Adventure, races, love and humour in Golden dozen of films made in Monte-Carlo.
Did you know that more than 70 movies of different genres were partly or entirely shot in the Principality?
We have collected for you the 12 most adventurous, humorous, romantic and racing films over the past 70 years made in Monte-Carlo.
1950s
To Catch a Thief (1955)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, “To Catch a Thief” with legendary Grace Kelly and Cary Grant is one of the movie icons in cinematograph history. Monaco and Cannes were the perfect stages for the romantic and thrilling story about an ex-jewel thief John or “The Cat” and the young Frances, the daughter of a wealthy American widow. This is the final film of Hitchcock starring Grace Kelly before her marriage with Prince Rainier III of Monaco.
1960s
Bay of Angels (1963)
Starring Jeanne Moreau and Claude Mann, the film is about a passion for travel, chance and adventure. It is also about an obsession with gambling, the addiction when the temptation prevails over logic. The main character leaves Paris and goes to The Cote d’Azur, where he jumps in the gambling and where he meets Jackie. What will save them both from an absolute fall is love.
Grand Prix (1966)
For all passionated for races and mainly historical Grand Prix, this movie is the number 1. John Frankenheimer’s work has changed the world of filming racing and has got 3 Oscars. The film depicts breathtaking footage on Monaco racing track with real Formula One World Champions Phil Hill, Graham Hill, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Jochen Rindt and Jack Brabham.
1970s
Herbie Goes To Monte-Carlo (1977)
“Herbie Goes To Monte Carlo” is a sweet adventure comedy starring Dean Jones and Don Knotts. A racing car driver with a riding mechanic participates in a rally from Paris to Monte-Carlo in a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle called Herbie and carries valuable cargo that robbers are hunting.
1980s
Never Say Never Again (1983)
Sean Connery played as 007 agent 6 times, starting with the first-ever James Bond movie “Doctor No” in 1962 until “Diamonds Are Forever” in 1971. After that, the actor claimed that he would “never” play Bond again. 12 years later, Connery returned to the character. His wife, Micheline, suggested a title for the new film – Never Say Never Again – recalling her husband’s promise.
1990s
Once Upon a Crime (1992)
Black comedy, a remake of an Italian film of the 1960s, starring John Candy, James Belushi, Sean Young and Ornella Muti, is about American couple in Rome who find a dog for which the owner resident in Monaco has promise a worthy reward . Upon arrival to Monte-Carlo, they discover that the owner has been killed. They unwittingly become involved in the investigation as one of the main suspects.
Golden Eye (1995)
Back to Bond. It was the first role for Pierce Brosnan as 007. This is the first in the series that did not use any story from the original novel about James Bond written by Ian Fleming. Besides Monte-Carlo, the film took place in the UK, Russia, and Puerto Rico.
2000s
Ocean’s 12 (2004)
Casino de Monte-Carlo showed up in the film just for a minute. But the most intriguing scene in Monaco of this movie was its promotion. The film’s presentation took place during the Monaco Grand Prix of Formula 1 in 2004 when Jaguar’s Formula One team car was decorated with a 250,000 $ diamond. On the first lap, the driver crashed his car. After the race, the track was thoroughly examined, but the stone was never found.
Priceless (2006)
According to the American film critic Stephen Holden, this movie is “winking at the vanity of wealthy voluptuaries and hustlers playing games of tainted love”. A comedy with sophisticated Audrey Tautou and charismatic Gad Elmaleh is the story of two young gold diggers in Monaco. “They have no illusions that their playmates are more than paid escorts, and they never make fools of themselves” – Holden comments.
2010s
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Iron Man 2 is the continuation of the story about a genius inventor, hero and former playboy Tony Stark. In the second movie, a part of the action occurs on the Formula 1 racing track in Monte-Carlo. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Mickey Rourke and Samuel L. Jackson.
Heartbreaker (2010)
Heartbreaker is a French romantic and adventuristic comedy with Vanessa Paradis and Romain Duris. Julie Ferrier and François Damiens fill the film with sparkling humour. The story is about breaking relationships between professionals who do the job only when a woman is unhappy, but she does not know about it yet.
Murder mystery (2019)
This is a mix of detective, racing, family comedy and, of course, glamorous moments in Monte-Carlo during Formula 1. Cast Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston and french actor Dany Boon. The story is about a policeman from New York and his wife who go on their honeymoon 15 years after the wedding. By coincidence, they find themselves on the yacht on which a murder takes place.