I'm not talking about the FIAT factory here, I'm referring to the one which is a bit like a tricorn hat. They drive up a ramp and spread out to the three arms of the building.
Does anyone know what that building is or who designed it?
Palavela, formerly known as Palazzo delle Mostre and Palazzo a Vela is an arena in Turin, Italy, on the bank of the River Po. It was designed by engineer Franco Levi and architects Annibale and Giorgio Ricotti. The arena is 130 metres in diameter. Originally built for the Italia '61 Exposition, Palavela was renovated for the figure skating and short track speed skating events at the 2006 Winter Olympics. It also hosted some events of the XXIII Winter Universiade in 2007. It hosted the 2010 World Figure Skating Championships in March.
It has a seating capacity for a maximum 12,000 people, and 9,200 when configured for basketball games. The arena hosted the 2008 ULEB Cup Final Eight and also the same event under the competition's new name of the Eurocup in the 2008-09 season.
At the time this film was made, it was being rehabbed as the Torino aircraft museum.
Man without relatives is man without troubles. Charlie Chan
Thank you so much for a comprehensive explanation. Answers all my questions, especially who designed it. I was wondering if it was Pier Luigi Nervi...clearly not.
Thanks again.
Yeah, thanks for such detailed info, Cobram.
I was somewhat amazed that they had such access to so many sites and buildings. The minis were light and did relatively little damage, but they still left their marks.
The church with the wedding, for instance, where they drove down the steps ... you could see their tracks at the end of the shot. I don't know Turin, so I don't know the church ... or was it a set? But I did wonder how they got permission for it. Or, for that matter, for all the cars they tumbled down the various mountainsides.
You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.
They were not given permission to drive onto the roof of the PalaVela. They had asked for permission to put some "macchinas" (pronounced makk-eenas)on the roof for filming. The word macchina actually means 'machine', but in Italy it refers to a car by default. Taking the context of the request (a film) the authorities interpreted the request to put some "macchinas" on the roof to mean "macchina de cinepresa" which is a movie camera.
It's true what they say, when you assume you make an ass-U-me.
They never could have made the film what it is without the blessing of Gianni Agnelli (president of Fiat), this nod was worth more than 10 keys to the city.
They also never go permission to make the traffic jam, it was an actual traffic jam they created and filmed in. If you pay attention there is one part where the van cuts a guy off and he gets out of his car all PO'd, not realizing they were filming.
There are a few other posts on here with more back ground info, there is also a good book on the subject of making the film which makes for good reading.
if it was any good they'd have made an American version by now - Hank Hill