Prague as Film Set
Filmed in Prague: when in Prague for the first time, you may have the feeling that you have been here before. Not so strange after all. Prague’s cobbled streets, Baroque mansions and the Vltava River are extremely picturesque and authentic. The Czech Republic has a long tradition of movie making and Prague is favoured as film set by film and television series directors.
When strolling through Prague, you will often see notices saying: Po 25.11.2013 (or another date) MIMO FILM; from pondělí (Monday) film shooting will start here. It is quite fun to stand at the barrier and watch the activity of the actors and directors for some time.
Filmed in Prague: Ideal Film Set Location
Reminiscent of Paris, Vienna and even London, Prague is the ideal film location because shooting a movie in the Czech Repuplic’s capital is far cheaper than doing so in Paris or any other metropolis. The narrow alleys and the Baroque mansions in Prague Castle and the Stare Mesto districts are very popular with film directors. Many famous movies are filmed in Prague. The cobbled streets and the River Vltava prominently feature is the movie Amadeus. Films and television series that are set in Paris are often shot in Prague. Only when paying extra attention, you will discover that the background is Prague and not Paris.
Maigret TV series filmed in Prague
The popular television series Maigret with the French born actor Bruno Cremer was shot in Prague whereas the story takes place in Paris. Production cost in Prague was much lower than in Paris many extras were Czechs and their voices were dubbed. The directors were very careful when filming various scenes and always avoided taking shots of things typical of Prague. The films never show the mosaic inlaid pavements or the double house numbers so common in Prague. Only one error occurred. When filming the Vltava embankment, supposed to be the River Seine, an iron train bridge is clearly visible. No such bridge spans the Seine in Paris.
Films Shot in Prague
Many films were shot completely or partly in Prague. It is impossible to list them all. Here are a few: Mission Impossible, Amadeus, The Bourne Identity, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Oliver Twist, Casino Royale and many more.
Filmed in Prague National Museum
The National Museum on Wenceslas Square is a stately building with a sweeping central staircase. Filmmakers think so too and love to shoot their films in this museum. In Casino Royale, James Bond leaves a hotel in Venice in search of a femme fatale who seduces him and then run off with his winnings. This takes place in the museum with the staircase in the background. In the film The Red Baron you see the National Museum again, but now it is castle in Germany.
Casino Royale and Prague
In addition to the National Museum on Wenceslas Square, many scenes in Casino Royale, the 2006 James Bond film, were filmed at locations in Prague. The opening scene was filmed in the Danube House office complex in the Karlin district. The Strahov library is also seen in the movie. The scenes at Miami airport were actually filmed in Prague airport and the Vitkov mausoleum is an exhibition space in Miami.
Amadeus, Forman and Prague
The Czech-American director Milos Forman, was born as Jan Tomas Forman, went to the film academy in Prague. In 1968, he fled Czechoslovakia and settled in the United States. The 1984 film Amadeus made him world famous overnight. Amadeus is set in Vienna but large parts were shot in Prague. The narrow cobbled streets in Mala Strana are clearly recognizable.
The Illusionist and Prague
De Illusionist also plays in Vienna, but was filmed in Prague and Tabor. The Vinohrady Theater serves as the theater in Vienna. Other scenes were shot in Cafe Imperial. The gateway to Prague Castle represents the Hofburg Palace. Cesky Krumlov is the town where Eisenheim lived in his youth. The Crown Prince’s castle is Konopiste. All other scenes were filmed at the Barrandov Studios in Prague. More about Barrandov studios
Child 44 and Prague
Child 44 produced by Ridley Scott, and directed by Daniel Espinoza, was shot in Prague and other parts of the country, including Ostrava, Kladno and the former military base in Ralsko. A scenes in the Moscow underground were filmed at metro stations Andel and Smíchovské nádraží as the Prague metro system is a carbon copy of the Moscow metro.