April in Paris (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = April in Paris

| image = April in Paris film poster.png

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = David Butler

| writer = Jack Rose
Melville Shavelson

| producer = William Jacobs

| starring = {{ubl|Doris Day|Ray Bolger|Claude Dauphin}}

| cinematography = Wilfred M. Cline

| editing = Irene Morra

| music = {{ubl|Vernon Duke|LeRoy Prinz}}

| studio = Warner Bros.

| distributor = Warner Bros.

| released = {{Film date|1952|12|24}}

| runtime = 94 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| gross = $2.75 million (US){{cite magazine |title=The Top Box Office Hits of 1953 |magazine=Variety |date=January 13, 1954}}

}}

File:April in paris - title.jpg

April in Paris is a 1952 American musical romantic comedy film starring Doris Day and Ray Bolger, and directed by David Butler.

Plot

Winthrop Putnam is the officious Assistant Secretary to the Assistant to the Undersecretary of State, a D.C. diplomat arranging an international arts exposition in Paris. In a case of mistaken identity, the State Department invitation intended for the esteemed Ethel Barrymore is delivered to Ethel "Dynamite" Jackson, an All-American chorus girl on Broadway. Putnam flies to New York City to intervene, spoiling the impromptu celebration for Jackson. After higher-ranking diplomat Robert Sherman concludes inviting the unknown Miss Jackson was a stroke of genius, Putnam reverses course and convinces her to make the trip.

Also aboard the transatlantic ship carrying the U.S. delegation is the Frenchman Philippe Fouquet, eager to get back to Paris, joining the crew as a waiter. After three nights of mounting scrutiny at sea, Miss Jackson is eager to kick up her heels with the steamship staff. The kitchen festivities kindle a romance between Jackson and Putnam, despite his engagement to Sherman's daughter. Fouquet introduces the two Americans to the ship's captain and they get married on the spot. Unbeknownst to either the lovebirds or Fouquet, the "captain" was in fact being impersonated by a busboy. Rather than admit to the deception, Fouquet and the busboy thwart the faux newlyweds from any chance of consummating their mistaken wedlock.

Putnam's fiancée Marcia meets the U.S. delegation when they arrive in Paris the next morning. Marcia is immediately suspicious of the situation between Putnam and Jackson, and the women's mutual disregard mounts into a brawl at the International Festival of the Arts. With help from sly Fouquet along the way, amidst the sights and scenes of the city, true love ultimately reunites Jackson and Putnam.

Cast

Doris Day as Ethel S. "Dynamite" Jackson
Ray Bolger as S. Winthrop Putnam
Claude Dauphin as Philippe Fouquet
Eve Miller as Marcia Sherman
George Givot as François
Paul Harvey as Secretary Robert Sherman
Herbert Farjeon as Joshua Stevens
Wilson Millar as Sinclair Wilson
Raymond Largay as Joseph Welmar
John Alvin as Tracy
Jack Lomas as cab driver
Jarma Lewis as Chorine

Songs

"April in Paris" – Yip Harburg
This song was first a hit in 1932, composed by Vernon Duke and written by Harburg.
"It Must Be Good" – Doris Day
"I'm Gonna Ring the Bell Tonight" – Doris Day and Ray Bolger
"That's What Makes Paris Paree" – Doris Day and Claude Dauphin
"Give Me Your Lips" – Claude Dauphin
"I Ask You" – Doris Day, Ray Bolger, and Claude Dauphin
"The Place You Hold in My Heart (I Know a Place)" – Doris Day
"Auprès de ma blonde" – Claude Dauphin