Is Paris Burning?

1966 173 min ★ 7.2 War, Drama, History

Near the end of World War II, Gen. Dietrich von Choltitz receives orders to burn down Paris if it becomes clear the Allies are going to invade, or if he cannot maintain control of the city. After much contemplation Choltitz decides to ignore his orders, enraging the Germans and giving hope to various resistance factions that the city will be liberated. Choltitz, along with Swedish diplomat Raoul Nordling, helps a resistance leader organize his forces.

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Cast

Jean-Paul Belmondo

Yvon Morandat

Charles Boyer

Doctor Monod

Leslie Caron

Françoise Labé

Jean-Pierre Cassel

Lt. Henri Karcher

George Chakiris

GI in Tank

Bruno Cremer

Colonel Rol Tanguy

Claude Dauphin

Colonel Lebel

Alain Delon

Jacques Chaban-Delmas

Kirk Douglas

General Patton

Pierre Dux

Cerat - Alexandre Parodi

Details

Director

René Clément

Screenplay

Francis Ford Coppola

Tagline

""Burn Paris!" was the order that had come shrieking over the phone."

Status

Released

Original Language

FR

Production

Paramount Pictures, Marianne Productions, Transcontinental Films, Seven Arts Productions, Rastar Productions

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

June 18, 2023

★ 6/10

With the Allies rapidly approaching Paris, the general in charge of the city is issued with orders by his Führer to prepare plans to destroy the city. Fortunately, von Choltitz (Gert Fröbe) is not convinced that in the face of imminent defeat, this is the right thing to do - so he obeys, but in a rather lacklustre and half-hearted fashion. Meantime, scenting victory, the resistance are starting to...