Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris is a historic theatre in the Centro Histรณrico of Mexico City. Located at 36 Donceles, the theatre opened in 1918 as Teatro Esperanza Iris and was named after the Mexican singer and actress Esperanza Iris. With its ornate faรงade, grand interior and central location, it became one of the cityโ€™s major cultural venues before later being restored and operated as Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris.

The theatre is used in Licence to Kill (1989), where Mexico City stands in for the fictional Isthmus City. Several real locations in the Mexican capital are used to create the world of Franz Sanchez, and Teatro de la Ciudad appears as Sanchezโ€™ office. The buildingโ€™s formal architecture and theatrical grandeur fit the filmโ€™s image of Sanchez as a powerful public figure, operating from elegant surroundings while controlling a violent criminal empire.

In Licence to Kill (1989), Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris is transformed into the fictional Casino de Isthmus. The real lettering on the faรงade was replaced with the casino name, making the historic theatre part of Franz Sanchezโ€™ public empire in Isthmus City. Sanchez has his offices on the second floor of the building, and Bond finds a rooftop position across from the windows in order to assassinate him. Before taking the shot, Bond lowers himself down outside the window to plant an explosive charge. He then returns to the roof and detonates the bomb, shattering the window and giving him a clear line of fire. Before he can shoot Sanchez, however, Bond is attacked by a ninja, interrupting the assassination attempt and turning the rooftop setup into one of the filmโ€™s more unusual action moments.

License to Kill (1989)


Map
Films
Licence to Kill

Licence to Kill

Licence to Kill was shot entirely outside the United Kingdom, making it the first Bond film not to use Britain for principal photography.

Nearby locations
Otomi Ceremonial Center

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The Otomi Ceremonial Center served as the filming location for Franz Sanchezโ€™s drug factory/laboratory in the 1989 James Bond film Licence to Kill.

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The Gas Station

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Hooperโ€™s

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Roughnecks

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The Oasis Bar and Grill

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Oasis Motel

Oasis Motel

Gretna โ€ข USA

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Key West Lighthouse

Key West Lighthouse

Key West โ€ข USA

Key West Lighthouse is most closely connected to "Licence to Kill" (1989), where it appears during the Key West section of the James Bond film.

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