Paris-New York (1940) - film review

As the steamship Normandie begins her transatlantic crossing to New York, several intrigues start to unfold below decks.  The journalist Paul Landry has used up all his savings so that he can be with the girl he loves, only to find that she is the daughter of a millionaire whose empire is about to come crashing down.    Monsieur Castagnières makes the voyage with both his wife and his mistress, the latter pretending, not very convincingly, to be his secretary.  Inspector Boucheron is charged with the safekeeping of a priceless diamond, but he is outwitted by an unscrupulous crook...

Not so much a film as a series of largely unconnected sketches, few of which are scripted with any originality or flair.  The prestigious cast list is certainly a draw, but hardly makes up for the mediocre screenplay and uninspired direction.  Erich von Stroheim was to have appeared in the film, but he left for America before it was completed (after a hiatus caused by the outbreak of WWII) in 1940 – his role was taken by Maurice Escande.

© James Travers 2007

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