Audrey Hepburn: 7-Film Collection (1953-1964)

[James Luckard]

My set arrived today and I watched Paris When it Sizzles, the one disc for which I paid $35 for the set, since I own all the other films already.

I hadn't seen the film in about ten years, and I now believe even more firmly that it's a misunderstood, forgotten minor masterpiece. It's one of the wittiest, smartest satires of the film industry I've ever seen. The added layer of poignancy from Hepburn and Holden's own ill-starred love only deepens everything, especially Holden's monologue at one point about how he's throwing away his talent and his dreams to lose himself in alcoholism, it's genuinely moving because it was the truth.

As for the disc:

- yes, it's the 2001 transfer from the DVD. I A/B'd them

However, it's INFINITELY better. 20 years of improvements in compression and a much larger disc with full 1080p mean this admittedly dated master looks far, far better than it does on the DVD.

The BD was worth every penny of $35 to me.

I hope other fans of this film find a way to get this set for a reasonable price.