Cinema Paradiso (aka Nuovo Cinema Paradiso)
Date: 1988
Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
Production Company: Cristaldifilm
Stars: Antonella Attili, Enzo Cannavale, Isa Danieli, Leo Gullotta
Location(s): Bagheria, Castelbuono Lascari, Cefalu', Chiusa Sclafani, Palermo, San Nicola L'Avena, Santa Flavia, and Termini Imerese, all in Sicily, and Roma, Italy
Region(s): Italy
Storyline:
A filmmaker, upon hearing of his old friends death recalls his early life in a small Sicilian village and the projectionist he befriends.
Additional Information:
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If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.
We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.
- Capture 1
- 27 Oct 2018
Roma. Monument to the fallen soldiers. Salvatore “Totò” Di Vita (Jacques Perrin) drives down Via del Corso towards Piazza del Popolo. advises Manuel Gurtner.
I should be a little further back and indeed standing, not at noon into the sun, in the middle of the Via del Corso! SJ
- Capture 2
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John Taylor advises that the town that stars in the film is Palazzo Adriano in the Province of Palermo, Sicily.
- Capture 3
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- Capture 4
- 23 Oct 2018
Palazzo Adriano identified by John Taylor.
John provides this traffic filled shot from ground level.
- Capture 5
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Probably the same square as before.
- Capture 6
- 23 Oct 2018
A clearer view of the council building by John Taylor.
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Manuel Gurtner enlightens us explaining that this is a view from the Piazza Castello to the splendid castle of Castelbuono. The construction began in 1317 and mixes Arab-Norman features with others typical of the castles built during the Hohenstaufen rule of southern Italy.
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With these steps leading up to it.
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- Capture 12
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The cinema is on the left.
- Capture 13
- 23 Oct 2018
Cinema and fountain. John Taylor reminds us that the Cinema building was a mock up and was removed when filming was completed.
The cinema set would have stood to the right in this image from John Taylor.
- Capture 14
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John tells us that Palazzo Adriano is a quiet town where little happens but old men sit smoking and the women gossip.
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- Capture 16
- 23 Oct 2018
Palazzo Adriano in located by John Taylor.
John took this wider view of the street in Palazzo Adriano where the 'Cinema Paradiso' was constructed.
- Capture 17
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An olive grove, I've got a small one for sale at 936 Palazetto, on the site www.propertiesumbria.com.
- Capture 18
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One of those towns listed above.
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The fountain pops up again, unless it was a prop and they wheeled it around wherever they went!
- Capture 21
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Solid church.
- Capture 22
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Nice gateway.
- Capture 23
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Projection onto a house wall, French windows and balcony.
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MMnnnnn???
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Don't know this one either.
- Capture 26
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Mussolini tarted up lots of Italian stations, imposing marble clad structures, this one, probably named for the film is "Hot John". Do they mean me? Manuel Gurtner adds that "This is probably not the railway station of “Giancaldo”, even compared to capture 45 later. In my opinion, an administration building or something in Mussolini style, masked with a fake station sign."
- Capture 27
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Church steps and panning.
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A street with an arch...but where?
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- Capture 34
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Could be any small Italian town.
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As could this.
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And this.
- Capture 38
- 31 Jul 2021
But here, a dock, harbour or seaside. Cefalú Pa, Sicilia, suggests Iain McGregor.
Seen from the harbour, Hamilton McMurray took this shot in 2017 whilst on a motoring tour of Sicily and had visited Cefalu to climb the Roca, which can be seen in the background.
- Capture 39
- 29 Jun 2026
Same place suggests Ian. The beach seen from the jetty at Cefalu' Pa in Sicilia confirms Mascorinne.
Mascorinne found no films showing on the Jetée at Cefalu now.
- Capture 40
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Same church, and steps as in 016?
- Capture 41
- 23 Oct 2018
John Taylor tells us that "The church is in use, being quite grand inside, and in the town hall a room has been set aside as a small museum dedicated to the film."
Taken from the same spot by John Taylor.
- Capture 42
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Another doorway.
- Capture 43
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Back to the cinema again.
- Capture 44
- 23 Oct 2018
The Church of Maria Santissima Assunta in Palazzo Adriano identified by John Taylor.
The Church of Maria Santissima Assunta captured by John Taylor.
- Capture 45
- 29 Oct 2018
Manuel identifies this as the railway station Lascari-Gratteri on the the single track main line between Messina and Palermo which serves as the fictional Stazione Giancaldo. The building from 1887 was demolished in the night of 22 February 22 2017.
Manuel provides the proof.
- Capture 46
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The train for Rome with teenage “Totò” (Marco Leonardi) on board leaves the small station of Giancaldo towards Messina.
- Capture 47
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The masked station sign of the stazione ferroviaria Lascari-Gratteri spotted by Manuel Gurtner.
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A larger city, so probably Palermo.
- Capture 49
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