Shot on location - Films and TV-series: January 2017

28 January 2017

Palace of Versailles, France

In MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, the forty-sixth film by Woody Allen, American screenplay writer Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) discovers during a vacation in Paris that at 12 o’clock at midnight it is possible to travel back in time to the twenties of the last century.

"La Seine", Palace of Versailles, 6 August 2016

The movie was completely shot on location in and around the French capitol in July and August of 2010. Inez (Rachel McAdams), Gil’s girlfriend, by coincidence meets an old friend, the know-it-all professor Paul Bates (Michael Sheen) and his wife Carol (Nina Arianda). After a visit to the Rodin Museum, the two couples go to the Palace of Versailles. Only one scene was filmed here. It was done in one take of two and a half minutes while the camera, positioned on Le Parterre d’Eau (The Water Parterres), makes a turn of 180 degrees.

Gil, Inez, Paul and Carol pass one of the large vases and the Latona fountain. They are busy talking and hardly seem to notice the palace and the ponds.

Midnight in Paris, 0:08:39

Gardens of the Palace of Versailles, 5 August 2016

Midnight in Paris, 0:08:53

Latona fountain, 5 August 2016

Midnight in Paris, 0:09:47

Gardens of the Palace of Versailles, 5 August 2016

Midnight in Paris, 0:10:17

Palace of Versailles, 5 August 2016

When they continue their walk, they pass the statue “La Marne” from 1689, an allegory of the river east of Paris. The statue was designed by Étienne le Hongre and cast in bronze by Balthasar Keller.

Midnight in Paris, 0:11:00

"La Marne", Palace of Versailles, 5 August 2016

Palace of Versailles, 5 August 2016

Screenshots © Pontchartrain Productions

3 January 2017

Palace of Versailles, France

The third movie chronicling the life of Angélique in 17th century France, ANGÉLIQUE ET LE ROY (English title: Angélique and the King) from 1966, starts where the second film ended (see Merveilleuse Angélique). Angélique (Michèle Mercier) again becomes a widow when her husband Philippe de Plessis-Bellières (Claude Giraud) dies in combat with Flanders.

Angélique et le Roy, 0:51:30

King Louis XIV (Jacques Toja), the Sun King, sends Angélique on a secret mission to the ambassador of Persia (Sami Frey) in an attempt to persuade him to come to Versailles to sign a treatment with France that will enhance the diplomatic relations between both countries. At the same time a rumour is spread at the French court that Angélique has become the new mistress of the King, much to the displeasure of his current mistress, Madame de Montespan (Estella Blain).

Just as in the second film, several scenes were filmed in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles, perhaps at the same time. Again the King with Angélique and his entourage are walking in the gardens, while the camera pans from the Latona fountain towards Le Parterre d’Eau (The Water Parterres), a large terrace with two rectangular pools with fountains. The current setting dates from 1685.

Angélique et le Roy, 1:00:31

Latona fountain, Palace of Versailles, 6 August 2016

Angélique et le Roy, 1:00:39

Palace of Versailles, 5 August 2016

Angélique et le Roy, 1:00:44

Palace of Versailles, 5 August 2016

Angélique et le Roy, 1:01:00

Palace of Versailles, 5 August 2016

Between 1687 and 1694 the pools were decorated with reclining statues symbolising the rivers of France. The statue of “La Seine” can be seen twice in the movie. It was made by Balthasar Keller after a design by Étienne le Hongre. The palace itself, partially visible in the background, is also reflected in the pools.