On Location – Lisbon´s Cinematic Joys

Lisbon has so much to offer. A terrific scenery at the Tagus River, amazing architecture and an unique mix of relaxing and urban flair. This post is dedicated to my cinematic journey through Portugal´s capital. Enjoy! Obrigado!

On my first day, I walked towards the city center and stumbled across a nice place. The Cinemateca Portugesa is a museum with an integrated restaurant and library. It´s also a cinema with frequent outdoor screenings at their backyard. Bar included. They showed “Touch of Evil (1958),” starring Orson Welles, Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh, one day later on 9.30 pm. I was very lucky to buy the last remaining ticket in advance.  Follow me on my way from the entrance to the screening.

Neon sign which leads to the box office.

My ticket 🙂

A poster of Hitchcock´s “North by Northwest (1959)” with it´s Portugese title “Intriga Internacional.” Do you see the mysterious shadow in the background ? 😉

After walking a wooden staircase upwards, you enter a restaurant on the right. In the background a Portuguese poster of “Flying Leathernecks (1951)” aka “Inferno nas Alturas” with John Wayne, Robert Ryan and Janis Carter.

Some old school cinema chairs, cameras and posters of “Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs (1966)” starring Vincent Price and Susan Hart. Portugese title “Bikinis de Oiro” as well as “Top Hat (1935)” with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Portugese title “Chapéu Alto”

There´s actually a pub called “39 DEGRAUS.” Degraus is the Portugese word for “STEPS.” Fans of Hitchcock´s spy thriller “The 39 Steps (1935)” surely know the scene where mysterious Annabella (Lucie Mannheim) asks Hannay (Robert Donat) if he ever heard about the 39 Steps? His reply. “What´s that? A pub?” To watch this scene check my Insta post: The 39 Steps

Finally, the outside screening area. Great flair between Lisbon city houses and high trees. Touch of Evil (1958).

After the movie, I walked around the museum and noticed an old camera used decades ago.

I also visited the in-house library. “ESPELHOS DO FILM NOIR” is a Portugese documentation of mirror scenes in noir films. English title: Mirrors of Film Noir. The cover shows Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth in “The Lady from Shanghai (1947).”

The Cinemateca has a younger sister, which covers movies for children and helps with interactive learning to understand how pictures are made. Currently closed but will re-open soon. Pictured are Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Coogan in “The Kid (1921).”

The Cinema Sáo Jorge is just a short walk away. It´s a large theater which frequently shows classic movies.

Cheers to Thea von Harbou and Fritz Lang! Reading “Metropolis” which is the book template for the ground breaking movie with the same name released in 1927. I sat in a relaxing pub near the Tagus River.

Thanks for reading.

What do you think about this post?

Please share your thoughts and ask questions in the comment section below, write an E-Mail to marcel@classicmovieratings.com or follow Classic Movie Ratings on ‘Instagram’, ‘Twitter’ and ‘Facebook.’