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Hotel Paradiso

"Make room for a riot!!!"

Monsieur Feydeau has writer's block and he needs a new play, so he takes an opportunity to observe his upper class neighbors of 1900 Paris. There is Monsieur Boniface with hard domineering wife Angelique; also, Monsieur Cotte with beautiful but neglected wife Marcelle. Henri Cotte traces architectural anomalies (mostly "ghost" sounds in the drain pipes) and plans a night at the Hotel Paradiso, which happens to be the chosen romantic rendezvous spot of Marcelle and Monsieur Boniface. One wife, two husbands, a nephew, and the perky Boniface maid, all at this 'by the hour' hotel and consummation of the affair is, to say the least, severely compromised (not the least by a police raid). All of this is under Feydeau's eye, and his play is the 'success fou' of the next season.

Top Cast

  • Alec Guinness

    Alec Guinness

    Benedict Boniface

  • Gina Lollobrigida

    Gina Lollobrigida

    Marcelle Cotte

  • Robert Morley

    Robert Morley

    Henri Cotte

  • Peggy Mount

    Peggy Mount

    Angelique Boniface

  • Ann Beach

    Ann Beach

    Victoire

  • Douglas Byng

    Douglas Byng

    Martin

  • Derek Fowlds

    Derek Fowlds

    Maxime

  • David Battley

    David Battley

    George

  • Peter Glenville

    Peter Glenville

    Georges Feydeau

Overview

Monsieur Feydeau has writer's block and he needs a new play, so he takes an opportunity to observe his upper class neighbors of 1900 Paris. There is Monsieur Boniface with hard domineering wife Angelique; also, Monsieur Cotte with beautiful but neglected wife Marcelle. Henri Cotte traces architectural anomalies (mostly "ghost" sounds in the drain pipes) and plans a night at the Hotel Paradiso, which happens to be the chosen romantic rendezvous spot of Marcelle and Monsieur Boniface. One wife, two husbands, a nephew, and the perky Boniface maid, all at this 'by the hour' hotel and consummation of the affair is, to say the least, severely compromised (not the least by a police raid). All of this is under Feydeau's eye, and his play is the 'success fou' of the next season.

Rating

6.0 / 10
13 Reviews
1 Popular

1 Reviews

  • CinemaSerf
    CinemaSerf
    6 Sep 2, 2024

    I really struggled to enjoy this... Despite the great casting, it just seemed to border all to frequently on the wrong side of farce for me. Basically, it all boils down to poor old Alec Guinness ("Boniface") stuck in an unhappy marriage with the formidable "Angelique" (Peggy Mount). This couple are neighbours to "Marcelle' (Gina Lollobrigida) who is married to "Henri" (Robert Morley), a husband who largely leaves her to her own devices. When "Angelique" goes to see her poorly sister and "Henri" has to go away for work - "Boniface" proceeds to confess his long-held, undying, love to "Marcelle" and suggests they decamp to the eponymous establishment for an hour or two's entertainment... What ensues now is a semi chaotic collection of almost slap-stick encounters that are frenetically paced, with relentless dialogue and more parallel themes than I could really be bothered to keep up with. Lollobrigida looks every inch her part, and Guinness is quite engaging as the rather ingenuous "Boniface" but the rest of it is just too shambolic for me. Looks great though, lots of great costumes, sets and vintage cars.

Trailers & Clips

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