My Cousin Vinny (1992)

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1992 Joe Pesci comedy “My Cousin Vinny,” while set in rural Alabama, was mostly filmed in small towns around Georgia. Even with the current tax incentives creating a filming boom in the state of Georgia, “My Cousin Vinny” stands apart for having chosen towns not heavily seen on film.

At the beginning of the film, Bill, played by Ralph Macchio and his friend Stan visit the Sac-O-Suds convenient store, where a crime transpires and sets the story into motion. The store remains in operation all these years later.

LOCATION: 54 GA-16, Monticello, GA 31064

Vinny, played by Joe Pesci, and his fiancee Lisa, played by Marisa Tomei, first arrive in town and park in the town square of Monticello, where they debate who blends in best with the locals.

LOCATION: 214 Forsyth St, Monticello, GA 31064

The courthouse featured throughout the film is the Jasper County Courthouse in Monticello.

LOCATION: 126 W Greene St, Monticello, GA 31064

Later in the film, Vinny and Lisa are seen walking past this statue in the middle of the town square in Monticello, near the courthouse.

The General Putnam Motel and Restaurant where Vinny tries grits was partially destroyed in a fire in 2018. The property had remained closed for years, but was in the process of being renovated when the fire occurred, with the cause believed to be electrical. It is unknown if the building will be restored in the wake of the damages. However, we were able to visit prior to the fire.

LOCATION: 774 Madison Rd, Eatonton, GA 31024

Vinny and Lisa visit a bar to confront a man who stiffed Lisa on a pool game bet.

LOCATION: 1 W 1st Ave, Mansfield, GA 30055

The Parker Hotel where Vinny awakens to squealing pigs is the Susie Agnes Hotel in Bishop.

LOCATION: 5941 Bostwick Rd, Bishop, GA 30621

Lisa runs up the stairs next to this building looking for a suit for Vinny after he falls in the mud. The arrow painted on the side of the building is still there. This property is located just a few doors down from the courthouse.

LOCATION: 8 Towee St, Monticello, GA 31064

If you’re a fan of the film, it’s a nice way to spend an afternoon roaming the smaller towns of Georgia where the story unfolds. Even decades later, many of the locations remain relatively unchanged.

Dumb And Dumber (1994)

June 21, 2019August 2, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The classic 1994 comedy “Dumb and Dumber” is primarily set in the cities of Providence, Rhode Island and Aspen, Colorado. However, aside from some brief road clips and establishing shots, the production took place in neither city. The majority of the production took place around Salt Lake City, Utah and Northeast Colorado.

In the opening scene, Lloyd, played by Jim Carrey, pulls up in a limousine and attempts to talk up an Austrian lady standing on this corner. The street sign says Hope St, but the real location is at the intersection of 700 S and 200 W in Salt Lake City.

LOCATION: Intersection of 200 W / W 700 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

The building the woman stands in front of has since been completely remodeled. Some tracks have also been added to the street for trolleys. However, the building on the opposite side of the street, seen in the background of several shots, still bears some resemblance to how it appeared in the film.

Also worth noting, this same intersection is used in another scene in the film, when Lloyd is driving Mary to the airport and turns around to talk, with his back to the road as he blows through a red light. He is driving down W 700 S and the same building can be seen on the left side of the frame.

Lloyd meets Mary Swanson, played by Lauren Holly, as he picks her up at her house, supposedly located in Providence. Mary’s house can be found on the grounds of La Caille, where several other scenes in the film were also shot, which we’ll cover later in this article. La Caille is a scenic area that is used for a variety of purposes. In addition to a restaurant, the property regularly hosts wedding photography and also has many guest houses around the grounds. Of all the filming locations on La Caille, Mary’s house is the most difficult to access. It is one of the guest houses on the grounds, often occupied by visitors who pay to stay in the home. The driveway leading down to the house is gated and marked as private. However, it is still possible to see a bit of the house from the gate, including the front door where the scene takes place.

