PARIS FRANCE IN THE 1920s AFTERMATH OF WORLD WAR I / LOST GENERATION 52214

"Paris in the Twenties” is an episode of the CBS News documentary series “The Twentieth Century” originally airing April 17, 1960. Hosted by revered newsman Walter Cronkite, the documentary narrated by Walter Cronkite explores Paris in the 1920s, a vibrant cultural haven for American expatriates following World War I. The city attracted writers, artists, and thinkers such as Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, James Joyce, Picasso, and many others who sought creative freedom and escape from industrialized America. Janet Flanner recounts vivid personal memories of this era, highlighting the lively literary salons, the affordable bohemian lifestyle, and the strong sense of artistic community. Paris embraced radical new art forms, from modernist literature to avant-garde film and music, while its nightlife dazzled with performers like Josephine Baker. As tourism grew, American influence began to commercialize aspects of Parisian life, but for those who lived through it, the city remained a place of deep inspiration and lasting enchantment. Despite the eventual fade of the era with the onset of the Depression and World War II, the legacy of 1920s Paris as a creative refuge endures.

0:00 – Walter Cronkite introduces the story of Paris in the 1920s, a time when the city was a cultural hub for American expatriates.

1:00 – Janet Flanner recalls dining with literary giants like Hemingway and James Joyce, illustrating the bohemian social life of Paris.

2:50 – Following WWI, Paris erupts in freedom and beauty, drawing in artists, writers, and dreamers with its creative atmosphere.

4:00 – American artists and writers, disillusioned by post-war America, flood Paris seeking inspiration and escape.

5:30 – Janet Flanner describes the joy and creative energy of American expatriates living modestly but richly in Paris.

6:30 – Literary figures like Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Stein gather at places like Shakespeare and Company, shaping the “Lost Generation.”

7:45 – Experimental and controversial works thrive in Paris, from Joyce’s Ulysses to avant-garde films and ballets.

9:00 – Dadaist artist Man Ray recounts creating a radical film for a poetry event, which sparked a riot at its screening.

11:00 – Picasso, a central figure in Paris, is described as charismatic, focused, and habitual despite his modernist fame.

13:00 – Gertrude Stein hosts influential salons, shaping the minds of writers like Hemingway through her powerful speech and personality.

15:00 – Stein’s unconventional writing influences others, while her partner Alice B. Toklas provides grounding commentary.

16:00 – As tourism increases, Americans bring commercialization to Paris, changing its once purely artistic character.

17:00 – Nightlife flourishes with stars like Josephine Baker performing, captivating American tourists and locals alike.

19:00 – Lindbergh’s arrival in Paris symbolizes American heroism and the deepening cultural connection between France and the U.S.

20:00 – Parisian high society thrives in fashion, music, and literature, with figures like Colette and Ravel making waves.

21:00 – The international set—artists, aristocrats, and celebrities—migrates to the French Riviera for hedonistic leisure.

23:00 – Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald participate in this playful scene; Fitzgerald reflects on the era’s excess and direction.

24:00 – The expat community feels a deep bond with Paris, often resisting returning home, despite the passing of time.

25:00 – Cronkite closes, noting that while the 1920s ended, the spirit of artistic Paris—home to Hemingway, Stein, Joyce, and Picasso—remains eternal.

The film also clips of Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, Harpo Marx, Bennett Cerf, and Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald.

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