Cristallo Hotel Spa & Golf, Dolomites, Italy Starring Role: The Pink Panther
Budding film comedian's should book into the
Peter Sellers suite, with its private Jacuzzi and hammam. This was the main
set for the classic 1963 film, The Pink Panther. The movie
features many parts of the Cristallo Hotel, particularly the guest rooms, since the film is essentially a comedy-of-misunderstandings actors spend a lot of time running in and out of various bedrooms. All good for showcasing the hotel. In the film there are a lot of comings-and-goings of lovers from various suites; characters hide themselves everywhere - under the beds, in the bathtub, in
the wardrobes and even out on the balconies - so viewers are treated to a virtual tour of the hotel. For one notable
scene, actor Niven had to launch himself from a first floor window into the
snow, at night, and at temperatures well-below freezing. For each of the three
takes, a blanket and hot drink awaited Niven under the window, out of sight of
the camer. After he was finished, hotel
owner Ofelia Menardi invited him to her home to recover, and he politely
removed his soaked shoes before entering.
Other
Leading Hotels of the World have also been tinged with Pink: Bayerischer Hof featured in The
Pink Panther Strikes again and the
Gstaad Palace was featured in The Return of the Pink Panther.