LOCATION: 9563 Wasatch Blvd, Sandy, UT 84092

Harry, played by Jeff Daniels, is introduced driving “Shaggin’ Wagon,” a van decorated like a dog to promote his grooming business, “Mutt Cutts”. After stopping off for hot dogs to feed his van full of dogs, he races down Technology Way in the city of Orem, Utah, where he jumps the truck in the air. The trees have grown significantly in the years since the film was shot, obscuring most of the background. However, just enough of the house in the distance remains visible enough to match it up with the film.

LOCATION: Technology Way, Orem, UT 84097 (near the intersection of E 1600 N St)

Here is a wider view of the street. It’s not as steep as it appears in the film. Low angles and the use of a ramp make it look like much bigger dip in the road. Technology Way is a very short road, with the jump filmed on the side nearest to E 1600 N St.

Harry finally arrives with the dogs for Mrs. Neugeboren at Palmer Court housing development in Salt Lake City.

LOCATION: 999 Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Harry opens the back of the van to reveal the dogs, covered in ketchup and mustard from his reckless driving.

Lloyd drops of Mary at the airport, supposedly located in Providence. It’s actually the Salt Lake City International Airport.

LOCATION: 776 N Terminal Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84122

Here is the general vicinity in which he crashes his limo.

Harry and Lloyd’s apartment exterior can also be found in Salt Lake City. Known as the Smith Apartments, the building has changed very little since filming took place and is immediately recognizable. The interior of the apartment was a set at Osmond Studios in Orem, Utah, which has since closed.

LOCATION: 228 S 300 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Here is a wider view of the building.

Harry and Lloyd escape from around this corner, mistakenly believing they are avoiding the gas man for late payments. As they turn the corner, a man can be seen in the background urinating against the brick wall of the neighboring building.

Here is where the blind boy, “Billy in 4C,” sits stroking the dead bird Petey that Lloyd sold him.

The scene where Lloyd gets robbed by an old lady was filmed just a few buildings down from Harry and Lloyd’s apartment. The building has unfortunately since been remodeled and the scene mostly just showed a sidewalk and wall anyways, so it may not look too recognizable. This stretch of sidewalk is where the scene took place, however.

LOCATION: 279 E 300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Mary’s parents’ house in “Aspen” is actually located in Park City, Utah, the same town where the Sundance Film Festival famously takes place each year. You have to travel up a mountain to see it. There are many beautiful houses and majestic mountain views in the area.

LOCATION: 6 Perserverance Ct, Park City, UT 84060

Lloyd has a fantasy as he drives about striking up a romance with Mary. He arrives at this “house,” which is actually the La Caille restaurant in Sandy, Utah. It’s on the same grounds as Mary’s “Providence” house where she first meets Lloyd.

LOCATION: 9565 Wasatch Blvd, Sandy, UT 84092

Lloyd embraces with Mary at this door, where he spins her and pulls up her dress.

As Lloyd’s fantasy continues, he hosts a party in the same location. This room and fireplace are located on the second floor of the La Caille restaurant.

LOCATION: 9565 Wasatch Blvd, Sandy, UT 84092

There was one other scene shot on the grounds of La Caille, which was set at the pond. It was ultimately deleted from the film, however.

Harry and Lloyd stay at the honeymoon suite of The Second Time Is Best Motel. The exterior is actually the M-Star Hotel in Heber City, Utah. The interior was a set at the former Osmond Studios in Orem, Utah.

LOCATION: 425 S Main St, Heber City, UT 84032

Harry and Lloyd have burgers with Mental at Dante’s Inferno. The building is now the American Legion Post in Ogden, Utah. While in Ogden, be sure to check out the swimming pool from “The Sandlot.”

LOCATION: 845 W 24th St, Ogden, UT 84401

The scene where Harry fills his van with gas, spilling fuel from under the dog’s leg was filmed at a former gas station in West Valley City (6381 W 2100 S, West Valley City, UT 84128). The gas station has since been completely removed and a trucking company has taken it’s place.

Lloyd stops off at a convenience store, where he sees some guys drinking big gulps. The building, now a lending company, is also located in Ogden.

LOCATION: 3087 Washington Blvd, Ogden, UT 84401

This building seen across the street still matches up perfectly with the film.

