Monaco: land of film… and manga

Monaco has provided the backdrop for numerous films. The Principality also offers a stage for comic books.

Ever since cinema was born, the Principality has attracted lots of directors – more than 300 films have been set in Monaco. Back in 1905, Georges Méliès, one of the inventors of cinema, came up with An Adventurous Automobile Trip (also known as Paris to Monte Carlo), a silent film recounting a road trip by Belgian King Léopold II… In the 1960s, the Principality hosted up to ten film shoots per year.

Another of Monaco’s unique features which is often seen on screen is the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Shot in 1966, Grand Prix depicts the battle on the track between James Garner (who did his own driving) and Yves Montand. Graham Hill, Jack Brabham, Jim Clark, Juan Manuel Fangio, and Denny Hulme (who won the championship that year) can also be spotted in the film…

In Weekend of a Champion, it was Roman Polanski’s turn to delve behind the scenes of the Grand Prix, as he followed champion Jackie Stewart for a weekend, from his hotel to the start line. Popular cinema has also shone a spotlight on the street circuit, such as Disney’s Herbie Goes to Monte-Carlo (1977) and Iron Man 2 (2010).

Monaco also features in another artform: comics. The Principality can be found in the first Monegasque manga series, created by Shibuya Productions: Blitz. Created with world champion Garry Kasparov, the book immerses readers in a chess tournament taking place at the Casino de Monte-Carlo.

Other well-known comics are also set in the Principality, including a volume in the Michel Vaillant series, Panic in Monaco.

Finally, Albert I, the Explorer Prince, by Philippe Thirault, Christian Clot and Sandro, tells the story of the exceptional life of Prince Albert I.