Splendid scenery, a sunny climate, a glamorous atmosphere... In a few decades, the French Riviera became an endless playground for directors. Over 100 films have been shot in the region, contributing to its international renown. Among the pioneers, To Catch a Thief (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954) focuses on its sunlight. A cult passage shows Grace Kelly and Cary Grant in an elegant blue Sunbeam Alpine, racing around the bends of the Grande Corniche linking Nice to the Italian border. Before coming under the spotlights for its famous ‘‘Gendarme’’ played by Louis de Funès (Jean Girault, 1964), Saint-Tropez first served as the backcloth for the cult movie And God Created Woman (Roger Vadim, 1956), propelling Brigitte Bardot everywhere, from Quai Frédéric Mistral to Rue Cepoun San Martin.

Hosting the studios of La Victorine in 1919, Nice has also been a choice backdrop for many feature films such as La Nuit Américaine (François Truffaut, 1973) and La Baie des Anges (Jacques Demy, 1960). From the Riviera shores to sumptuous seafront residences, a variety of unique panoramas inspired the greatest movie-makers. Titles include Le Grand Bleu (Luc Besson, 1988), immortalizing underwater scenery, and James Bond, Never Say Never Again (Irvin Kershner, 1983), highlighting the charm of ‘‘Belle Époque’’ villas and the Casino of Monaco.