Rialto Bridge, Accademia Bridge, Gondoliers

Venetian Palaces and buildings reflect the ancient power of the Republic of Venice. Piazza San Marco is the perfect backdrop for countless films. Orson Welles’ Othello was a herculean effort. The original cut premiered in Cannes in 1952. Welles directed, produced and had the lead role, which he performed in black-faced makeup. Welles original black and white images of the Piazza instantly transport the viewer to the Venice of Shakespeare’s time. Welles’ Othello is unavailable and the controversial restored versions are out of print due to bitter court battles.

The Rialto Bridge is Venice’s most famous bridge. The Merchant of Venice has been produced a number of times but it is Michael Radford’s 2004 version of The Merchant of Venice, premiered in Venice, starring Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons and Joseph Fiennes that is most powerful. In The Merchant of Venice, Shylock (Al Pacino) and Antonio (Jeremy Irons) watch as Jews are thrown off the Rialto Bridge into the Grand Canal.  Then Later, Bassiano (Fiennes) falls off the bridge. TheAccademia Bridge is also featured in the movie.

Gondoliers hold a special place in the films of Venice. In 1958, director Dino Risi brought Venice, The Moon and You to the screen. Based on the Henry James novel, the film has a famous catfight near The Rialto Bridge. Bepi the Gondolier played by Alberto Sordi wants to marry Nina, Marisa Allasio, but must decide to leave the many other women in his life.

007, James Bond in Venice

007 Agent, James Bond first showed up in Venice in From Russia With Love starring Sean Connery in 1963.  In 1979, Bond starring Roger Moore returned to Venice in Moonraker. Some filming takes place at the Monastery of San Nicolo, on the Lido. In another scene, Bond is making his way through Piazza San Marco on a motorized gondola hovercraft as he tries to escape his enemies. Casino Royale starring Daniel Craig as Bond returned to Venice again in 2006 in the remake of Casino Royale.  There are high-speed boat chases through the canals, a view of the Accademia Bridge and a heart stopping foot chase in San Marco Square. Bond pursues the villains and eventually gets locked in a sinking building where Bond’s vulnerability is finally exposed with the death of Vesper (Eva Green).

The Grande Canal cuts through the heart of the city. The Canal is lined with endless examples of Venice’s architectural wonders. Many directors have chosen the Grande Canal with its open expanse of water and the beautiful structures that line it as the setting for pivotal scenes in their films. The thriller The Tourist (2010) starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie, possibly unjustifiably slammed by the critics, relied heavily on the setting and its stars. The movie locations launched an entire new appetite for tourism in Venice. The Tourist won 2 Teen Choice Awards, was nominated for 3 Golden Globes and took in a massive worldwide box office.