Program Series: Try a Little Tenderness
Paris Blues with A Man Called Adam
Special guest: Conversation following Paris Blues with Maya Cade, Try A Little Tenderness guest programmer and creator/curator of the Black Film Archive, and Jacqueline Stewart, Director and President of the Academy Museum.
Fri, Feb 10, 2023 | 7:30pm PT

Paris Blues Set in Paris to the sounds of a Duke Ellington sonic lullaby, this jazz-infused drama starring Sidney Poitier takes the A-train to your heart. Eddie Cook (Poitier) is an expatriate jazz musician who finds love with Connie, an American girl (Diahann Carroll), and shelter from the United States in a “racially tolerant” Paris. With Paul Newman, Louis Armstrong, and Joanne Woodward rounding out the cast, this picture shows sensitivity toward romance and interracial friendship.
A Man Called Adam Loosely based on the life of Miles Davis, A Man Called Adam centers on a gifted trumpeter (Sammy Davis Jr.) on a self-destructive streak. With a lethal combination of deep personal misfortune, systemic racism, and alcoholism, Adam finds connection and hope with activist... Claudia (Cicely Tyson in a role that predates her marriage to Miles Davis). A Man Called Adam also stars Ossie Davis and Louis Armstrong. The film was made by Sammy Davis Jr.’s production company and produced by Ike Jones, one of Hollywood’s earliest Black producers.
Paris Blues DIRECTED BY: Martin Ritt. WRITTEN BY: Jack Sher, Grimes Grice, Walter Bernstein. ADAPTATION BY: Lulla Adler. WITH: Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Sidney Poitier, Louis Armstrong. 1961. 98 min. USA. B&W. English. 35mm. A Man Called Adam DIRECTED BY: Leo Penn. WRITTEN BY: Les Pine, Tina Rome. WITH: Sammy Davis Jr., Louis Armstrong, Ossie Davis, Cicely Tyson. 1966. 104 min. USA. B&W. English. 35mm. Academy Museum film programming generously funded by the Richard Roth Foundation.
Know Before You Go
Plan your Visit
Location
The Academy Museum and its theaters are located at 6067 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Parking
Self-parking, accessible parking, and electric vehicle charging options are available. See below for our parking structure information and view the parking page for further details.
Ride-Share Drop Off
Roddenberry Lane, entrance on Fairfax Ave.
LACMA's Pritzker Parking Garage
6000 W 6th St., Los Angeles, CA 90036, entrance on 6th St.
5am–10pm
$20 ($12 after 8pm entry)
Accessible spots on P1, adjacent to elevators
EV charging stations on P1 and P2Petersen Automotive Museum Garage
744 Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036, entrance on Fairfax Ave. or 8th St.
6am–11pm
$24 (first 15 min. free)
Accessible spots on P1 only; no garage elevator
EV charging stations on P1Accessibility
Audio Description
For visitors who are blind or partially-sighted, audio description devices are available for some digital film screenings on a first-come, first-served basis.
Real-time audio descriptions are available for some performances upon request with at least three weeks’ notice, subject to the availability of describers. Email academymuseum@oscars.org to submit your request.
Closed Captioning
For visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing, in-seat closed captioning or descriptive audio-devices are available for some digital film screenings on a first-come, first-served basis. Please confirm availability at academymuseum@oscars.org before planning your visit.
Real-time captioning is available for programs upon request with at least three weeks’ notice, subject to the availability of captioners. Email academymuseum@oscars.org to submit your request.
Please see our Accessibility page for complete information, including details on our Visual Description Tours, Calm Mornings, and Covid-19 policies.