Paris When it Sizzles

 What does it take for Paris to Sizzle? Well, add one part William Holden, one part Audrey Hepburn, appearances by Noel Coward, Tony Curtis and Marlene Dietrich, a screenplay by George Axelrod (Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Manchurian Candidate), and direction by Richard Quine, a delectable score by Nelson Riddle, and you have a recipe for Sizzle indeed. And yet critics were, for the most part, dismissive. It’s hard to imagine why when watching it now, which is probably why it has a legion of fans who understand and appreciate the spoofery and the star wattage of Holden and Hepburn. In fact, the film is like a frothy, sparkling glass of champagne, a cream puff, and a real delight.

Helping to bring the film to effervescent life is the eclectic and fun score by Nelson Riddle. One can only imagine that Riddle had a field day with this score, getting not only to underscore the film proper, with its gorgeous themes, but also to underscore the movie parodies and to create some wonderful source cues. His main romantic theme is one of his best, and the score is kind of the poster child for how to write a great score for a comedy. It’s a delight from start to finish and a perfect example of what nobody did better than Riddle.

For this release, for the first time ever, we present the entire score on CD 1 (including the wonderful Fred Astaire vocal on “That Face”), all beautifully restored by Chris Malone from all the elements in the Paramount Pictures vaults. On CD 2 we present alternates and bonus tracks, followed by the original Reprise LP soundtrack presentation – the complete score and the album presentation are in sparkling stereo.

So, take a trip to the City of Light and prepare to be entranced and captivated by Nelson Riddle’s wonderful score to Paris When it Sizzles.

 CD-1: THE COMPLETE SCORE

1. Prologue 2. Main Title (short version) 3. Woman in Black/Marlene à la Mode 4. Meyerheim Main Title 5. Sizzling Waltz No. 1 6. Sizzling Waltz No. 2/They Danced – Flip/Maurice Splits 7. Enter the Mysterious Stranger/Amusing Musette 8. Tango No. 1 9. Square Chase 10. Flip for Rick/Amusing Musette 11. The Dissolve/Bois Bounce/Saccharine Strings/Flip to Typewriter 12. Brandy Glow 13. Gabrielle Flips to Fancy/The Second Waltz/Dracula/Western Chase/Staggered 14. Goodnight Gabrielle 15. *That Face (vocal by Fred Astaire) 16. Back to the Bois/Valse de Paree 17. Lipstick Tango 18. Sting for Guitar/Who’s Got the Napkin/To the Studio/To Fran Studio 19. Luncheon Music 20. The Office/ Chase Across the Lot/Idol Eyes/Bedroom Set 21. Tape Recorder to Order 22. Arab Agitato 23. Gaby Blues 24. Hot Love 25. Pull the Trigger/Parchesi 26. Bathtub Idea/French Bubble Bath/That Kiss/To the Party 27. Bastille Cha-Cha No. 1 28. Party Twist No. 1 29. Party Fox Trot 30. Airport Chase 31. Rick’s Demise 32. Touch of Tenderness 33. Forgotten Cage/Clock Spin/Searching for Gabrielle 34. Bastille Cha-Cha No. 2 35. Party Twist No. 2 36. Big Waltz/Gabrielle/Happy Ending/Finale

CD-2: ALTERNATES AND BONUS TRACKS

1. Main Title (film version) 2. Main Title (early version) 3. Meyerheim Main Title (film version) 4. Square Chase (film version) 5. Flip Out of Square 6. The Second Waltz 7. Western Chase (without sweetener) 8. Stealing the Film (alternate)/French Bubble Bath (alternate) 9. To the Party 10. Le Marseillaise/Bastille Day March 11. March Alsacienne 12. Happy Ending/Finale (without sweetener)

THE ORIGINAL ALBUM PRESENTATION

13. Main Title and Theme – Gabrielle 14. Gabrielle 15. Tango de Paris 16. French Bubble Bath 17. Saccharine Strings 18. Brandy Glow 19. Good Night Gabrielle 20. *That Face 21. Valse de Paree 22. Gaby Blues 23. Bastille Cha Cha Cha 24. Touch of Tenderness 25. La Valse Grande/Happy Ending (End Title)

*“That Face” Music by Lew Spence, Lyrics by Alan Bergman