CULTURE ❘ EIFFEL TOWER TOUR DE FORCE
Few famous monuments have had a more impressive movie career than the Eiffel Tower. As a fi lm about its construction hits cinemas, Peter de Villiers looks back at the iconic structure’s big screen appearances
T
all, luminous and gorgeous from every angle, the Eiffel Tower is the perfect movie star. Small wonder, then, that France’s most recognisable structure has popped up in fi lms for decades. And what a ride it’s been – from acting as a jungle gym for the world’s most famous spy and being rescued by a superhero, to inspiring both a founding father of the French New Wave and a rodent with rare culinary skills. During that time, the Eiffel Tower has been an excellent co-star – doing its job without ever hogging the limelight. Next month, that’s all set to change. In director Martin Bourboulon’s new fi lm, Eiffel, the monument takes centre stage. Set in 1880s Belle Époque Paris, we follow Gustave Eiffel (Romain Duris) as he embarks upon the mammoth task of building what would become one of the world’s best-loved landmarks. The fi lm also explores the role played by Adrienne Bourges (Emma Mackey), whose relationship with Eiffel shaped the skyline of Paris. As we delve into the Tower’s history, it’s the perfect time to look back at the monument’s cinematic past. Whether it’s being destroyed, acting as a platform for musical numbers or offering a porthole to another world, La Tour Eiffel remains a towering presence on screen.
THE LAVENDER HILL MOB (1951) So, here’s the plan. Hijack a consignment of gold bullion in London, melt it down and turn it into small Eiffel Tower paperweights so you can smuggle it off to Paris. The only snag for the mob in this Ealing Comedy starring Alec Guinness and Stanley Holloway is that when they catch up with their loot at a kiosk at the Eiffel Tower, six of the souvenirs have accidentally
been sold to British schoolgirls. And there’s more bad news – one of the girls plans to give her mini Eiffel Tower to her friend, who happens to be a policeman. While the Eiffel Tower holds its own (both in miniature and full-size form) in the movie, it has some of its thunder stolen by an up and coming actress who would go on to have rather decent career. Look out for a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo from Audrey Hepburn in this classic crime caper. Tower rating:
FUNNY FACE (1957) Few fi lms salivate over Paris quite like Stanley Donen’s 1957 musical, whose cast literally sings the praises of the City of Light. Audrey Hepburn plays Jo Stockton, a New York bookshop assistant who has just the right look to be the new face of fashion magazine Quality. Problem is, she won’t play ball with publisher Maggie Prescott (Kay Thompson) and photographer
Dick Avery (Fred Astaire). Then she fi nds out the next shoot will be 92 ❘ FRANCE TODAY Aug/Sep 2022
Romain Duris (left) as Gustave Eiffel, in a scene from Eiffel
in Paris. The excitement the trio feel at being in the French capital is summed up with jaunty number Bonjour Paris, where the characters run through their plans for the trip in a sequence that stitches together more must-see sights than a tourist offi ce video. After a full day, all three agree there’s “something’s missing, there’s one more place to go”… Cue a gorgeous shot of the Eiffel Tower fronted by fountains as the trio take a lift to the top of the monument and enjoy panoramic vistas from the viewing platform. Tower rating:
THE GREAT RACE (1965) Whether it’s aliens in Mars Attacks!, puppets in Team America or an asteroid in Armageddon, Hollywood loves blowing the Eiffel Tower to smithereens. Perhaps the most unexpected – and certainly the most comical – destruction arrives at the end of The Great Race, Blake Edwards’ sweeping action adventure that sees the dashing Great Leslie (Tony Curtis) challenge the dastardly Professor Fate (Jack Lemmon) to a car race from New York to Paris. After a hectic journey which includes
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