A string of islands, a land of movie stars
While American cinema was certainly born in the studios of New York, Florida is not to be outdone, and for a long time ranked third among the most powerful territories in terms of production. It was even considered by the first filmmakers as their land of choice, before they turned to California, with its more stable weather conditions. However, cinema never deserted the state and its main city, Miami, where Alan Crosland (director of The Jazz Singer) made his debut. As early as 1906, Kelly's Theatre - the region's first movie theater - welcomed a loyal audience, and numerous small studios continued to film in the area, setting the stage for the production of the second half of the twentieth century. Released in 1941, the musical Rendezvous in Miami will give you a glimpse of what the atmosphere was like at the time, with the luxury and glitz of the grand hotels.
After the war, Alfred Hitchcock brought Miami to the screen in The Chained Ones (1946), starring Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman. Two years later, it was John Huston's turn to take the great Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall to the city and its hotel landscape, with Key Largo (1948). A detective drama with film noir overtones, it's one of the classics of this important period genre. Incidentally, Key Largo, formerly known as Rock Harbor, is named after this film. This has been the case since 1952, in a clever territorial marketing maneuver to attract Bogart fans. Less memorable, The Adventures of Captain Wyatt takes you to the Everglades for an epic confrontation between hostile nature and courageous soldiers, in a film that has certainly aged but is still worthy of interest.
It was in the 1960s that the number of films shot skyrocketed, with the notable arrival of the James Bond franchise. In Goldfinger (1964), several scenes - including the mythical rigged card game - take place at the Fontainebleau Hotel, still in operation today. If you were hoping to stay in the same room as Sean Connery, you should know that he never set foot in Miami for this shoot, as the interior scenes were shot in a studio. The following year, Operation Thunder also stopped off in Miami to capture a parachute jump scene, before heading off to the Bahamas for the rest of the shoot. Finally, James Bond returned to Florida as Timothy Dalton in Permit to Kill (1989). For this opus, the Seven Mile Bridge will be prominently featured in the chase with the van carrying the diabolical drug trafficker Franz Sanchez, before the latter disappears into the waves. As for the islands, the production will also take advantage of many of Key West's iconic landmarks, such as the Ernest Hemingway Home, the airport, Mallory Square and the Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea.
Florida and Miami's history is also reflected on screen in the now cult gangster films Godfather II by Francis Ford Coppola (1974) and Scarface by Brian De Palma (1983). While the former only stops off in Miami for a meeting between Michael Corleone and Hyman Roth, the latter takes place entirely in Miami. Unfortunately, you won't be able to visit the sets of this film in Florida either, as - due to the overcautious attitude of the Film Office towards the subject - it will be filmed mainly in California. Still, you can test your seduction skills like Manny and Tony around the pool at the Fontainebleau, the city's premier movie venue.
However, it was at the Cardozo Hotel and the Edison Hotel that one of the cult scenes in Mary at Any Price (1997), starring Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller, was filmed. The Miami-Dade Cultural Center and the River Walk Trail are also featured in this easy-going romantic comedy, perfect for a relaxing break between two visits. Since the early 2000s, Miami and South Florida have played host to such blockbusters as the second installment of the Fast & Furious saga (2003), The Transporter 2 (2005) and Iron Man 3 (2013). In 2016, it's Miami-Dade director Barry Jenkins' Moonlight that's making its mark, with its unique portrait of young Chiron, from youth to adulthood. Filmed mostly in the Liberty City neighborhood, Moonlight won the Oscar for Best Film in 2017, and was acclaimed by the international press. A must-see, to better understand the tribulations and issues of the inhabitants of these underprivileged neighborhoods, far from the idyllic postcards.
Miami in series
While the first TV series filmed in Florida date back a long way, such as Flipper the Dolphin (1964-1967), it was in the 1980s that the city earned its stripes on the small screens with Miami Vice (1984-1990). Filmed mainly around South Beach, this detective series broke with the codes of the genre by infusing its settings and plots with a New Wave ambience, with a very pop feel that won't escape the curious. And if you don't have the courage to tackle all five seasons of the series, take a look at the film of the same name, starring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx, released in 2005.
Subsequently, the series Dexter (2006-2013) and Bloodline (2015-2017) put Florida back on the map of binge-watchable soap operas, and many tour operators can take you to discover these filming locations, between Miami and the Keys.
Enjoying movies in Florida
Every year, several major film festivals in Miami, Palm Beach and Jacksonville welcome tens of thousands of cinephiles in search of new discoveries. If you have a bad time, don't worry. A dozen cinemas with over a hundred screens are at your disposal in Miami, from the large AMC Tamiami complex to the small Tower Theater, whose history is nonetheless stormy and exciting. And if you're a movie buff, you'll want to head north to Orlando to visit Universal Studios Park, where you can relive cult films such as Jaws and Jurassic Park. Make the most of it, you're in film country after all.
