CREDITS THE AGE OF INNOCENCE, 1993 dir: Martin Scorsese Daniel Day-Lewis Michelle Pfeiffer Winona Ryder Richard E Grant Alec McCowen Geraldine Chaplin Jonathan Pryce

Martin Scorseseís lush film of Edith Whartonís novel uses a variety of period locations around New York State to conjure up the pre-high-rise Manhattan of the 1870s, including frat houses, yacht clubs, gravel pits, private homes and clubs, although the 'New York Academy of Music', where Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis) first claps eyes on his cousin Ellen Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer) during a performance of Faust, was actually filmed in Philadelphia.

The impressive red and gilt opera house is the Philadelphia Academy of Music, South Broad Street and Locust Street, home of the Philadelphia Orchestra. An ideal setting, the opulent interior of the building, which dates from 1857, is modelled after La Scala in Milan.

Back in New York, the Beaufortsí house, to which everyone retires for the post-opera ball, can be found bang in the centre of Manhattan. Itís the National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South at Irving Place in the Gramercy district. Previously known as the Tilden House, the Victorian Gothic building was home to Samuel J Tilden, the city Governor who brought about the downfall of the notoriously corrupt ëBossí Tweed, builder of the New York County Courthouse (and played by Jim Broadbent in Scorsese's own Gangs of New York).

The ‘Beauforts’ house’: National Arts Club, Gramercy Park South

In 1874 the house was remodelled by the co-designer of Central Park, Calvert Vaux, while the period redecoration added for the movie so pleased the members that they kept it. If youíre lucky, you may get a peek inside as the club occasionally houses exhibitions. Be aware, thereís a surprisingly strict dress code: no Spandex or Lycra (fair enough), no T-shirts or tank tops, no stirrup pants or capri pants, and ëno denim of any type or in any colorí. So there.

You can see more of the club, including the exterior, in Woody Allenís Manhattan Murder Mystery.

But don't be fooled by John McTiernan's 1999 remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, with Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo. The scene supposedly set in the 'Arts Club' was filmed in Manhattanville College, Purchase, while the exterior is the 1850 Italianate mansion which houses Bayardís, 1 Hanover Square, in between Pearl and Stone Streets in the Financial District.

The city of Troy, on the Hudson Riverís east bank across from Albany, upstate New York, stood in for 19th century 'Manhattan'. Once a thriving business centre to rival Manhattan itself, the town failed to achieve the same success and, fortunately for the film-makers, missed out on the high-rise redevelopment. '23rd Street' exteriors were filmed here, while River Street, downtown Troy, stands in for turn-of-the-century 'Wall Street'. Mrs Mingottís pooch-filled salon in ëa wilderness near Central Parkí is the Phi Kappa Phi Fraternity House, 49 Second Street, of Troyís Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy is in Rensselaer County).

The house of Newland Archer's parents is the Federal Gale House, First Street, a Hall of Residence of another of Troyís three colleges, the Russell Sage College. The law office is the Rice Building at First and River Streets. Washington Park stands in for Manhattanís 'Gramercy Park'. Troy has a Visitor Information Center which youíll find at 251 River Street (tel: 518.270.8667).

The stretch of River Street south of the centre was period dressed for the movie and, although most of the stores are empty, the set decoration has been kept.

Surprisingly, it's up in the Bronx that you'll find the delicate white aviary in which Archer walks with May Welland (Winona Ryder). The Enid A Haupt Conservatory of New York Botanical Garden, 200th Street at Bronx Boulevard in Bronx Park (tel: 718.220.8700, admission charge) might look familiar to Londoners, since its design is based on Kew Gardensí Great Palm House.

Other US locations in the New York area included the 'Boston' park where Archer casually bumps into Ellen (which is in Brooklyn) and the formal garden in 'Florida', where he tries to gee-up the marriage plans (actually Long Island).

The European scenes, however, really were filmed in Paris, including inside the Louvre.