Palais Royale (film)

Plot

This dark crime comedy is set in 1959 where Gerald Price (Matt Craven) is a newcomer to Toronto. He competes with mobster Tony Dicarlo (Kim Coates) for the affections of Odessa Muldoon (Kim Cattrall). Meanwhile Michael Dattalico (Dean Stockwell) is eager to expand his organized crime business in Toronto. Much of the action takes place in the art deco dance hall of the title, a historic building set on the shores of Lake Ontario.

The film does feature a nice turn by Cattrall channeling Marilyn Monroe as a gangster’s moll before her departure to the U.S. and fame in Sex and the City.

Cast

Release

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 10 September 1988, then given a general Canadian release on 12 May 1989. The film was also released under the titles Smoke Screen or Smokescreen.

What the critics said

‘There is humour in Palais Royale, if you don’t mind Toronto in-jokes.’ – Paul Townend, Cinema Canada