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They Had to See Paris

Name: They Had to See Paris
Director: Frank Borzage
Released: 1929
Duration: 82 min

Representation Score

1.4/10

Minimal

1929

Director

Frank Borzage

Runtime

82 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

They Had to See Paris is a comedic study of class and cultural friction. It relies heavily on the 'clash of cultures' cliché to contrast American practicalism with European social artifice. While it provides character-driven humor, the narrative remains narrow in its scope. The film lacks depth in exploring multiple aspects of identity, focusing almost exclusively on socioeconomic and gendered tensions within a Western context. It reinforces traditionalist values of the early 20th century rather than challenging them. Ultimately, the film serves as a reinforcement of American exceptionalism, prioritizing 'homespun wit' over the perceived decadence of foreign cultures.

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Category Breakdown

Does They Had to See Paris have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses solely on traditional heterosexual family dynamics and does not depict any non-straight identities or experiences. It does not critique the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does They Had to See Paris portray gender?

Fair

Idy drives the plot through her aspirations, but her role is tied to social climbing. The narrative contrasts feminine pretension with masculine stability.

How racially and ethnically diverse is They Had to See Paris?

Limited

The story operates within a homogeneous Western framework and lacks non-white or non-Anglo-Saxon casting that would challenge the era's demographic norms.

How does They Had to See Paris represent religion and culture?

Limited

The film explores friction between American pragmatism and European aristocracy, reinforcing American exceptionalism rather than offering a critical look at Western institutions.

Does They Had to See Paris include disability representation?

Minimal

No visible or invisible disabilities are integrated into the character arcs or the narrative structure.

Present on Screen

The female protagonist, Idy, drives the plot forward.
The film offers a clear comedic exploration of the friction between different social classes.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks representation of non-white or non-Anglo-Saxon characters.
There is no depiction of LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight experiences.
The film fails to include characters with visible or invisible disabilities.
The story adheres to traditional gender hierarchies rather than disrupting them.

Official Synopsis

Oklahoma mechanic Pike Peters finds himself part owner of an oil field. His wife Idy, hitherto content, decides the family must go to Paris to get "culture" and meet "the right kind of people." Pike and his grown son and daughter soon have flirtatious French admirers; Idy rents a chateau from an impoverished aristocrat; while Pike responds to each new development with homespun wit. In the inevitable clash, will pretentiousness and sophistication or common sense triumph?

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