by More than 400 movies feature locations in Venice, according to the MUBI site at http://mubi.com/lists/venice-city-of-dreams. The waterways, canals and remarkable architecture in Venice attract directors and film fans to the artistic roots of the city. Some films feature locations as backdrops while others focus on the drama provided by direct shots of well known locations. For seasoned travelers as well as for anyone who has not visited Venice, films provide access to memorable scenes.
More than 150 canals and more than 400 bridges on more than a hundred islands present an endless allure for viewers, actors and directors. Citing a few as classics, the MUBI site mentions films that provide extensive views of the city. Others include scenes as shown here from research provided by Fictional Cities at http://www.fictionalcities.co.uk/venicefilms.htm:
- Avenger of Venice: plush costumes and the Doge’s Palace
- Blame It on the Bellboy: palazzos along the Grand Canal
- Blume in Love: Piazza San Marco
- Bread and Tulips many backdrops
- Brideshead Revisited: Palazzo Contarini and Grand Canal
- Canal Grande: a gondolier at work
- Capriccio Veneziano: Academy of Music
- Casanova: Fondamenta della Misericordia and Nuove Scuola Grande
- The Comfort of Strangers: day and night views
- A Dance to the Music of Time: palazzos
- Dangerous Beauty: (aka The Honest Courtesan) recognizable views
- Death in Venice: a hotel on the Lido
- Don’t Look Now – classic views of the inside and outside of the Hotel Gabrelli Sandwirth, Riva degli Schiavoni, Piazza San Marco, Bauer Grunwald, Campo San Moise, Campo San Polo, Ponte Vinanti, Calle di Castel Forte, Ristorante Roma ner Ponte Scalzi, and Stazione Ferrovia Santa Lucia
- Eve: winter
- Everyone Says I Love You: Campo Santo Stefano and Campiello Barbaro
- Executioner of Venice: Santa Fosca and the Doge’s Palace courtyard
- A Few Days in September: recognizable views
- The Honey Pot: Palazzo van Axel near the Miracoli church
- In Love and War: Palazzo Barbaro balcony
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: Church of San Barnaba and Campo San Barnaba
- Italian Job: Campo San Barnabe
- League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: fictional destruction of Venice
- Lost Moment: look-alike but not authentic views
- Lovejoy – Death and Venice: Campo Sant’Angelo and Misericordia church
- Merchant of Venice: exteriors shots
- Monday Morning: sunny canals and La Maddalena church
- Moonraker: the Fondamenta della Misericordia
- Nest of Vipers: music student in 1930
- Night Train to Venice shots of Venice
- Othello: Miracoli church
- Senso: performance at La Fenice, canals , Rialto Bridge, campanile and marina, gondolas, Teatro La Fenice, Palladian Villa Godi Malinverni
- Story of Us: hotel near San Marco
- Summertime: St. Mark’s Square, Hotel Danieli, Café Florian, Pensione Fiorini, San Giacomo all’Orio, the Doge’s Palace, Rio dei Bareteri, San Marco
- Talented Mr. Riple: Piazza San Marco, Santa Lucia” train station, Cafè Florian, Piazza San Marco, the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, and Punta della Dogana
- Tempesta: rain in winter
- Thief Lord: graffiti
- Thief of Venice: Piazza
- Tourist: Santa Lucia railway station, Hotel Danieli, Palazzo Pisani Moretta, Hotel Danieli, Palazzo Vernier dei Leoni, Rialto Market, St. Mark’s Basin, Palazzo Franchetti, Fondaco dei Turchi – Museo Storia Naturale, Scuola Grande della Misericordia, Scomenzera Canal, Giudecca Canal, and the Grand Canal
- Venetian Affair: wet and unglamorous
- Venice Project: a palazzo
- Whisper in the Dark: Villa Condulmer in Mogliano
- Wings of the Dove: Venice in 1910
Scenes of Venice in movies have an allure that is irresistible. Truman Capote captured it in a short phase: “Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs in one go.”
