The shooting began in June 1988, and lasted through early August. The fictional town of "Beaumont-sur-Mer" is a combination of Villefranche-sur-Mer and Beaulieu-sur-Mer, two seaside resorts east of Nice, with additional scenes filmed at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Cap d'Antibes, Nice and Cannes.
The film opens with a view of Villefranche-sur-Mer from Villa Nellcôte, 10 Avenue Louise Bordes, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France.
Con artist Lawrence Jamieson (Michael Caine) meeting Fanny Eubanks (Barbara Harris) – La Rotonde, 2 Avenue Fernand Dunan, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France. Large circular room with glass-faced apses and a cupola with cut-off sides, the Rotonde is a former outbuilding of the Hotel Bristol, constructed between 1899 and January 1904 as a place to serve tea to the British clientele. Now is houses the Circé restaurant.
Lawrence arrives in what is supposed to be Zurich but, for some reason, the establishing shot shows the Pont-du-Mont-Blanc in Geneva, Switzerland.
Lawrence takes the train at the Zurich station but it's not in Zurich either. It's the Gare de Nice-Ville, Avenue Thiers, Nice, France.
Lawrence arrives in his hometown "Beaumont-sur-Mer" – Gare de Villefranche-sur-Mer, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France.
A view of the harbor from the Quai de l'Amiral Courbet, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France.
Andre sees Mrs. Knudsen's (Aina Wallé) car approaching – Quai de l'Amiral Courbet, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France.
They are shocked to discover Freddy Benson riding with her – 3 Quai de l'Amiral Courbet, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France.
Freddy's hotel – Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, 71 Boulevard du Général de Gaulle, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France.
Andre follows Freddy on his shopping spree – 4 Avenue Fernand Dunan, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France. Freddy's car is parked in front of the Casino de Beaulieu.
Andre and Mrs. Knudsen watch Freddy enjoying himself on the beach – Plage du Crouton, Antibes, France. Also known as Plages Les Pecheurs, Plage du Crouton is a small strip of fine white sand situated on the far side of the Port du Crouton. Sheltered by the stone jetties on either side this small beach is sheltered and offers a nice alternative to the main beaches in Juan les Pins.
Lawrence and Andre seeing Freddy off – Cannes–Mandelieu Airport, Cannes, France.
Lawrence's villa – Villa Hier, 374 Avenue Mrs. L.-D. Beaumont, Cap d'Antibes, France. Access to the villa is restricted since it's a private residence. Its cliffside location and modernist architecture provided key exterior and interior shots. The villa also served as a filming location for the 1982 comedy-mystery Trail of the Pink Panther, directed by Blake Edwards.
Lawrence and Freddy riding in a car with one of their scam victims – Boulevard du Général de Gaulle at Boulevard du Plan des Abeilles, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France.
37 Boulevard du Général de Gaulle, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France.
Lawrence teaches Freddy about high culture – Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, 1 Avenue Ephrussi de Rothschild, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France. The Villa was built between 1907 and 1912 for Béatrice de Rothschild and became her winter residence. She came here regularly for a period of ten or so years, dividing her time between Paris, Monaco and Deauville. In 1933, a year before her death, Beatrice bequeathed her Villa and the entirety of its collections to the Académie des Beaux-Arts.
The interior was filmed at the Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret, 33 Avenue des Baumettes, Nice, France.
Lawrence crosses the street – Quai de l'Amiral Courbet, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France.
Lawrence observes Freddy's accosting various women – 1-5 Place Amélie Pollonais, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France.
Lawrence confronts Freddy on the steps – Boulevard de l'Impératrice Alexandra Feodorovna, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France.
Lawrence and Freddy make a wager of $50,000 on who will be the first to con a rich visiting American – Lobby of the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, 71 Boulevard du Général de Gaulle, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France.
