It is always a pleasure talking to Jonathan Lippman, a man whose encyclopaedic knowledge of classic movies is second to none, a true library of information and insight.

It is wonderful to chat about some of his favourite movies that were filmed right here on the Riviera.

Bonjour Tristesse was the first, a 1958 thriller, which kept the original title given to it by its author, Françoise Sagan. It starred Jean Seberg, Deborah Kerr and, a well know Riviera resident, David Niven. Juliette Greco made an appearance as herself in the movie. It was the day, in my opinion, when stars really shone. Otto Preminger was the director, a name that was synonymous with Hollywood at the time.

A Certain Smile, from the pen of Francoise Sagan (Un Certain Sourire), was next up. Joan Fontaine, a huge star, headed a cast including Rossano Brazzi and Bradford Dillman. It will probably be best remembered for the hit song, A Certain Smile, from the movie which is as evocative today as it was in 1958!

They don’t get any more Riviera or star studded than To Catch a Thief with Cary Grant and, of course, the star that turned into a princess, Grace Kelly. When it was filmed, there is a scene with Monaco in the background, little did Grace know that she would meet Prince Rainier and, well, we all know how this fascinating though tragic story unfolds. Alfred Hitchcock directed this, what many consider, one of his finest works.

Nice has its own studios that became a go to place for movies from the 50s onwards. Today it is used mainly for commercials, but at the time it was a hive of movie making. The Mad Woman of Chaillot, a comedy/drama from 1969) was filmed there, it starred the amazing Katherine Hepburn, a brilliant actress, together with Yul Brunner and Danny Kaye plus Charles Boyer and Donald Pleasance. Those names may not be familiar these days, at the time they were very famous.

Victorine Studios built a special set that replicated the Chaillot area of Paris for The Mad Woman of Chaillot. This set was used for the French-Italian movie by François Truffaut called La Nuit Americaine (Day for Night) in 1973. Part of the set may in fact still be in the studios. The studio still welcomes visitors and there is a cafe on site.

Lead image courtesy Mike Colquhoun