Elizabeth Taylor is Beautiful and Beams in this Tragedy

This 1954 movie about post World War II Paris tells the story of a courtship, marriage, and its downfall. Elizabeth Taylor is Helen Ellsworth, a carefree young woman who is thrilled that the war is over in Europe. She meets soldier Charlie Wills (Van Johnson), who works for the Stars and Stripes newspaper, on the streets and kisses him, and he falls for her immediately. But first he officially meets her sister, Marion (Donna Reed), in a cafe with her boyfriend, Claude.

The Ellsworths are Americans living in Paris before, during, and after WW2. They are a bit eccentric--especially the father (Walter Pidgeon). They spend money, make money, and spend again. Helen has just been expelled from college when she meets Charlie, but she loves him dearly. They eventually marry and have a daughter, Vicki.

Eventually the Ellsworths become rich through an oil investment. Charlie, who has worked so hard at the newspaper, can now work freely on his novel writing. But he becomes so frustrated with one rejection after another. Meanwhile carefree Helen is enjoying Paris with other men. Then Charlie meets Lorraine Qualls (Eva Gabor) on a newspaper assignment. The marriage sees doomed.

This movie is based on a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, "Babylon Revisited." The song "The Last Time I Saw Paris" won the Oscar for best song in 1941 for a musical called "Lady Be Good." However, it is used freely in this movie as a theme song, and you will be humming it for days.

This movie drags somewhat in the middle but really picks up at the end. You will need 2 or 3 hankies to root for Vicki. That is all that I am saying.

Be patient with this movie. The ending makes the middle worthwhile.

The Kind Of Love We All Want!

I admit I have this kind of love in my life now and I treasure her deeply..take an end of WW2 celebration throw in a beautiful young Woman and a handsome older Man throw in some fire works and what do you get a marriage made in heaven..while the movie box is misleading it states the "young Woman falls in love with her Husbands boss" this is not the case..Elizabeth Taylor plays a young College drop out well she was kicked out..Donna Reed plays her suffering older Sister..Van Johnson plays a war tim reporter who works for the "Stars And Stripes"..when Elizabeth Taylors character kisses Johnsons Character he's instantly smitten however she's lost in the crowd he later meets the young beauties older Sister and of course she's instantly smitten with him, however she loses her potential beau to her sexy little sister..They marry and she gives her hubby rather they give each other a pretty little Girl, but as their marriage begins to unravel secrets are learned and hearts are broken so grab your hanky and prepare yourself for an emotional roller coaster of a ride..this movie is a great film for any Elzabeth Taylor fan or fan of older b/w movies..I give this one 5 out of 5 stars!!

A very good movie for mature people.

I saw the film in a theater when I was a boy. My son who is an architect in Chicago used to live and work in Paris. I bought the DVD to give to him because he has never seen this film. I enjoyed the story and the scenery. However, the color quality of this DVD is poor in spots probably because it was copied from a very old film. It was definitely worth the price I paid for it.

Great story

Great love story and I just love Liz Taylor. Van Johnson shows great acting in this one. A movie that you can watch over and over again.

The Last Time I Saw Paris

This was a good DVD. Simple and Sweet. Great acting and beautiful scenery. I'd recommend this to most anyone who is a fan of the older movies.