by Hal Erickson
synopsis
This French-Italian musical starts out in the eponymous French gambling establishment. Vittorio de Sica plays Gordy, an ageing playwright who decides to transform a music-hall singer named Catherine (Caterina Valente) into a dramatic actress. Just as his protegee achieves stardom, Gordy dies. But when Catherine visits her late benefactor's villa, she is romanced by Gordy's ghost, who turns out to be a much younger man (Gilbert Becaud). Rather stagebound, Casino de Paris only comes to life during the all-stops-out musical production numbers.
characteristics
- Stage
- Love-triangle
- Villa
- Writing
- Ghost-writer
- Behind-the-scenes
- Actor
- Actress
- Author