The exterior of the snow owl benefit, supposedly located in Aspen, is the Devereaux Mansion in Salt Lake City.

LOCATION: 340 S Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84103

The interior of the snow owl benefit scene was shot just across the street from the Devereaux Mansion, inside the Grand Hall of the former Union Pacific Depot, which is now a property called The Getaway. The Grand Hall is actually open to the public, but it has limited daily hours, so if you plan a visit, just be sure you go when it’s open. The far wall underneath the train mural, just left of the doorway is where the bar was set up in the film. The hall is quite large, so it was blocked from limited angles in order to be scaled down for the film.

LOCATION: Union Pacific Depot, The Gateway, 400 W S Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Nicholas, the man behind the kidnapping of Mary’s husband, stays at this house in Kamas, Utah. Although the residence is in Kamas, it’s actually just a few blocks away from Mary’s parents’ house in Park City.

LOCATION: 8 Oak Ct, Kamas, UT 84036

Tangerine (2015)

October 21, 2018April 11, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Sean Baker’s 2015 film “Tangerine” made waves at the Sundance Film Festival for being shot entirely with iPhones. The film depicts the life of a transgender Los Angeles prostitute, Sin-Dee, played by Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, as she discovers her boyfriend and pimp has been cheating on her.

The opening scene, as well as later scenes, were filmed at the former Donut Time on Santa Monica Blvd. The filmmakers aimed for authenticity in their choice of locations, as this section of Hollywood is widely known for prostitution. The Donut Time has since been replaced by Trejo’s Coffee and Donuts, owned and operated by actor Danny Trejo.

LOCATION: 6785 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Sin-Dee makes her way down to the Vermont / Santa Monica Metro Station.

LOCATION: 1015 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029

She sits at this bench in front of the station, considering her next moves.

Sin-Dee makes her way to a motel full of drug addicts and prostitutes, in search of another prostitute, whom she believes is cheating with her boyfriend. This is the former Grand Motel, which has since closed. Amy Winehouse also filmed scenes for her music video for “Tears Dry On Their Own” at the motel.

LOCATION: 1479 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

Another view of the former motel property, which is now fenced off until it is either remodeled or demolished.

Related articles: Starlet (2012), The Florida Project (2017)

Hard Eight (1996)

August 9, 2018August 9, 2018 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Paul Thomas Anderson’s underappreciated 1996 debut film, “Hard Eight” (a.k.a. “Sydney”) filmed primarily in Reno, Nevada.

The restaurant seen at the beginning and end of the film, where Sydney, played by Philip Baker Hall, meets John, played John C. Reilly, who is sitting outside the doorway, was filmed at Jack’s Cafe in Sparks, Nevada, located just outside of Reno.

LOCATION: 2200 Victorian Ave, Sparks, NV 89431

The entrance where John C. Reilly is sitting is not the main entrance to the restaurant. In fact, it’s a side door with an emergency exit sign. There were several homeless people around this area.

Things take a turn for the worse when John and Clementine, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, find themselves involved in a hostage situation at a motel. The motel is the Ace Motor Lodge in Reno. The motel has changed quite a bit from how it appeared in the film and is now more dilapidated.

LOCATION: 222 N Sierra St, Reno, NV 89501

John can be seen exiting through the front entrance. The surrounding area has also changed quite a bit from what was seen in the film, as the casinos are no longer beside the motel.

Near the end of the film, Sydney awaits Jimmy, played by Samuel L. Jackson, at his house.

LOCATION: 756 W 6th St, Reno, NV 89503

Memento (2000)

March 17, 2018February 16, 2019 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The Christopher Nolan film “Memento” mostly shot around the San Fernando Valley in Southern California. The opening and closing scenes of the film, as well as the scenes of Leonard burning his wife’s mementos, were all shot at the Fletcher Oil Refinery in Carson, California (24721 S Main St, Carson, CA 90745), which has since been demolished.

Throughout most of the film, Leonard, played by Guy Pearce, stays at the Discount Inn motel. It’s actually the Travel Inn in Tujunga, California. Both the motel and the surrounding area have seen better days, so use caution if visiting.

