Singing Paris: The City of Lights in 20th-Century French Music
52m

Songs about a certain time and place are more than sentimental musings—they also serve as departure points for cultural and sociological studies. This program uses popular 20th-century French music to explore the rich character and modern-era development of Paris. Juxtaposing commentary from French scholars, performers, and business leaders with classic recordings by Edith Piaf, Brigitte Bardot, Maurice Chevalier, and other artists, the film sheds light on the evolution of Paris and its component districts since the early 1900s. It also examines the special qualities that have made Paris a hub of art and fashion for centuries and the specific ways in which both Parisians and foreigners view the city. Contains brief nudity.
Cast
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Maria

Gigi

Midnight in Paris

Paris Can Wait

Total Eclipse

Good Grief

An American in Paris

Daddy Long Legs

My Generation

Funny Face

The Velvet Underground

Mr. Morgan's Last Love

Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me

Roberta

Sympathy for the Devil

Henry & June

Thriller 40

The Phantom of the Opera

How the Beatles Changed the World

Cadillac Records
