Lake Como Lovers: Location of a movie scene set on Lake Como
 

That movie is "A Month by the Lake" with Vanessa Redgrave.

I thought I'd ask our crack traveling team, someone here is bound to know.

I've visited Lake Como three times. I've seen this movie probably a dozen.

Both in the opening scene, and the ending scene, there is a long lakeside promenade with a view of the mountains. Vanessa's character takes several photos of the mountains in the opening scene, and in the final scene it shows Miss Bentley (Vanessa) and the Colonel slow dancing on the same promenade.

It isn't Como itself, I don't think, because the mountains in the scene look fairly steep and I don't see other "Como waterfront" points of reference. It isn't Villa Balbianello (which is where part of the movie is set). That scene looks less developed than Lake Como in general. Granted you only see the view from the promenade looking off into the Lake and mountains.

I wonder if it's Bellagio, looking north - but you'd see Varenna if that is the case. I don't recall seeing a village in this scene.

To see that scene - a large promenade, overlooking a broad length of lake and mountains in the distance - it seems that you would have to be looking north to get that view, and I can't picture where it is, exactly.

I kind of wonder if that final scene is Lake Garda...

Thanks for any thoughts!

I wonder if it is possibly Lake Lugano? I spent a night there, and it sounds a lot like your movie scene.

Flygirl, can't answer your question but it's fun to remember the film. Really love the story. Have you ever seen SUMMERTIME, set in Venice, with Katherine Hepburn and Rossani Brazzi (sp.?)?

It's 1955 vintage David Lean film with fabulous photography and a lovely story. Ah, Italy....

Have you looked at that DVD I sent you? I could well be the "backside" of the peninsula on which Bellagio is situated...and you might see that in the Lake Como clip. (Lake Lugano is also shown...)

Many scenes were filmed at Villa Balbianello near Lenno.
You also saw it in a James Bond film a few years ago.

I live in Como and have not seen the film. I had a look at the trailer and the scenes of the lake look more like Lake Garda than Lake Como but I am intrigued and will watch the film and report back!

Thanks for the replies! I must find it. The promenade (or perhaps more accurate to call it a large "platform" or large terrace of sorts?) has no railing - it goes straight up to the water's edge. It has a stunning view of the mountains and lake - and I don't recall seeing any villages along the shoreline or anything which is why I wonder if it is Lake Como or not...

I have not seen Summertime, but I guess I better! I did rent Don't Look Now from Netflix which I plan to watch this weekend.

uhoh - I did look at the CD, thanks! It really transported me to Lake Como again. I didn't see the "promenade/terrace" in it.

Bob, thanks. I know it isn't Villa B. The scene shows an expansive promenade/terrace with no railing - quite large - Villa B is almost cozy and definitely has intricate railings.

How I miss Lake Como...

nochblad, so glad you replied!

I wonder if it is Lake Garda, too. The beginning scene, where Vanessa is taking photos, and the ending scene. Both puzzle me. So pretty, I must find them.

nochblad, if it isn't too much trouble, do you mind emailing me? My email addy is in my profile here...

flygirl - don't get your address. I am [email protected]

Having difficulty locating film as cannot receive hulu or netflix in Europe but will keep on trying.

Villa Balbianello has been used in both a James Bond movie and Star Wars (prequel). Villa Erba (near Cernobbio) was used in one of the Ocean's film which was very convenient for George Clooney as his villa on lake Como is no more than 15 minutes away!

I think the town in the film is Cernobbio.

eks - do you have anything I can see on youtube or similar to see?

The trailer does not look like lake Como. Before seeing the lake I saw the rock formation which seemed more Garda than Como. Many films set in Italy flit between various lakes etc. The James Bond film in question started on Lake Garda, then went to the "cave" or marble quarries above Carrara in a matter of seconds and then ended up in Siena with an ending at Villa Balbianello on Lake Como!

nochblad

I have been trying to google this and haven't found much yet. I did find the trailer, but agree that isn't very helpful. The opening scene, and the ending scene, in the movie, linger on this long enough to identify what it is IF you know what you are looking for. And from what I've seen on the Lake, it doesn't ring a bell. Especially that promenade/terrace viewpoint.

eks, I haven't walked around Cernobbio yet but thought that some other scenes weren't midlake, either.

Thanks again for helping me out with this!

Anyone else have any ideas? Happy New Year!

Nochblad: I only found this reference, but had heard that some scenes were filmed there:

http://www.lakecomo.org.uk/cernobbio

For a while I lived in Cernobbio so I will be able to recognize locations if I can see the film.

In the trailer the rock face could be part of the mountain above Moltrasio but it seems more like Lake Garda to me as does the promenade/terrace scene. Quite frequently these films had numerous locations as well as using more than one week.

I think a trip to Blockbuster is called for!

Flygirl, I remember searching for the film's location for someone who didn't have a comuter. IMBD lists only Lake Como in Lombardy. A few sites I found said it was filmed at various parts of the Lake. Como is a huge lake, it makes sense.

Thanks again everyone!

I emailed Miramax. Let's see what comes of it...

And... Nochblad has found it! It's in Santa Maria Rezzonico, in the northern part of the Lake.

Hooray! Thank you to Nochblad!