Hotel Paradiso (1966)

In the bustling heart of 1900 Paris, nestled amidst the quiet suburbs, live two frustrated souls: Benedict Boniface, a diligent engineer smothered by the controlling grip of his wife Angelique, and Marcelle Cot, a radiant woman starved of attention by her absent-minded architect husband, Henri. Their worlds collide in a peculiar serendipity when Angelique departs for an overnight trip to care for her sick sister while Henri is summoned to examine a city hotel plagued by mysterious nocturnal noises. Seizing this rare chance for solitude, Benedict confesses his burgeoning attraction to Marcelle, who, to his surprise, reciprocates his feelings. They decide to surrender to their desires at the infamous Hotel Paradiso, a clandestine establishment known for its willingness to rent rooms "by the hour". The hotel, run by the shrewd Anniello and his naive busboy George, becomes the stage for their illicit rendezvous, with the duo having ulterior motives of their own. However, their plans for a discreet affair unravel as they stumble upon familiar faces within the hotel's labyrinthine corridors: M. Martin, a stuttering barrister and a friend to the Bonifaces, along with his four young daughters; Victoire and Maxime, the Bonifaces' lively maid and Henri's nephew respectively, who are embroiled in their own secret trysts. To their horror, they also find Henri, who is at the hotel for his scheduled inspection. The fear of being recognized propels Benedict and Marcelle into a comedic whirl of escape attempts, each proving more futile than the last. Meanwhile, amidst the chaos, a mysterious man with a unique professional quandary observes the unfolding drama. Through their comedic misadventures, he finds inspiration to overcome his own dilemma - writer's block. This man is none other than Monsieur Feydeau, a struggling playwright who, entranced by the bedlam at Hotel Paradiso, goes on to pen the next season's "success fou". As Benedict and Marcelle strive to navigate the humorous hurdles of their thwarted affair, they find themselves in an even more precarious situation upon their return home. The fallout from their night at the hotel awaits them, threatening to reveal their secrets and change their lives forever. Unfolding amidst the grandeur of 1900 Paris, Hotel Paradiso is a delightful blend of comedy, romance, and farce, with an unexpected twist of artistic inspiration.

Hotel Paradiso is a comedy movie featuring Alec Guinness.

Hotel Paradiso is currently streaming on DIRECTV and TCM.