the women in their lives. Flavored with the bold style of the French “New Wave”—black & white photography, real locations, emphasis more on character than plot—Paris Blues captures both the hot and cool in the world of jazz. Blowing a mean trombone, Paul Newman stars as Ram Bowen, a frustrated jazz composer with more genius than ability. Sidney Poitier plays his calm, cool sideman and best friend. Together, they pursue their passion for music: playing cellar jazz joints all night and then creating new music in the wee hours of dawn. But when two school teachers on vacation from the States (Joanne Woodward and Diahann Carroll) make the scene, something’s got to give. Will it be the music? Or love? With Duke Ellington’s superlative jazz score and a boisterous appearance by legendary trumpeter Louis Armstrong, Paris Blues makes beautiful sounds…and heart-touching drama.
