Studios La Victorine

Anouk Aimée on the set of "Bad Meetings" by Alexandre Astruc (1955)

Located in Nice, France, Studios La Victorine were part of the glamorous, would be, French Hollywood begun in the late 1920's. Founded by Serge Sandberg and Louis Nalpas, the studio had its ups and downs and certainly made its mark on French cinema.


Many silent films were filmed at the Victorine during the 1920's. When the "talkie" came to prominence, the Victorine was one of the few French movie studios which adapted to the new technology... and profited.

The prop department of Victorine Studios

A resina Bacchus medallion from Victorine Studios, circa 1970

Elaborate sets at Victorine Studios

After World War II, Victorine experienced yet another boom-time as many filmmakers, screenwriters and actors flocked to Nice. During this time, the studio was responsible for such films as "Les Enfants du Paradis" ("Children of Paradise") by Marcel Carné (1943), "To Catch a Thief" by Alfred Hitchcock (1955) and "And God Created Woman" starring Brigitte Bardot (1956).

"Les Enfants du Paradis" by Marcel Carné (1943)

Perhaps the most famous movie shot at Victorine was the classic "La Nuit Américaine" ("Day For Night") by François Truffaut (1972). Truffaut made this film, which revolves around filmmaking itself, in direct homage to the studio.

François Truffaut on the set of "La Nuit Américaine" (1972)

François Truffaut and Jacqueline Bisset on the set of "La Nuit Américaine"

In 1999, a new company, Euro Media, took over the studios and renamed them "Riviera Studios." Their ambitious plans may, however, be in trouble - the City of Nice owns the property and in 2018 will be able to sell it for development... a future which may limit any further investment in the property. Quel dommage...