Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Movie locations.

This is topic Movie locations. in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by John Spooner (Member # 1565) on 07-16-2003, 02:41 PM:

Dear colleagues.
We are currently running "The Core" and in about the second reel the Space shuttle on its return lands in what seems to be a large waterway spanned by several arched type bridges in Los Angeles.
Where actually is this location and what is it? I have seen the same location in several movies, it seems to be a favourite for car chase scenes.
Secondly in "The Blues Brothers", much reference is made to Wacker Drive. Is it a main road or freeway in Chicago?
John Spooner. South Australia.

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 07-16-2003, 04:05 PM:

I might be mistaken, and "The Core" didn't leave much of an impression with me, but I think that's the infamous "Los Angeles River". It's dry or nearly-dry most of the year. Basically it's a big deep wide concrete-lined open-air storm drain running through LA. It can get very treacherous during the rainy season though, and there have been dramatic rescues and occasional drownings when idiots try to kayak it when there's a lot of water in it.

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 07-16-2003, 04:21 PM:

Is that the place where they held the car race in 'Grease'? That looked like some sort of dried out river bed.

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 07-16-2003, 05:33 PM:

The "FAMOUS" Los Angeles River has been used in many films for many years. It is a humongous series of drainage "rivers" and tunnels to prevent the city from flooding during the sometimes very heavy winter rainstorms. All of the drainage from the mountains surrounding L.A., as well as the surface water drainage for the city, eventually makes it way to the Pacific through these vast series of waterways and flood-control dams.

There are both concrete and non-concrete sections and each have their own characteristics. The non-concrete portions of the river support habitats for fish, reptiles, animals, and some 350 bird species. They say that is 3/4 of all the bird species in Los Angeles.

The concrete sections are probably the better known sections as those are the ones used most often in films. The many smaller sections eventually lead into the big main section that you usually see in the films for car chases, etc. A lot of time near the 6th Street Bridge, the Vincent Thomas Bridge, and sometimes in the miles of big drain tunnels under the city that trucks can drive into...like in the old film "Them".

Wacker Avenue is indeed a real street in Chicago. I remember when I was about 13 and needed some Juke Box parts. Seeburg's address was 100 North Wacker Ave. I was shocked that they could name a street like that, since to me it meant something ENTIRELY different. [Big Grin]

John, an interesting website for some cool info.

http://www.seeing-stars.com

>>> Phil

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 07-16-2003, 08:02 PM:

Gee, Phil, that website has more popups than a warez site!
[Eek!]

Neat things, though. I would like to tour "Melody Ranch"!

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 07-16-2003, 08:22 PM:

Gosh Tim, wouldn't know... I use "Popup Blocker" [beer]

http://www.popupblock.net

>>> Phil

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 07-16-2003, 11:46 PM:

Ehhh, I didn't have much luck with that (or was it Popup Stopper?) Anyway, it was more of a hassle to me than the occasional site I might visit that had popups.

Posted by John Spooner (Member # 1565) on 07-18-2003, 01:09 PM:

Dear Phil and colleagues.
Thank you sincerely for the location info. I also looked at the Hollywood website. There were many pop-ups as Phil also noted, my "Pop-up Stopper" worked hard so they were not a problem as they did not appear.
Another location which I have heard of is "The Panhandle", what is it and where in the US would it be?
John Spooner. South Australia.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 07-18-2003, 01:30 PM:

Hi, John!

There are three, that I know of. There's is a panhandle of Florida, a panhandle of Texas, and a panhandle of Oklahoma. It refers to the states resembling a "pan", of sorts, and the handles protrude from the larger "body", just like a frying pan.

If that make any sense?

Posted by John Spooner (Member # 1565) on 07-18-2003, 01:40 PM:

Dear Tim.
Heard of The Panhandle from the movie "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry", a road movie from the 70`s. The sherrif causes the crooks to drive randomly in the area, looked like a farming type of area, a maze of roads and trees.
I certainly would not like to try the stunt where Peter Fonda drives the car between the 2 trucks, too close for comfort when the mirror breaks off.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 07-18-2003, 03:46 PM:

Oh, I remember that, good car stuntwork! I worked with Adam Roarke on a show in the early 80s and we talked about that movie. Those were the good ol' days of drive-in movies.

