This gorgeous movie was shot at some gorgeous locations… that is to say, Paris! Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris elegantly captures the spirit of 1920s and a glimpse into the marvelous and legendary Belle Époque, the period of flowering at the end of the 19th century between the close of the Franco-Prussian War and the beginning of the First World War.
Woody takes us on a wildly imaginative journey where we meet many of the famous writers, composers, and painters of the Jazz Age in Paris — Ernest Hemingway, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Cole Porter, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Gertrude Stein. The film starts with a dazzling selection of Paris locations and sets up the scene starting in Le Bristol, one of Paris' most luxurious hotels. The director spends almost as much care and attention to the Paris locations as he does to the actors' performances.
In the film, these are the stairs where Gil goes nightly to catch his magic car ride to the past. It's become a place to see in Paris for Woody Allen fans (and Owen Wilson fans), who sit on the steps at the church of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont behind the Pantheon to pay tribute to the movie.
Le Meurice is the setting for the rooftop terrace wine tasting, where Michael Sheen gives his famous wine tasting speech. The Meurice has been granted the Palace designation, the highest hotel rating in France. The Belle Etoile Royal Suite at the Meurice clocks in at over 15,000€ per night. We'd love to stay there, but…
Le Bristol, another Palace hotel in Paris, first opened its doors in 1925. In Midnight in Paris, this luxury hotel is the Paris base for Gil (Owen Wilson), his fiancée (Rachel McAdams) and her parents. You can stay in a Junior Suite (as Owen & Rachel did) for as low as 1,500€ per day.
Maxim's de Paris, famous for its Belle Époque décor, is where Gil and Adriana (Marion Cotillard) pay a visit to the 1890s. We like how Woody Allen manages to give us a taste of the good life throughout the film and has chosen some of the most luscious locations in Paris.
Set in the garden of the Rodin Museum in the 7th Arrondissement is a great scene where the former First Lady of France (and former rock-and-roll groupie), Carla Bruni, gives a surprisingly believable portrayal as a museum curator.
There's a very romantic scene on the famous Japanese bridge that arches over Monet's equally famous lily pond. Only Woody Allen could get the gardens at Giverny for himself for a day to shoot the "I love you" scene with Gil and Inez.
Midnight in Pairs is an exploration of Paris and of the things we love about it, and there are dozens of additional scenes set in locations that show off the city. Here are just two —
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