Parents' Guide to Paris When It Sizzles

Movie NR 1964 110 minutes
William Holden and Audrey Hepburn's heads and shoulders features beneath writing about their characters on the poster for Paris When it Sizzles.

Common Sense Media Review

Kat Halstead By Kat Halstead , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 12+

1960s romance has drinking, smoking, sexual references.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 12+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Paris When It Sizzles Trailer
  • Paris When it Sizzles: Audrey Hepburn wears a large hat opposite William Holden at an outdoor cafe, with other customers in the background.
  • Paris When it Sizzles: William Holden looks up at Audrey Hepburn as she stands on a staircase in front of him.
  • Paris When it Sizzles: William Holden leans toward Audrey Hepburn's shoulder as the two sit on the edge of a bed.

Parent and Kid Reviews

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What's the Story?

In PARIS WHEN IT SIZZLES, Hollywood screenwriter Richard Benson (William Holden) is struggling to hit an important deadline just days away. He enlists the help of young assistant Gabrielle Simpson (Audrey Hepburn), and the two begin acting out possible scenarios for the plot, gradually falling for the old movie cliches themselves.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

While it's a typical boy-meets-girl romance, the two leads -- Benson and Hepburn -- are as delightful as ever in this elaborate movie-within-a-movie that has a few extra tricks up its sleeve. In Paris When it Sizzles, much of the fun can be found in the meta aspects on the film, which feel quite ahead of their time. As the pair talk about movie techniques and plot devices, so they happen on-screen. Hepburn, for example, says Sinatra would sing a line, and he does. Later she describes a character as handsome, "like Tony Curtis," and guess who shows up? Add to that the colorful streets of Paris, full of life and playful energy, and this is a thoroughly enjoyable potential classic that has been somewhat underrated and ignored over the years.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the film-within-a-film structure of Paris When it Sizzles. How did the movie portray which scenes are "real life" and which are within the movie being written? How did you feel about the characters talking about the filming techniques? Did you already know what they were? Did you learn anything new?

  • How were sex and relationships portrayed? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.

  • The characters show communication skills and teamwork. Why are these important character strengths? Can you think of times in your life when you've used these to solve a problem?

  • Talk about the violence in the film. Did the fact that most of it took place in the movie-within-a-movie lessen the impact? Why, or why not? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?

  • How was drinking and smoking depicted in the film? Were they glamorized? How has our behavior when it comes to drinking and smoking changed from when the movie was set?

Movie Details

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William Holden and Audrey Hepburn's heads and shoulders features beneath writing about their characters on the poster for Paris When it Sizzles.

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