Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and needs little introduction. We know it as the City of Light and the city of the Lost Generation that was liberated by Allied troops during World War II. We can be happy that for each of these visions of Paris, there is a movie. And thanks to the Internet you can watch many movies online for free.
Some very good films about Paris are now in the public domain and that means they can be viewed legally for free. Here are some of the best Paris movies that can be found with a simple Google search and watched for free online:
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) Based on a novel by Victor Hugo, this silent film tells the love story of Quasimodo, the deformed hunchback of the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the beautiful Esmeralda in 15th-century Paris.
Phantom of the opera (1925) A famous horror movie starring Lon Chaney as Eric, a creepy character who lives in the dark passageways under the Paris Opera building. Eric secretly trains Christine Daae (Mary Philbin) to become an opera star, but at the moment of her success he declares his love for her and she panics.
The Liberation of Paris (1944) Filmed by soldiers fighting for France in World War II, the film chronicles the uprising of the French Resistance from August 15, 1944 until the arrival of American soldiers and the German surrender on August 25. The film features live combat action, scenes from the Parisian audience, and a speech by General Charles de Gaulle. (French language)
Man at the Eiffel Tower (1950) Inspector Maigret (Charles Laughton) must hunt down a cunning murderer. It has little evidence, but it finally identifies its main suspect in, you guessed it, The Eiffel Tower. A mystery / detective film that shows the city of Paris to great effect.
The last time i saw paris (1954) Van Johnson plays the role of reporter Charles Wills who goes to Paris to write about the celebrations of the victory of World War II. He meets a beautiful bohemian woman (Elizabeth Taylor) and they soon get married. Charles finds work as a writer in Paris, but before Charles stops writing to live off the money he receives from Helen’s father. As a result, the dreaming couple soon becomes less dreamlike and they part ways.
Arch of Triumph (1985) A doctor who helped Jews escape the Nazis in Austria lives a secret life in Paris. On a bridge over the Seine he finds a woman (Lesley-Anne Down) about to commit suicide one night and rescues her.
A good way to prepare for a trip to Paris or to enjoy the memories of a previous visit is to watch movies about Paris. And if you’re one of the many wondering how you can afford the wonders of the City of Light, these movies can motivate you to do whatever it takes to get there!
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