15 Jun 2009

HUGE MOVIE STUDIO IN MOROCCO

I don't do FUN MONDAY today hosted by Lil Mouse because the theme was what happened on my birthday and as I was born in the middle of World War II in Germany, there was nothing but sad things happening and nothing for a funny Monday.

Instead I show you the movie studios of Ouarzazate (Morocco). It is located at an altitude of 1,160 m in the middle of a bare plateau, south of the High Atlas Mountains. To the south of the town is the desert.

At present, it hosts one of the largest movie studios in the world, Atlas Studios. Several historical movies were shot on those studios, including

Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra,
Lawrence of Arabia,
The Man Who Would Be King,
Cleopatra,
Kundun,
Gladiator
and lately Alexander, Kingdom of Heaven and Babel. It was also the location of the November 26, 2006 episode of the television series The Amazing Race 10.

Our guide told us that when Bratt Pitt was there and heard that in some of the surrounding areas in the desert had no electricity, he payed for it. I thought this was a very generous gesture.

Of course they didn't let me in so I took pictures of what I could

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see the Ferrari in the background ?

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some of the remaining decor

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coming closer to the Ferrari

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it was a very bad fake !

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another funny looking decor

17 comments:

  1. Amazing that they have one of those there. What great photos...

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  2. What a strange place to have a movie studio, however it would add a sense of realism to the movie being filmed there.

    I agree that is a very bad reproduction Ferrari.

    Love those statues...I could imagine them in my garden...not! Lol.

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  3. Interesting spot for a movie studio.
    I just watched "The English Patient" the other day and much of it was filmed in Morocco. Wonder if some was done there?

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  4. Who would imagine a MOVIE STUDIO to be right smack in the middle of a desert!? LOL! - that is indeed a BAD imitation Ferrari! But a fun spot for photo's anyway!

    You asked about Krysti's Europe trip. I posted Amsterdam today only this time we need YOUR help! (or maybe even your son's!) LOL!

    Her London visit is posted here, here, and here!

    Other places are yet to come...

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  5. Wonderful post Gattina, great photos and so very interesting.

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  6. My son told me about the Kingdom of Heaven series. I think I will try to find it and watch it. I did watch part of it online.

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  7. Didn't know there was a studio there at all!! very unique shots!

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  8. I hear you Gattina. I too was born at the end of WW II. Not under the same hardships you were suffering, but still bad times.

    Thanks for sharing these great photos of the world's largest, and most unlikely location for, a movie theater. Loved your inside information about Brad Pitt and the Amazing Race. Do you watch this show? I love it for the glimpses that we get of places and cultures of the world.

    Instead of birthdate happenings, I have a little celebrity inside story that you may find interesting. Stop by if you have time.

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  9. What a fabulous post! And some of my favorite movies, too. My husband can't see "Lawrence of Arabia" enough, and I love "The Man Who Would Be King" *sniff-sniff*

    Happy Fun Monday, and please remember what I said about the historical events around your birthday: they may not be funny, but we should NEVER forget them!!

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  10. You lead such an interesting life. Imagine seeing the world's largest movie studio. Such interesting pictures.
    If you film from far enough back the car looks real.

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  11. Beautiful snaps. Liked the tag "Fake Ferrari". I never knew in the middle of desert there exists a film studio.

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  12. What a cool looking movie studio. It looks like you had a fantastic time in Morocco. I have to catch up!! Nice new heading photos too!!

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  13. wow i wonder how exciting to watch a movie in such as huge studio like that

    oh by the way Just want to hear your thoughts
    upon this article stating
    "iS money is the root of all Evil?"
    heres the link
    http://breaking-the-boundaries.blogspot.com/2009/06/is-money-root-of-all-evil.html

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  14. Very interesting and you did well I must say :) Thanks for sharing.

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  15. This muct have been very interesting to visit.:)

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  16. Gday Dear Gattina How interesting to have a movie studio in the middle of the desert there been some great movies made there .

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