From tourist views to American blockbusters
Although the film industry in Jamaica has never flourished, the island was nevertheless an object of interest for film makers from the very beginning of cinema. In the 1900's, many views were filmed for broadcast in Europe and the United States, contributing to Jamaica's notoriety as a vacation destination. The beauty of the landscapes and the exoticism of the colonial cities attract the eye. You can see some of these views online before you leave, if you feel like it.
The first feature film made in Jamaica was probably Daughter of the Gods
, a 1916 American film that has disappeared with a huge budget of one million dollars - now 26 million. It was one of the biggest productions of its time. The film is famous for the nude scene shot under a waterfall by actress and professional swimmer Annette Kellerman. It was mostly shot on a set built in Kingston, with over 20,000 people employed on the Jamaican set. Over the next few decades, Hollywood continued to use and promote the island's settings and landscapes. In 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the Disney Studios adaptation of Jules Verne's masterpiece, the Xtabi Caves near Negril are seen, sea caves that are now overlooked by a luxury hotel. For film lovers who prefer to stay dry, go to Ochos Rios where the film Cocktail, one of Tom Cruise's early films, was shot in 1988. The handsome actor served many drinks at the bar of Dragon Bay Beach, at the Sandals Royal Plantation Hotel, before going to lose himself in the Dunn Falls with his sweetheart (Elisabeth Shue). The actor will return several times on the island, most recently in 2010 for Night and Day, with Cameron Diaz. This time, it is on the side of Port Antonio that you will find the filming locations of the movie, and more precisely at Frenchman's Cove Beach. Since 2017, a tour operator regularly organizes guided tours of the island focused on the movie. Do not hesitate to ask for information when you arrive. Depart from Falmouth, Ochios Rios or Montego Bay, and get ready to discover the behind-the-scenes.From one Bond to another
In 1962, the world discovered the 007 saga in the cinema with James Bond vs. Dr. No, first episode and first appearance of Sean Connery in the role of the secret agent. Among the three films of the series shot on the island, it is Dr No that highlights the island the most, starting with the arrival of Bond at the Palisadoes Airport, today the Norman Manley Airport. Then, in Kingston and its surroundings, Bond discovers the joys of island life, just like his creator Ian Fleming. Fleming wrote most of his novels on the island, in his GoldenEye villa. A heavenly property converted into a hotel, where you can even stay with family or friends. If you don't have the time - or the budget - go to Laughing Waters Beach to re-enact the most famous scene from the film, when James meets Honey Rider (Ursula Andress, the first Bond girl
in the series), coming out of the water after a successful shellfish harvest. Sixty years later, it is in the guise of Daniel Craig that Bond will once again make a stop in Jamaica in Dying Can Wait, after at least two other episodes filmed on the island between Kingston, Oracabessa and Ochos Rios. Take the time to stop by the Carefree Couples Hotel, and ask for room D20. This is where Bond - as Roger Moore - spends the night in Live and Let Die, before heading to the Green grotto caves and the Rose Hall Greathouse, both of which are must-see locations during your stay. To find the filming locations of Dying Can Wait, you'll have to head for Port Antonio, whose piers and beaches were used for several sequences in this latest opus.And what about Jamaican cinema?
Compared to the number of films that the island has hosted, the number of Jamaican productions can be counted on the fingers of one hand, as well as those featuring the island's inhabitants. The most famous to date is undoubtedly Rasta Rockett. This cult film from the 1990s tells the incredible story of the four Jamaican athletes who participated in the bobsleigh races at the Calgary Winter Olympics in 1988. A story as funny as it is inspiring. But the first film directed by a Jamaican is probably Tout de suite, a crime thriller by Perry Henzell, released in 1972. Much darker than Rasta Rockett, it tells the story of the adventures and misadventures of a young Jamaican man who aspires to be a successful singer, but ends up tangled with drug dealers and crooked producers. With Jimmy Cliff in the role of the future singer, the film will leave its mark. From then on, Jamaican cinema was punctuated by stories of gangsters, corruption and drug trafficking, reflecting the realities and difficult life of the island's youth. Third World Cop (1999), Shottas (2002) or Better Mus Come
(2010) are some of the most famous Jamaican films. As far as cinemas are concerned, the island experienced a boom period in the fifties with more than eleven complexes in operation, drive-in cinemas and, due to the weather, many open-air cinemas. The history of the Jamaican cinema industry is closely linked to Audley Morais, founder of the Palace Amusement Co in 1921. After a fierce competition in the middle of the 20th century with the Tropical Cinema Company, it is today the only company to operate theaters in Jamaica. Among these, the Carib Cinema in Kingston is the oldest still in operation, open since 1938. The Palace Cineplex and the Ward Theatre, the island's oldest theater and a national monument, round out the city's movie offerings, while Montego Bay is home to the Palace Multiplex, which will welcome you to all the latest releases during your stay. And keep an ear out for many outdoor screenings during the high season.
