Jefferson in Paris Movie Review 1994

Costume drama explores the impact Thomas Jefferson's (Nolte) five years in pre-revolutionary Paris (as American ambassador to Versailles) had on his private life. Jefferson confronts the personal and political issues of slavery in America, as well as his feelings for Sally Hemings (Newton), a Monticello slave brought to Paris by Jefferson's daughter. The Jefferson-Hemings legend may or may not be true (more likely not, according to many historians), but it seems to be the central theme here. Merchant Ivory's trademark tasteful production values and earnest characters can't camouflage the fact that they're playing fast and loose with the historical facts.

Distribution

Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521-1120, Toll-free: 800-723-4763, URL: http://www.bvhe.com

Available on VHS
Running time 139 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Historical Drama, Paris, Slavery, Biopics: Politics, France, Politics, Producers: Merchant Ivory, Presidency, Historical Romance

Screenplay

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

Cast

Nick Nolte, Greta Scacchi, Gwyneth Paltrow, Thandie Newton, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Seth Gilliam, Todd Boyce, James Earl Jones

Director

James Ivory

Music

Richard Robbins

Producer

Ismail Merchant, Merchant-Ivory Productions, Touchstone Pictures, Buena Vista