Page 362 - Livre Beau Rivage Palace

Fig. 1
‘OUCHYWOOD:
BRIEF ENCOUNTERS’
THE LUXURY HOTEL THROUGH
THE CAMERA’S EYE
Bruno CORTHÉSY
Any attempt to draw up a list of cinematic images of the to create even more. Because of the beauty of the surroundings,
Beau-Rivage Palace is bound to end in disappointment. And between 1934 and 1942 there were lengthy discussions of plans
despite the fact that the national film library, the Cinémathèque to build a major studio at Montreux, but they never materialised.
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Suisse, has its home in the same city, it offers researchers meagre The Swiss Film Commission, Film Location Switzerland, whose
rewards. Given the sheer magnificence of this prestigious hotel’s purpose, like that of other similar organisations in many other
decor and its ideal setting, it seems the obvious location for a countries, is to attract and assist foreign film crews working here,
film shoot. But we just have to accept that, apart from a few wisely chose Lausanne as its base in 2003 – sadly, a little too recently
promotional films for the tourist industry, some rare amateur to provide more examples of movies shot locally.
footage and a couple of brief appearances in full-length features, One of the main obstacles to shooting movies in deluxe
the Beau-Rivage Palace has not caught the camera’s eye as often hotels is the very nature of these establishments. They are designed
as we would expect. for a clientele in search of tranquillity and discretion, some of
Whichever way you look at it, Ouchy has everything to whom are year-round residents. Filming brings with it large
make it the perfect film location: sumptuous interiors, open numbers of people who make a lot of noise and clutter up the
spaces, greenery, an environment that blends the urban and the place. From an economic point of view the fees they pay do not
rural, historic backdrops, as well as its proximity to both water and compensate for the disruption caused or for the inconvenience of
mountains. The variety and diversity of settings are the answer having parts of the hotel temporarily blocked off. One example is
to any location scout’s prayers. The only thing lacking is reliable Kiss of the Dragon (2003) directed by Chris Nahon and produced
weather conditions to guarantee constant levels of light, the very by Luc Besson. Some of the action took place inside the Crillon
reason why the West Coast of the United States became the hub in Paris but filming was moved to the Montreux-Palace, the only
of the American film industry. The many movie personalities similar-looking hotel prepared to put up with the upheaval in the
known to have stayed at the Beau-Rivage Palace should perhaps low tourist season.
have taken note of its numerous advantages, but it is more likely Even so, the Beau-Rivage Palace has featured in a few films.
they were there to escape their professional problems rather than Legend has it that silent screen star Max Linder shot a film on the
Francis McCann, amateur film shot at Beau-Rivage Palace, date unknown [late 1930s].
The south side of the hotel can be made out in the background. McCann liked the idea
of creating pictures within pictures, which is why he had himself filmed while filming.
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Fig. 2
hotel quay. Unfortunately, like most of Linder’s output, it was lost. date. We are reduced to guessing from the clothes worn and the
In the many films commissioned by the city fathers to promote
fact that the men are moustachioed. The men in jackets or frock
the virtues of Lausanne, especially those of the holiday resort of coats sport straw boaters or bowler hats, while the apparently
Ouchy, the hotel forms part of the backdrop between the floral uncorseted women wear loose-fitting dresses and cloche hats. A
rough guess would suggest that the event took place in the 1920s
clock and steamers on the lake. But it is no more than a fleeting
image from which there is little to learn. or 30s. To date the images more accurately we would have to
However, the Cinémathèque Suisse houses a series of amateur
call on different disciplines and cross-check them with facts to
films donated to the collection in 2001. Shot in the hotel by one establish the time frame when they might have been filmed. The
of the residents, Francis McCann, these are silent, fairly short, films, history of fashion could tell us when such-and-such an accessory
sadly with nothing to identify them. As a result, we do not know first appeared, while the history of motoring could reveal when
when they were made and their subject matter is often unclear. a particular model came onto the market, and so on until we
Nevertheless, in one sequence, the south and north facades of can reduce the possible chronology to a matter of months. Then
the Beau-Rivage Palace are clearly recognisable, as are the hotel we would have to trawl through a list of major world events or
gardens (fig. 1). We see a large crowd of people gathered on the international conferences held at the Beau-Rivage Palace, of
lakeside terrace, greeting one another, standing around in groups which there were many, and correlate them with our approximate
chatting, with some individuals moving from group to group. timing. From this, a probable date might emerge.
They all seem to be waiting to enter the building. This elegant But what would it tell us that we do not already know?
assembly is a mixture of men of all ages and women wearing That people usually got all dressed up for such gatherings? That
frocks and hats. The event that has brought them together seems they would meet in the hotel gardens for a chat? That sort of
to be important since mingling with the crowd are journalists, information is unlikely to add to our knowledge of this moment
easily recognisable by their camera tripods and the characteristic in history. Our conclusion might be that ‘a picture speaks more than
pose adopted by users of Rolleiflex cameras. a thousand words’ – as a sensationalist celebrity magazine might
Another sequence, which may even relate to the same event, claim. By the same token, a thousand words may say nothing at all.
shows us a crowd of people leaving the north side of the building, Like the cameraman deprived of artificial lighting or the humble
apparently waiting to rush forwards into a line of waiting cars passer-by who cannot afford to patronise such establishments, we
(fig. 2). Once more, greetings are exchanged as luxury limos stop at the threshold of the hotel and hover on the fringes of the
advance in front of the steps. Limited by the technical capabilities colourful crowd without the faintest idea of what is going on.
of his film, the amateur cameraman could not take pictures inside Examining this kind of evidence leads us to conclude that
the inadequately lit building. He made do with – or had to put a picture per se reveals nothing. It only acquires meaning if the
up with – recording from outside the hotel. The comings and author had some purpose in mind when he took it. These films
goings he captures actually occur before and after the event. What were made by a resident whose hobby it was, simply because
happened during that event remains a mystery. he happened to be there at the time. Without knowing why or
In the absence of any tangible clues, it is impossible to put how the images came about, they make no sense and are merely
an exact date on these images. No one had the presence of mind, descriptive. To give a shot meaning requires a complex creative
as in any good spy movie, to open a daily newspaper in front process, which in cinema is commonly known as production or
of the camera so that we can see a close-up of the publication mise en scène.
Francis McCann, amateur film shot at the Beau-Rivage Palace,
date unknown [1930s].
The entrance on the north side of the Beau-Rivage is recognisable
from the metalwork awning and stonework.
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