Paris, France

The movie FUNNY FACE is based on the 1927 musical of the same name. Only the male lead, Fred Astaire, and four songs were retained for the film version. Filming began on 9 April and lasted until 19 July 1956, including a location shoot in Paris. I have not been able to find out during which period production moved to the French capital.

Funny Face, 0:37:04

Most of the interiors were filmed in the movie studios in Los Angeles, with an additional scene on location in New York where fashion magazine Quality is based. Looking for a backdrop for a photo shoot, photographer Dick Avery (Fred Astaire) and editor-in-chief Maggie Prescott (Kay Thompson) discover a bookstore in Greenwich Village. Shop assistant Jo Stockton (Audrey Hepburn) has no interest in fashion and declines the offer to pose as a model. When she hears that the photos will be made in Paris, she agrees.

After arriving at the airport Orly in Paris, Dick, Maggie and Jo choose to go into the city without each other. During the song "Bonjour, Paris!" several famous sites in Paris can be seen, including the Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame and Pont Alexandre III. At the end of the song, the trio meet on the Eiffel Tower.

Funny Face, 0:32:56

Arc de Triomphe, Paris, 1 March 2022

Funny Face, 0:34:49

Pont des Arts, Paris, 3 March 2022

Funny Face, 0:34:56

Notre-Dame, Paris, 28 February 2022

Funny Face, 0:35:00

Pont Alexandre III, Paris, 3 March 2022

Funny Face, 0:35:07

Pont Alexandre III, Paris, 3 March 2022

Funny Face, 0:36:35

Eiffel Tower, Paris, 2 March 2022

Funny Face, 0:36:42

Eiffel Tower, Paris, 2 March 2022

Funny Face, 0:36:45

Eiffel Tower, Paris, 2 March 2022

Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel,
Paris, 2 March 2022

The photo shoot starts at the Place du Carrousel. This public square gives access to the Louvre Museum (the southern wing is visible behind the photographers) and the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, a triumphal arch built between 1807 and 1809 by order of Napoleon Bonaparte to commemorate his victories. In 1828 the bronze group of the goddess of peace in a quadriga, a chariot with four horses, was placed on top of the arch. On both sides are gilded statues of women symbolizing peace and victory. The arch is about half the size of the Arc de Triomphe on the Place Charles de Gaulle.

Funny Face, 0:55:01

Louvre Museum, Paris, 2 March 2022

Funny Face, 0:55:04

Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, Paris, 2 March 2022

Funny Face, 0:55:34

Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, Paris, 2 March 2022

In the evening photos are taken in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles in front of the Latona Fountain. I blogged about this location before, see Versailles, France. I did not know at the time that Funny Face was also filmed here. Filming in Versailles was also done during daytime. The photo below happened to match the film.

Funny Face, 0:58:40

Latona Fountain, Palace of Versailles, 5 August 2016

At the Louvre, Jo poses in front of the Nike of Samothrace, a marble statue created about 200 BC by an unknown Greek sculptor. The statue represents the winged goddess of victory and stands on the bow of a ship. Parts of the statue were found in 1863 during excavations on the Aegean island of Samothrace. It has been exhibited in the Louvre since 1884. As in the movie, it is still stands at the top of the main staircase of the Escalier Daru that Jo descends from.