Is Femmes de Paris Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1953)

📖 The Core Premise

With the release of Femmes de Paris (1953), audiences are invited back into the world of Comedy, Mystery. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "Professor Charles Buisson, astronomer and Nobel Prize winner, has just discovered a nova. He informs the other observatories by telephone. Just as he thinks one of them is calling back, he finds himself on the line with a young woman threatening suicide at the Ruban Bleu cabaret, if her lover hasn't joined her by midnight. Intrigued, the professor decides to go and prevent the unfortunate woman from committing suicide. One of his students, who earns her living as an understudy in a knife act, helps him in his investigation, while the school principal and a policeman suspect him of being a prankster or even of selling drugs. For the scientist, it's an opportunity to discover a world of music-hall that he'd never known before: "I thought I knew the sky chart by heart, but there's one planet that was totally unknown to me: Earth. I'll be back!"

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. While not a career-best, Michel Simon's presence adds a necessary stability to the proceedings. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Comedy. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Femmes de Paris worth your time? If you appreciate Comedy, Mystery films that take risks, this is likely a must-watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Femmes de Paris is a mixed bag with some redeeming qualities. With a runtime of 85 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Watch on OTT.