Since visiting Cannes on the French Riviera last year, I’ve wanted to do a post on all of the major Hollywood films that have shot there. I’ve previously written a blog post on the To Catch a Thief (1955) film locations in Cannes and now it’s time to look at Woody Allen’s Magic in the Moonlight film locations on the Côte d’Azur.
Magic in the Moonlight (2014) is set in the 1920s. An English Magician is convinced by an old friend to head to the South of France and expose a young American who claims she is a medium and a mystic. Whilst in the French Riviera, the English Magician gets caught up in the social life and realises it’s going to be difficult to unmask such a convincing psychic…
Nice, Antibes and Menton are all major Magic in the Moonlight film locations. However, some of the interiors were filmed in a nearby studio.
All of the Magic in the Moonlight Film Locations
Opéra de Nice Côte d’Azur,
Magic in the Moonlight opens at the Berliner Theatre, where Stanley Crawford’s Wei Ling Soo is performing a magic show. The exterior of the theatre is actually the Opera House in Nice.
Studios Riviera, 16 Avenue Edouard Grinda, 06200 Nice
The inside of the Opera House wasn’t used as a stand-in for the Berliner Theatre. Actually, this filming location took place inside Studios Riviera (also known as Victorine Studio). The interior includes the theatre itself and the backstage area.
It’s also likely that the interior of Stanley’s London home and the seance room was also shot in the Studio.
Hôtel Negresco, Promenade des Anglais, 06000 Nice
After the show at the Berliner theatre, Stanley and his old friend Howard Burkin meet for a drink at a Cabaret. The Hôtel Negresco is used as the interior of the Cabaret, and in my opinion, it’s criminally underused.
The Hôtel Negresco is known for resembling a funfair inside which sounds just bonkers. However, it would have located the scene which was supposed to take place in Berlin at the Hotel, no doubt about that. It just seems a shame!
Domaine Château du Rouet, Route Bagnols, 83490 Le Muy
This huge mansion in France was the filming location for Aunt Vanessa’s Villa. This location is possible one of the most consistent and authentic Magic in the Moonlight film locations as both the exteriors and interiors were filmed here.
Villa Eilenroc, 460 Avenue Mrs Beaumont, 06160 Antibes
Two rather beautiful French mansions shared the role of The Catledges’ estate. The first home, Villa Eilenroc, was utilised the most in Magic in the Moonlight. The party scene, the roof where Brice serenades Sophie and the tennis court are all notable scenes. The vast majority of the interior scenes feature the Villa.
This looks like my kind of party! Mr Gatsby would approve.
Would you LOOK at the colour of that water!
Villa La Renardière, 447 Chemin des Issarts, 06410 Biot
The second location for The Catledges’ estate is Villa La Renardière. The production company pimped out this filming location with even more flowers and lush gardens. The majority of the exterior scenes were at this Villa and the pool is on this estate. However, the room with the ships wallpapered on one wall is from this house.
On one site, the address listed was Villa La Renardière, 42 Chemin de la Degoutte, 06370 Mouans-Sartoux so I can’t be 100% sure, but I’m like 90% sure the one I’ve listed first is right.
This garden is my new happy place.
Cave Bianchi, 7 Rue Raoul Bosio, 06300 Nice
When Stanley first meets Sophie, the pair and their new friends head to a Jazz Club that supposedly plays ‘hot music.’ Incidentally, Cave Bianchi is actually a wholesale wine shop! Who’d have thunk?
Côte d’Azur Observatory, 96 Boulevard de l’Observatoire, 06300 Nice
One of the most unsurprising Magic in the Moonlight film locations, this is the Nice Observatory. It is the observatory that Stanley and Sophie hide in to escape the rain when their car won’t start.
Pointe des Cadéous, 83700 Saint-Raphaël
I’m not completely sure, but it’s likely that this is the beach where Stanley goes swimming in the rocks with Sophie and her mother. Those 1920s swimsuits are SO FETCH.
Beach near Maison Forestière du Dramont, 83700 Saint-Raphaël
Another beach locale! This Magic in the Moonlight filming location was used for the scene where Stanley keeps insulting Sophie about how she looks better in dim light and what not.
Sophie is also wearing the most gorgeous crisp white outfit in this scene. Just thought that was worth mentioning…
Hôtel Belles Rives, 33 Boulevard Edouard Baudoin, 06160 Juan-les-Pins
Three bars and restaurants in the Hôtel Belles Rives are used in a few different scenes. The La Passagère restaurant is used for Sophie and Stanley’s dinner on a charming balcony with the Mediterranean in the distance.
Brice and Sophie have a dinner in another part of the hotel later in the film when they discuss their honeymoon plans. And finally, Stanley and Howard have a drink in one of the Hotel’s bars later in the film.
Casino Barrière, bis, 2 Avenue Félix Faure, 06500 Menton
Stanley arranges a Press Conference to let the world know that he believes Sophie is actually a psychic. The press conference was filmed in Casino Barrière, right next to the Italy-France border.
Château Notre-Dame des Fleurs, 23 Allée des Eucalyptus, 06140 Vence
And now for the final Magic in the Moonlight filming location. Aunt Vanessa rests up in this rather lovely ‘medical centre’ when she is ill. It is actually just a really posh estate with quaint shutters and no doubt smells of eucalyptus.
Is there any part of the South of France that doesn’t sound like an absolute dream?
Have you visited any of the Magic in the Moonlight film locations on the French Riviera or watched the film? Let me know in the comments below!
Read next:
Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief Film Locations in Cannes, France