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Is Paris Burning?

Is Paris Burning?

War · Drama · History · 1966

Near the end of World War II, General Dietrich von Choltitz receives orders to burn down Paris if it becomes clear the Allies are going to invade, or if he's unable to maintain control of the city. After much contemplation, Choltitz ignores orders, enraging the Germans and giving hope to various resistance factions that the city will be liberated. Choltitz, alongside Swedish diplomat Raoul Nordling, helps a leader organise his forces.

Movie details

Is Paris Burning?

“"Burn Paris!" was the order that had come shrieking over the phone.”

1966 War · Drama · History 2h 53m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.2 / 10

Community rating

Near the end of World War II, General Dietrich von Choltitz receives orders to burn down Paris if it becomes clear the Allies are going to invade, or if he's unable to maintain control of the city. After much contemplation, Choltitz ignores orders, enraging the Germans and giving hope to various resistance factions that the city will be liberated. Choltitz, alongside Swedish diplomat Raoul Nordling, helps a leader organise his forces.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Is Paris Burning??

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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On the night of August 24, 1944, the fate of Paris rests with General von Choltitz, who plans to destroy the city on Hitler's orders. As the general prepares to detonate explosives throughout the capital, Swedish consul Raoul Nordling uses diplomacy in a desperate bid to convince him to defy the orders and save Paris.

Napoleon

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Lion of the Desert

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History · 1981

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Army of Shadows

Army of Shadows

War · 1969

Betrayed by an informant, Philippe Gerbier finds himself trapped in a torturous Nazi prison camp. Though Gerbier escapes to rejoin the Resistance in occupied Marseilles, France, and exacts his revenge on the informant, he must continue a quiet, seemingly endless battle against the Nazis in an atmosphere of tension, paranoia and distrust.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

René Clément

Written by

Gore Vidal · Francis Ford Coppola

Jean-Paul Belmondo

Jean-Paul Belmondo

Yvon Morandat

Charles Boyer

Charles Boyer

Doctor Monod

Leslie Caron

Leslie Caron

Françoise Labé

Jean-Pierre Cassel

Jean-Pierre Cassel

Lt. Henri Karcher

George Chakiris

George Chakiris

GI in Tank

Bruno Cremer

Bruno Cremer

Colonel Rol Tanguy

Claude Dauphin

Claude Dauphin

Colonel Lebel

Court is in session

Put Is Paris Burning? on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.