An American In Paris - 1983

The 1952 Best Picture Oscar went to Vincent Minelli's AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, a romantically kitsch musical about an American painter trying to break into the Paris art scene coupling a suave Gene Kelly and an exquisite Leslie Caron dancing and singing through the movie.

During the 1980s I worked nights in Paris as the doorman to various nightclubs. Most famously Les Bains Douches. When I was employed there in 1983 I told Fabrice the co-owner, "I don't speak French. I only recognize Serge Gainsborough, Francoise Hardy, and Brigitte Bardot. How should I treat your clientele?"

"Like the shit they are " was his response.

At that moment I realized that at night I was the most powerful American in Paris. At night. Quelle epoch!

ps 1985 I 86ed Brigitte Bardot from the Royal Lieu. Albert, the DJ, was furious. I explained that I couldn't recognize her, because I was stuck on her sensuous role as the director's adulterous wife in Godard's CONTEMPT.

pps The Paris of 1984 was not that of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS en suit I was no Gene Kelly.

Foto - 1984 - Royale Lieu avec mon pote eternal Jacques Negrit.