Whether in front or behind the camera, Delon’s extraordinary presence will stay with us. All he had to do was enter a room and time seemed to stand still. We will remember his angelic face (having capsized the hearts of young girls and their mothers so much). A pure, icy, incisive blue, his eye rivalled the sky in its clearest winter shades. And quite naturally, Alain Delon felt like a fish in the Mediterranean sea on the French Riviera.
The legend of the French cinema, who left us last August at the age of 88, had assiduously frequented local shores. Interestingly, his career had actually started on the French Riviera. He would often say: “Nice is my childhood as an actor”. Several of his films had indeed been partially shot at the Victorine studios. “Joy House”, “The Gypsy” and “The Sicilian Clan” among them. Delon had even made local investments, buying “La Camargue” restaurant in Old Nice in the 1960s.
One of his big films was also shot in Cannes and Nice in 1963. “Any number can win” by Henri Verneuil filmed in the old-fashioned setting of the Palm Beach confronted a young wolf with a captivating physique and a legend of the French cinema, Jean Gabin. A gamble for a young, certainly promising actor who was not yet filling the movie theatres. And a successful bet it was.
Another great French Riviera moment for Alain Delon was the filming of “The Swimming Pool” in the fragrant and sun-baked Saint-Tropez countryside. The enchanting Ramatuelle heights thus witnessed one of the most beautiful couples in cinema miming a passion that, ten years earlier, had capsized their own hearts for real. Alain Delon was then adamant with the director Jacques Deray that Romy Schneider were cast for this film. He had personally gone to greet her as she got off the plane at Nice Côte d’Azur airport. Shortly before her death, Delon acknowledged that despite multiple and tumultuous relationships, Romy had been the great love of his life. The “magnificent lovers” were thus filmed at the edge of that emblematic swimming pool repeating the gestures, restoring the smiles of their past love, offering the French cinema overwhelming images of pure emotion. But this passion was definitively drowned in the waters of the pool as Delon quickly experienced a new adventure with the actress Mireille Darc…
A regular in the Principality
A small pied-à-terre in Monaco had once sheltered Romy Schneider and Alain Delon’s love. The actor thus had a particular affection for the Principality. A motor sports fan, he was an enthusiastic visitor of Formula-1 Grand Prix qualifying races, equally appreciating the Monte-Carlo Sporting Club gala evenings and the Hôtel de Paris splendour that he shared with his companion Mireille Darc.
In 2001, Alain Delon was a guest of honour at the 25th Monte-Carlo Circus Festival Gala under the Fontvieille big top. Surrounded by Prince Albert, Princess Stéphanie and Princess Antoinette, he had taken his place in the princely box, to the right of Prince Rainier III. Wearing the legendary red and white scarf, he had fervently applauded the winners of this great international event.
About twenty years earlier, while Princess Grace was still among us, another big name in the cinema had graced the Circus Festival with his presence. In 1955 Cary Grant, yet another seducer, was co-starring with Grace Kelly in “To Catch a Thief” by Alfred Hitchcock.