In that picture, they must've been talking about Texas/Oklahoma (which, I suppose is the same "panhandle" area, now that I think about it).

Posted by Matt Hale (Member # 1518) on 07-18-2003, 06:41 PM:

Lets not forget the Alaska panhandle. Probably not the location for that movie though...

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 07-18-2003, 06:51 PM:

99% of the time they are referring to the "Texas Panhandle"...northern Texas bordering with Oklahoma. On a map, Texas looks like a skillet with a handle.

>>> Phil

Posted by John Spooner (Member # 1565) on 07-20-2003, 12:01 PM:

Dear Tim and Phil.
It definately would be the Texas/Oklahoma area you mention.
In the movie, what type of cars were the second car they used,was it a Charger, also the hotted up police Intercepter?
Also regards the Blues Bros, what model Dodge was the Bluesmobile.? Where is the bascule bridge which it jumps located in Chicago.?

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 07-20-2003, 01:00 PM:

The second car in 'DMCL' was a '69 Charger R/T with the 440 Magnum engine [Big Grin]

The police cruiser in 'DMCL' was a '72 Dodge Polara (According to the film, it had the 440 Police Interceptor package in it)

The 'Blues Brothers' car was a '74 Dodge Monaco 440.

-Aaron

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 07-20-2003, 02:49 PM:

I have photos of alot of the filming of the "Blues Brothers" which I'll post at a later date....just have to either find the negs or scan the 11X14 black and whites I have.
Mark

Posted by John Spooner (Member # 1565) on 07-21-2003, 11:44 AM:

Dear Aaron. Thank you for the info on the cars. We did not see that particular Charger in Australia.
Dear Mark.
I will look forward to the Blues Bros pictures, either on the forum or private e-mail.
Thank you for your time and information.
Interesting to see a young Steven Speilberg appear as the Cook County Tax office assistant.
Tried to send you an e-mail, but advised you or the board are blocking access.

Posted by Dennis Atkinson (Member # 345) on 07-21-2003, 08:02 PM:

The latest Blues Brothers DVD has a nice "the making of / behind the scenes" on it. It covers lower Wacker Drive also.

Dennis

Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 07-22-2003, 02:27 AM:

quote:
The second car in 'DMCL' was a '69 Charger R/T with the 440 Magnum engine
The police cruiser in 'DMCL' was a '72 Dodge Polara (According to the film, it had the 440 Police Interceptor package in it)
The 'Blues Brothers' car was a '74 Dodge Monaco 440.

That Mopar stuff was monstrously strong & fast.
The cars doing the work in "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" were Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth.
So clunky in appearance, so excellent in operation.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 07-22-2003, 04:16 PM:

quote:
That Mopar stuff was monstrously strong & fast.

Not according to the late second-unit director and legendary stuntman, Yakima Canutt. When city officials in rural Kentucky took him shopping for cars to use in chase sequences for "The Flim-Flam Man"(1967), the proprietor of a local Dodge dealership put his thumbs in his suspenders and boasted, "You see that? Hollywood knows a good car when they see one!" To which Yak replied, "I like 'em because they fall apart good!"

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 07-22-2003, 04:34 PM:

That Mopar in "The Fast And The Furious" sure held up for what it went thru... it was a shame to wreck that beauty!

>>> Phil

Posted by Hillary Charles (Member # 769) on 07-26-2003, 07:37 AM:

In regards to the Los Angeles River, there's a sequence there in the 1957(?) Mamie Van Doren movie "Girl's Town," in which a drag race takes place between Mel Torme and (if I recall correctly, accordion phenom) Dick Contino. Paul Anka is also in that movie, and it has to be seen to be believed!

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 07-26-2003, 11:40 AM:

A favorite area of mine to visit is Moab, UT and the areas surrounding it. In particuluar Fisher Towers and the Castle Valley area are magnificent places that have been featured in hundreds of feature movies and countless commercials. The actual towers at Fisher Towers are free standing monoliths that are higher than a hundred story building and are super impressive. The monoliths there along with the alien like rock formations and hiking trails with 500 foot drop offs are definately worth visiting if you are ever in this area. The end of the Fishers Towers hiking trail affords a magnificent view of the LaSalle Mountains.
BTW: I found the Blues Brother Photos and will scan them this weekend!!
Mark