Published on October 10, 2023Updated on February 27, 2024
Thanks to its timeless elegance and legendary charm, the Principality of Monaco has always been an inspiration for the cinema. The 1960s marked the cinematic aura, and Monte-Carlo proved to be an ideal setting for many iconic productions of that era. Glamorous evenings, casino games, and luxury car races often took center stage in the plots of these films.
A unique setting that captured the cinema's essence of the time: glamour, romance, adventure, and sophistication, in many classic films that continue to captivate movies' enthusiasts while evoking an era when both cinema and Monaco were at their prime.
Immerse yourself in this world through three films, whose directors were drawn to the glamour of Monaco: Lady L., Grand Prix and Kaleidoscope, filmed in Monaco, especially in the heart of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer and its palaces!
Sophia Loren at the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo
Sharing the screen with Paul Newman, David Niven and Philippe Noiret, Sophia Loren layed Lady L. in 1965. The main character, Lady Landale, directed by Peter Ustinov, is a young laundry worker in love with a thief but married to a lord. Scenes from the film are depicted in photographs throughout the lobby of the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, in front of one of the concierges in the Resort’s most romantic hotel.
Yves Montand and James on set during the Monaco Grand-Prix
While motor racing has certainly contributed to the Principality’s appeal since it began in 1929 at the impetus of Antony Noghès, son of the President of the Automobile Club de Monaco, it inspired the American director John Frankenheimer to make Grand Prix in 1966, which was awarded three Oscars. The irresistible Yves Montand can be seen talking with actor James Garner in front of the stands.
Warren Beatty, Susannah York and Clive Revill at the Casino de Monte-Carlo
In 1966, the Belle Epoque style of the Casino de Monte-Carlo inspired Jack Smight to shoot Kaleidoscope there, with Warren Beatty, Susannah York and Clive Revill. Between takes, the film’s photographic archives show the sumptuous Salle Médecin with its pendant chandeliers in the spotlights. The allure of a bygone era!
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