Marina Bay, Singapore

 

In the film CRAZY RICH ASIANS Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), a university professor from New York, joins her fiancé Nick Young (Henry Golding) to go to the wedding of his best friend Colin (Chris Pang) in Singapore.

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Warning: the text may give away details of the plot. To her surprise Nick comes from a very wealthy and famous family. Because Rachel is of a more humble background herself, she is not accepted by everyone and is seen as a gold-digger by some. Especially Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh), Nick's mother, shows her disapproval. In spite of Nick's support, Rachel starts to doubt whether she should marry him.

The film was shot entirely on location in Singapore and Malaysia. Filming began on 24 April and was completed on 23 June 2017. Despite the story also being set in London, New York and Shanghai, no scenes were filmed here. 

Pedestrian bridge to Marina Bay Sands,
Singapore, 27 December 2019

The Republic of Singapore is a former British colony and consists of 63 islands. It is a city-state and thus has no capital. Tourism is an important source of income. Every year 18 million people visit the city, three times more than there are inhabitants. We visited Singapore on our way to New Zealand (exactly one year ago) and stayed there for a few days on the way back and forth. This was a great opportunity to explore the city. Those in transit can also make a short excursion of a few hours.

 

Even before Rachel and Nick arrive in Singapore, people speculate about who she is on WhatsApp. Some members of the app group are in the Marina Bay area. A striking building is Esplanade: Theatres on the Bay, a concert hall and a theatre in one building that was opened in 2002.

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Marina Bay, Singapore, 27 December 2019

The eye-catcher of the city is Marina Bay Sands, completed in 2010. This luxury hotel consists of three towers connected at the top by a roof construction including a 150 meters (490 feet) long swimming pool. An observation deck with spectacular views of the city is also open to non-guests for a fee.

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Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, 27 December 2019

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SkyPark observation deck Marina Bay Sands,
Singapore, 27 December 2019

Rachel and Nick arrive in town at the beginning of the evening. At Marina Bay stands the water-spitting statue of Merlion, half lion and half fish. It was designed in 1964 as the logo of the Singapore Tourism Board and has since become a symbol of the city.

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Merlion, Marina Bay, Singapore, 27 December 2019

The wedding was filmed in Chijmes on 30 Victoria Street, a former Catholic convent that is now used as a wedding venue.

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Chijmes, Singapore, 27 December 2019

Astrid (Gemma Chan), a cousin of Nick, confronts her husband Michael (Pierre Png) with his affair. He angrily gets out of the car on Fullerton Road, just before the Anderson Bridge.

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Fullerton Road, Singapore, 27 december 2019

Gardens by the Bay,
Singapore,
27 December 2019

The wedding reception takes place in Gardens by the Bay, a large nature park in which a sustainable environment is central. Construction started in November 2007 and took four years. In addition to two greenhouses, the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest, the park is dominated by gigantic structures, 'supertrees', which serve as vertical gardens. Some of these supertrees are connected to an elevated walkway. Because the number of simultaneous visitors is limited, there may be a waiting time. Although we had to wait for a while we were lucky, during our visit the observation deck of the tallest tree was opened to the public. For more information, see the website Gardens by the Bay.

In the evening, the park is illuminated in a fairytale style. When we were there there was a Christmas light show. In the background you can see one of the greenhouses and again the Marina Bay Sands.

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Gardens by the Bay, Singapore, 27 December 2019

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Gardens by the Bay, Singapore, 27 December 2019

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Gardens by the Bay, Singapore, 27 December 2019

When Nick's grandmother (Lisa Lu) also turns against Rachel, she leaves the reception disappointed. The next day Nick finds her at Queen Elizabeth Walk at Marina Bay. In the background the Anderson Bridge can be seen again.

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Queen Elizabeth Walk, Singapore, 27 December 2019

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Queen Elizabeth Walk, Singapore, 27 December 2019

Rachel leaves in a taxi to the airport which takes her over the Esplanade Bridge. At the bottom left the statue of Merlion pops up again.

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Marina Bay, Singapore, 27 December 2019

In the end, everything turns out fine and fireworks are lit at the Marina Bay Sands. No firework however during our visit.

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Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, 27 December 2019

View from SkyPark observation deck Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, 27 December 2019

Screenshots © Warner Bros/Color Force/Ivanhoe Pictures

 

Doune Castle, Scotland

 

For the filming of MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL, a comic take on the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, the producers initially had permission from the National Trust for Scotland to film in several castles conserved by this organisation. Two weeks before filming permission was withdrawn for fear of damage.

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It was decided to film as many scenes as possible in Doune Castle in the Stirling district of central Scotland. This castle was privately owned and the owner, Lord Moray, had no objections. The history of the castle dates back to the 14th century when it was built over a period of 20 years by order of Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany. Over the years there have been several owners and the castle has served as a hunting lodge and as a prison, among other things. Remarkably, over the centuries the building has changed little.

 

Doune Castle, 1 August 2011

Filming started on 30 April and was completed on 12 June 1974. The castle is open to the public. During our visit, on a day full of rain almost 10 years ago, a separate room had an exhibition about the movie. It was also possible to book an audio tour, narrated by Monty Python member and director Terry Jones. More information about a visit to the castle can be found on the website Historic Environment Scotland. Since our visit, television series Game of Thrones and Outlander were filmed at Doune Castle.

 

Engeland, 932 A.D. King Arthur (Graham Chapman) and his squire Patsy (Terry Gilliam, who turns 80 today!) are searching for knights for his Round Table in several episodes. This is the west side of the castle.

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Doune Castle, 1 August 2011

The Great Hall represents the castle of Camelot, where the knights have a song and dance.

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Great Hall, Doune Castle, 1 August 2011

In search of the Holy Grail, Arthur and the knights come to a castle occupied by the French. The knights are attacked with barnyard animals. They try to enter the castle with a 'Trojan rabbit'. This is the tower at the corner of the west and south side.

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Doune Castle, 1 August 2011

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Doune Castle, 1 August 2011

In 'The Tale of Sir Galahad' Sir Galahad (Michael Palin) ends up in Castle Anthrax, where only young women live. This scene is filmed in the kitchen of Doune Castle.

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Keuken, Doune Castle, 1 August 2011

The following episode, 'The Tale of Sir Launcelot', is set in the courtyard and in the Duchess Hall of the castle. In the film this is Swamp Castle, where Sir Lancelot (John Cleese) thinks he is saving a princess from a marriage she does not want but instead finds Prince Herbert (Terry Jones).

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Doune Castle, 1 August 2011

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Duchess Hall, Doune Castle, 1 August 2011

In addition to Doune Castle, a few scenes were filmed at Castle Stalker, which can be seen in the movie as Castle Aargh. The castle, also privately owned, is a tower house built in the 15th century on an island in Loch Laich. Visiting can be arranged by prior appointment only, see the website.

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Castle Stalker, 3 August 2011

Screenshots © Python (Monty) Pictures/Michael White Productions