The opening of David Fincher’s 2010 Facebook drama, “The Social Network,” takes place at the Thirsty Scholar Pub in Somerville, Massachusetts, just north of Cambridge, where Harvard University is located.

LOCATION: Thirsty Scholar Pub, 70 Beacon St, Somerville, MA 02143

In the opening scene, Mark Zuckerberg, played by Jesse Eisenberg, is dumped by Erica Albright, played by Rooney Mara, helping set forth the events of the film.  The layout inside of the pub looks slightly different than how it appeared in the film, but the back windows remain the same.

A poster for the film, signed by some of the cast and crew, can be seen above one of the restroom doors inside the pub.

After the 1970 film “Love Story,” Harvard University banned nearly all commercial production on the grounds, due to disruption to students and damage to property.  Their anti-filming policy still remains today, thus the majority of the Harvard scenes for “The Social Network” were instead filmed at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.  However, a few shots of the real Harvard and surrounding Harvard Square can be seen in the opening credits of the film.  The producers sidestepped Harvard’s policy by filming on top of the Cambridge Savings Bank at Harvard Square (the bank was also used for a robbery scene in the 2010 Ben Affleck film “The Town”).   Portions of the Dudley House at Harvard Square can be seen in these opening credit shots.

LOCATION: 1351-1443 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

Mark walks past the Out Of Town News, located at the real Harvard Square, before the scene seamlessly shifts to him walking through John Hopkins University in Baltimore for the remainder of the opening credits.

LOCATION: 18 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Later in the film, Eduardo, played by Andrew Garfield, is seen being initiated into the prestigious Phoenix Society, citing the three lies about the John Harvard statue.  Once again, the real Harvard University was not cooperative in allowing any filming at the real statue.  This scene was instead filmed at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA (180 Main St, Andover, MA 01810), about 25 miles north of Boston.  Below is the real John Harvard statue at Harvard University, which was recreated for the film.

LOCATION: 1 Harvard Yard, Cambridge, MA 02138

Several scenes in the film were actually shot around the Los Angeles area, far away from the grounds of Harvard.  Once such sequence involved the Winkelvoss twins discovering Facebook has begun allowing registration in the UK, which finally prompts the twins, played by Armie Hammer, to sue Mark Zuckerberg.  While this scene is supposedly set in England, it was actually shot at the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills.  The scenes were shot inside the Breakfast Room, which was also seen from the opposite side in “The Big Lebowski,” when The Dude looks at photos of the Little Lebowski Urban Achievers.

LOCATION: Greystone Mansion, 905 Loma Vista Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Mark shows up to a business meeting with prospective advertisers wearing a robe (seen below) on the steps of the Aon Center in Downtown Los Angeles.  The same steps show up in “Inception,” where Leonardo DiCaprio picks up a man in a taxi and kidnaps him.

LOCATION: 707 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90017

We leave you with one of the robes worn by Jesse Eisenberg, which can be found on display as part of the Sony Pictures Studio Tour.

LOCATION: 10202 W Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Some props from the film could also be found on display at Sony Pictures Studio.

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