Question 1

Why was the Rue Casanova set so expensive to build for Irma la Douce?

Accepted Answer

The sprawling Rue Casanova set took three months to build at a cost of $250,000 (equivalent to $2.6M in 2024) and included 48 buildings and three converging streets.

Question 2

What was the name of the pimps' union in Irma la Douce, and what real-life organization did its initials mock?

Accepted Answer

The pimps' union was called the "Mecs Paris Protective Association" (MPPA), which also stood for "Motion Picture Producers Association"—an organization that had given director Billy Wilder trouble.

Question 3

Which actor was Billy Wilder's first choice to play Moustache, and what happened to him before filming began?

Accepted Answer

Charles Laughton was Wilder's first choice for Moustache and agreed to the role, but fell ill and was hospitalized before filming started, dying in December 1962.

Question 4

How did Shirley MacLaine feel about Irma la Douce after it was finished?

Accepted Answer

Shirley MacLaine thought the film was "crude and clumsy" and was surprised to receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination for it.

Question 5

What major awards ceremonies recognized Irma la Douce in the mid-1960s?

Accepted Answer

The film was recognized at the Golden Globes (1964), Academy Awards (1964), Writers Guild of America (1964), and BAFTA Awards (1965).

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Irma la Douce

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