Hollywood's elite gathered in Los Angeles on 24 February to present the Oscars for the 85th Academy Awards. With the winners still celebrating their achievements, we take a look at some of the luxury hotels that have played uncredited roles over the years, providing the perfect backdrop for some unforgettable scenes.HELLO! Online has found eight of the best hotels that have made an appearance on the big screen, from the luxurious Beverly Hilton – the location for some key scenes in Argo – to the St Regis Princeville resort in Hawaii – which welcomed George Clooney when he was filming The Descendents. Read on for behind-the-scenes info on the exclusive hotels that have hosted some of Hollywood's most memorable films...
The Beverly Hilton, ArgoActor-turned-producer Ben Affleck celebrated as his film Argo took three gongs – including Best Picture – at this year's Academy Awards. The film – which also scooped two BAFTAs, for Best Film and Best Director – is based on the 1980 escape of six Americans from Iran during the revolution. But it was a hotel closer to home that became a location for some of the scenes, with Ben and his crew setting up shop in the four-star Beverly Hilton hotel and its glamourous Stardust rooftop on the exclusive Penthouse level. The VIP space served as the backdrop for the cocktail party celebrating the "launch" of the fake film Argo that the CIA conjured up as a cover to rescue the stranded Americans.
St Regis Princeville Resort, Hawaii, The DescendantsWith tropical palm trees, acres of white sand and glorious sunshine, the Hawaii island of Kauai has been a favourite with filmmakers, with South Pacific, Pirates of the Caribbean and Jurassic Park all being shot here. On the idyllic island, George Clooney plays a lawyer who faces the difficult decision on whether to sell his family's share of virgin sand, lush mountains and waterfalls to developers. The luxurious St Regis Princeville Resort serves as a glorious setting for several scenes and was a natural choice for director Alexander Payne as the property featured in the book.
Scenes were shot in the resort's lobby as well as in the elegant Presidential Suite, located on the hotel's top floor and boats spectacular views of Hanalei Bay and the surrounding mountains.
The St Regis Atlanta, Flight Oscar nominee Denzel Washington mentions the luxurious St Regis Hotel in Flight with a quick one-liner: "Meet me at the St Regis." Nominated for two awards – Best Actor for Denzel and Best Original Screenplay for John Gatins – Flight filmed scenes in the exquisite enclave of Buckhead just a few miles from downtown Atlanta. The award-winning Wine Room was transformed into an executive breakfast buffet for the scene with Denzel and his character's lawyer, played by Don Cheadle. The authenticity of the glamorous hotel, which offers personalised wine flights and tastings, was retained in the movie by featuring its original furniture.
Hotel Le Bristol, Midnight in ParisDavid Beckham's new Parisian pad is another A-list favourite, with former star clientele including Rita Hayworth, Charlie Chaplin, Mick Jagger and Princess Grace of Monaco. The elegant building in the heart of the French capital also played host to a film crew when much of Wood Allen's Midnight in Paris was set in its exclusive Panoramic Suite. The comedy, for which Woody Allen took Best Original Screenplay in 2012 and was nominated for Best Picture, sees Rachel McAdams and Owen Wilson play a holidaying couple. An authentic Parisian feel is evoked by the suite's French paintings, antique mirrors and Louis XV furniture.
Park Hyatt Tokyo, Lost in TranslationSofia Coppola's Lost in Translation won the Academy Award in 2004 for Best Original Screenplay and many of the film's key scenes were shot in Tokyo's Park Hyatt hotel. The film focuses on characters Bob, played by Bill Murray, and Charlotte, portrayed by Scarlett Johansson, as they build up a rapport in one of the hotel's best spots – the top-floor New York Bar. Situated on the 52nd floor of the skyscraping hotel, the bar provides breathtaking views of Tokyo's skyline and Mount Fuji, and serves up such classic cocktails as Manhattans, cosmopolitans and caipirinhas. The 47th-floor swimming pool, complete with glass roof, is an oasis where Bill Murray went for head-clearing swims in the film, for which he was nominated a Best Actor Oscar.
