AHH Venice … a city of mystery and romance; with its labyrinthine streets, footbridges and canals, you never know where you will end up. It is a dreamy city, it would seem, that was made for the motion pictures.
One of the most famous films shot on location in Venice is a film that I have to date not seen, Don’t Look Now, starring Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie. As much as I am admirer of the works of Daphne du Maurier (whose story upon which this based). Several years ago, I caught a glimpse of the scene at the end with Donald Sutherland the ‘girl in the red raincoat’ and immediately removed it from my memory bank – just thinking about it makes me shudder. Don’t look now – indeed.
But along with the dark, there is the light; here are some of my favorite films set and shot in Venice:
Casino Royale (2006) the film that brought Bond back.
The Italian Job (2003) a rather fun, action-packed heist film directed by F. Gary Gray (Friday); remake of 1969 British film of the same name (starring Michael Caine). The 2003 version stars Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Jason Statham, Seth Green, Mos Def and Donald Sutherland.
Summertime (1955) directed by David Lean and starring Katherine Hepburn and Rossano Brazzi. An equally moving and beautiful story about a not-so-young woman who finds love while on vacation in Venice. Based on the stage play The Time of the Cuckoo by Arthur Laurents.
The Wings of the Dove (1997); see previous entry.
Italian for Beginners (2000) directed by Lone Scherfig (One Day, An Education). An enjoyable Danish film about a disparate group of villagers who band together and continue with their Italian lessons after their teacher dies. Not so fun fact: in 2010, Scherfig revealed that the plot was ‘borrowed’ from Irish author Maeve Binchy’s novel Evening Class (source: Wikipedia).
Of course there are several films that I have left off the list; but that is simply because I have not seen them – but maybe YOU have.
Let me know some of your favorite films set in Venice?
I close with a few more snaps from a trip to Venice.