"Jean Seberg at Notre Dame circa 1967. It has been several years since I've been in Paris, but I have never forgotten the kindness of the French people to me, the beauty of the country, and the amazing historical preservation that was on-going in Paris during my visits while researching Seberg's life. It was easy to see why she was, as she said, "Paris-struck". Like many things there, Notre Dame was amazing and I'm so fortunate to have visited and experienced it during my visits. The fire is a huge loss in so many unspeakable ways..."
~Garry McGee, producer/director/writer Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg
State of Joan of Arc in Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris France.
Jean Seberg as Joan of Arc in SAINT JOAN (1957).
"So much history. So much sorrow. We stand with the rest of the world in silence and shock over the tragic fire that is raging inside the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. The Cathedral was built from 1163 to 1250 and the statue and monument of Saint Jeanne d'Arc is located inside the Cathedral. Jean Seberg starred as Joan of Arc in Otto Preminger's SAINT JOAN (1957)."
~Kelly Rundle (proder/director/writer: Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg) & Tammy Rundle (producer/writer)
APNews Photo of Notre Dame Catheral in flames. Copyright AP News.
Fire ravages soaring Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris left aghast
PARIS (AP) — A fire swept across the top of the Notre Dame Cathedral while the soaring Paris landmark was under renovations Monday, collapsing its spire and threatening one of the world’s greatest architectural treasures as locals and tourists watched aghast from the streets.
The French president pledged to rebuild a cathedral that he called “a part of us” and appealed for help to do so. The 12th-century church is home to relics, stained glass and other incalculable works of art and is a leading tourist attraction, immortalized by Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
The Paris prosecutor’s office said it was treating the fire as an accident, ruling out arson and possible terror-related motives, at least for now. French media quoted the Paris fire brigade as saying the fire was “potentially linked” to a 6 million euro ($6.8 million) renovation project on the spire and its 500 tons of wood and 250 tons of lead.
Despite the dramatic image of the flaming cathedral, no one was killed. One firefighter was injured, among some 400 who battled the flames for hours before finally extinguishing them. Firefighters continued working through the night to cool the building and secure the monument, as residual sparks sprinkled down from the gaping hole where the spire used to be.
Read the rest of the AP Story HERE.
