A Woman of Paris
| A Woman of Paris | |
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US DVD cover
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| Directed by | Charlie Chaplin |
| Produced by | Charlie Chaplin |
| Written by | Charlie Chaplin |
| Starring |
Edna Purviance Clarence Geldart Carl Miller Lydia Knott Charles K. French Adolphe Menjou |
| Music by |
Louis F. Gottschalk (original score) Charlie Chaplin (1976 release) |
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Production
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| Distributed by |
United Artists (1923 release) MK2 Diffusion (2001) (World-wide) Allied Artists (1923) (UK) Cinegate (1978) (UK) (theatrical re-release) Cinal S.A. (1980) (Spain) (theatrical re-release) Fox Video (1992) (USA) (VHS) Warner Home Video (2004 DVD) Cinegate (1984) (UK) (theatrical) Continental Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS) Image Entertainment (USA) (DVD) |
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Release date
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Running time
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93 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent film English intertitles |
| Box office | $634,000 (US/Canada) |
A Woman of Paris is a feature-length American silent film that debuted in 1923. The film, an atypical drama film for its creator, was written, directed, produced and later scored by Charlie Chaplin. It is also known as A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate.
Marie St. Clair and her beau, aspiring artist Jean Millet, plan to leave their small French village for Paris, where they will marry. On the night before their scheduled departure, Marie climbs down from her second-floor bedroom for a rendezvous with Jean. Her stepfather sees them strolling down a lane and locks her out of the house. When the couple returns, Jean furiously knocks on the front door and reminds the older man that he's locked out his daughter. The stepfather dismisses Jean's complaint and tells Marie, "Perhaps (Jean) will give you a bed for the night."
Jean does invite Marie to his home, but he makes it clear that he lives with his parents and that his mother will fix a bed for Marie. It turns out that Jean's parents are not thrilled with their son's romance with Marie, either. Marie goes to the train station, with Jean promising to follow her. But Jean's father has died while sitting in his chair in front of the fireplace; and, when Jean telephones Marie at the station to tell her he can't go with her to Paris, she gets on the train and makes the trip alone.
In Paris, Marie enjoys a life of luxury as the mistress of wealthy businessman Pierre Revel. One night when Marie is alone in the apartment Revel has provided for her, a friend calls and invites her to a raucous party in the Latin Quarter. The friend gives Marie the address but admits that she can't remember whether the apartment is in the building on the right or the left. Marie, arriving by taxi, enters the wrong building and is surprised to be greeted by Jean Millet. Marie tells Jean she would like for him to paint her portrait and gives him a card with her address.
Jean calls on Marie at her apartment to begin the painting. Marie notices he is wearing a black armband and asks why he is in mourning. Jean tells her his father has died. Marie asks when, and Jean replies, "The night you left."
Marie and Jean revive their romance, and Marie begins to distance herself from Pierre Revel. Pierre knows about Jean but also realizes that Marie has become fond of the luxuries she enjoys as his mistress.
Jean finishes Marie's portrait; but, instead of painting her wearing the elegant outfit she chose for the sitting, he outfits her in the simple dress she wore on the night she left for Paris.
Jean proposes to Marie. Marie tells Pierre she'll be leaving soon, but Pierre isn't so sure.
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Wikipedia