L’Air de Paris (1954)

L’Air de Paris is a French romantic film drama first released in 1954, directed by Marcel Carné.  The film stars Jean Gabin, Arletty, Roland Lesaffre, Marie Daëms and Jean Parédès.  It has also been released under the title: Air of Paris.  Our overall rating for this film is: good.


Once a professional boxer, Victor now has only one ambition: to coach a young amateur boxer to become a true champion.  He immediately sees potential in a young railway worker, André, and, noting his enthusiasm for the sport, offers to train him.  André accepts willingly, although he soon realises that Victor’s wife Blanche is not happy with the arrangement.  She had been hoping that Victor would soon retire so that they can leave Paris and start a new life in the South of France.   Andre’s attention is soon drawn away from his training when he starts to have an affair with a wealthy young woman, Corinne.  In the end, he may have to choose between the woman he loves and his career as a world-class boxer...

Whilst not in the league of Marcel Carné’s pre-WWII classics, L’Air de Paris is a pleasing example of the director’s art, a light melodrama on the folly of young love set in that eternal city of romance, Paris. Carné’s humanity and keen understanding of human nature is evident throughout and whilst the story is admittedly the stuff of fairy tales or trite Hollywood romances, the film engages with its audience very easily, thanks to its naïve charm.   The film certainly appealed to the public and proved to be a commercial success.

The film is most notable for its pairing of Jean Gabin and Arletty, two of Carné’s favourite actors and with whom he previously scored some of his major cinematic achievements.  Arletty’s career was on the wane when she appeared in this film, but here she gives one of her most memorable performances and works surprisingly well with Gabin.   Roland Lesaffre, who stars as the young hero in the film, would become a close friend of Carné and support the director in his difficult years of decline.

© James Travers 2003

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