Published on September 24, 2024Updated on September 24, 2024
In the 1980s, Monaco shone brightly in the spotlight of cinematic glamour. This jewel of the Côte d'Azur, already renowned for its luxury and elegance, became a veritable sanctuary for the stars of international cinema. A time when every street corner could be the setting for a film, and when the magic of the seventh art blended perfectly with the sumptuous décor of this Mediterranean paradise. The Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer has been the setting for international films and French TV series, offering an atmosphere of elegance and decadence.
Film history in the Principality
Since the beginning of its history, Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer has called on the greatest architects, such as Charles Garnier, the mastermind behind the Casino de Monte-Carlo, and Edouard-Jean Niermans, who designed the facade of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo. This architectural heritage has inspired many international directors. Countless iconic movies have been made here, including "Gentlemen Marry Brunettes" in 1954 and Grand Prix in 1966, which won three Oscars. The cult TV series The Persuaders with Roger Moore and Tony Curtis was also filmed here in the early 1970s.
Monaco's glamour in movies in the 1980s
An adventure that continued into the 1980s. Gentlemen in suits, ladies in elegant dresses with sleek updos or fascinators… the luxurious atmosphere of the Salle Blanche at the Casino de Monte-Carlo, with its chandeliers and refined woodwork, draws players who come to try their luck, as in this casino scene from Bernhard Sinkel’s TV mini-series Les Confessions du chevalier d’industrie Felix Krull, filmed at the end of 1980. Outside, the Place du Casino and the prestigious façade of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo welcome the actors of this mini-series based on the knight of industry Felix Krull, amid the palm trees and 80s cars. The series follows the adventures of an irresistibly charming imposter and was inspired by Thomas Mann’s novel of the same name.
Marcello Mastroianni and Senta Berger in front of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo
In Le due vite di Mattia Pascal, an Italian drama film by director Mario Monicelli that was presented at the Cannes Film Festival in 1985, tells the incredible life story of Mathias Pascal, the son of Italian farmers, who leaves home to try his luck in French casinos. In the title role, the dashing Marcello Mastroianni, pictured in front of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo with actress Senta Berger.
Explore the seventh art of past decades in the Principality of Monaco and immerse yourself in the captivating world of cinema history:
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Institut audiovisuel de Monaco
Based on the Boulevard du Jardin Exotique, this repository stores over 100,000 audio documents
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