Philippe Collin's 'The Barman of the Ritz' Falls Short of 'Casablanca'
Set against the backdrop of the German Occupation of Paris from June 1940 to August 1944, Philippe Collin's historical fiction, 'The Barman of the Ritz,' centers on the Petit Bar at the Ritz Hotel. The story chronicles Frank Meier's tenure as barman from 1921 to 1947, where he serves cocktails to Nazi officers, including Colonel Hans Speidel, and collaborators. Collin, a 51-year-old veteran of French radio, delves into the French response to Nazi domination. The tale juxtaposes the opulence of the Ritz with the despair of occupied Paris, featuring characters like Hermann Göring and General Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel. Frank, an Austrian Jew, safeguards affluent Jews. Critics have pointed out issues with pacing and a lack of dramatic tension. Today, the Ritz remains a luxurious retreat, with the Coco Chanel suite priced at €36,000 per night.
Key facts
- Philippe Collin's novel 'The Barman of the Ritz' is set during the German Occupation of Paris (June 1940–August 1944).
- The novel centers on Frank Meier, the Ritz Hotel's barman from 1921 until his death in 1947.
- Frank Meier creates the Golden Clipper cocktail for Colonel Hans Speidel.
- Hermann Göring orders Pink Ladies and takes three baths daily to manage his morphine addiction.
- General Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel uses Goethe's poetry to code messages for anti-Hitler plotters.
- Frank Meier, an Austrian Jew, hides his identity and helps wealthy Jews escape with forged papers.
- Collin is a 51-year-old French radio veteran known for his research-heavy podcasts on French history.
- The novel is Collin's first words-only work of fiction.
- Critics compare the novel unfavorably to 'Casablanca' and Irène Némirovsky's 'Suite Française'.
- The Ritz Hotel's Coco Chanel suite costs €36,000 per night; a 'Paris is a moveable feast' cocktail costs €44.
Entities
Artists
- Philippe Collin
- Frank Meier
- Hans Speidel
- Hermann Göring
- Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel
- Sacha Guitry
- Jean Cocteau
- Coco Chanel
- Blanche Auzello
- Luciano
- Ernst Jünger
- F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Ernest Hemingway
- Marie-Louise Ritz
- César Ritz
- Irène Némirovsky
- Michel Epstein
- Denise Epstein
- Patrick Modiano
- Alan Furst
- Jean Casson
- Matt Damon
Institutions
- Ritz Hotel
- Petit Bar
- Bar Hemingway
- Warner Bros.
- Netflix
- The London Telegraph
- Sorbonne
- Auschwitz
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Place Vendôme
- Rue Cambon
- Le Meurice
- Jeu de Paume
- Berlin
- Germany
- Issy-l'Évêque
- Burgundy
- Morocco
- New York
- United States