LOCATION: 7254 Foothill Blvd, Tujunga, CA 91042

The motel manager takes advantage of Leonard’s condition and secretly charges him for two rooms.

Later in the film, Leonard visits Natalie’s house, played by Carrie-Anne Moss, where she deceives him into believing that Dodd has beat her. The house, which as since been renovated a bit, can be found in Burbank.

LOCATION: 919 E Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91501

Leonard finds himself at another motel, the Mountcrest Inn, where he ambushes Dodd and ties him up. This motel is the Hill Crest Inn in North Hills.

LOCATION: 9111 Sepulveda Blvd, North Hills, CA 91343

Leonard visits Natalie at “Ferdy’s Bar,” where she spits in his beer to test his memory. This was filmed at The Blue Room in Burbank. The interior of the bar is shown in the film.

LOCATION: 916 S San Fernando Blvd, Burbank, CA 91502

True Romance (1993)

November 18, 2017October 23, 2020 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

In the 1993 Tony Scott directed, Quentin Tarantino penned film, “True Romance,” the outlaw couple of Clarence, played by Christian Slater and Alabama, played by Patricia Arquette, supposedly meet in Detroit. In reality, most of the film was shot in Southern California.

In the opening scene of the film, Clarence sits at a bar and talks about Elvis. These scenes were filmed in San Fernando. The bar is only seen from interior views in the film, but you’ll see the distinctive glass block windows match up to those visible behind Clarence in the film.

LOCATION: 1113 San Fernando Rd, San Fernando, CA 91340

Early in the film, Clarence and Alabama watch a Sonny Chiba “Street Fighter” triple feature together. This was filmed at the Vista Theater, one of L.A.’s best vintage theaters.

LOCATION: 4473 Sunset Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027

After the movies, the couple goes for coffee and pie at Rae’s Restaurant in Santa Monica. The restaurant has been used in countless films, such as “Lords Of Dogtown,” “Bowfinger” and “Starsky & Hutch.”

LOCATION: 2901 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405

The comic book store, “Heroes For Sale,” where Clarence works, was actually “Fantastic Store,” a former comic book, music and vintage store located near the famous intersection of Hollywood Blvd and Highland Ave in Hollywood. The store has unfortunately long since closed and bears little resemblance to how it appeared in the film.

LOCATION: 1718 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028

The billboard location where the two sit outside and talk could be found in downtown Los Angeles at the Dewey Hotel Apartments. Unfortunately, there is no longer an actual billboard on the side of the building.

LOCATION: 721 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

The building where Drexl, played by Gary Oldman, resides was a combination of two locations. The exterior was located in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. It was demolished in the 1990s, to make way for a football stadium. The interior living room, where Clarence confronts Drexl, was actually shot on the other side of the country, back in Los Angeles. Known as The Beckett Mansion, the property, located in the West Adams neighborhood, actually operates as an event space and filming location year round. The same house has been featured in Rob Zombie’s “Halloween,” “Neighbors,” “No Strings Attached” and many more. It’s also located directly across the street from the house from “The People Under The Stairs.”

LOCATION: 2218 S Harvard Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018

The apartment of Floyd and Dick Ritche, played by Brad Pitt and Michael Rapaport respectively, can be found in Hollywood. The scenes were filmed on the upper level unit of the Krotona Apartments. Tarantino himself lived at Krotona Apartments for a time, staying on the couch of writer-director Scott Spiegel, much like Floyd in the film. The apartment is seen only from interior views in the film. This area is on the side of the building.

LOCATION: 2122 Vista Del Mar Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068

Clarence calls Dick Ritchie from a payphone in the desert. The building in the shot has long since been demolished and now its just an empty plot of land. The mountains in the distance can be seen behind Clarence and Alabama in the payphone in multiple shots.

LOCATION: 17012 E Palmdale Blvd Palmdale, CA 93591 (now demolished)

The scene took place near the intersection of 170th St E and E Palmdale Blvd in Palmdale.

The foundation where the building stood still exists.

Later in the film, the couple stays at this motel, supposedly located on the Sunset Strip. The real motel, the Safari Inn, is actually located just north of L.A., in Burbank, California.

LOCATION: 1911 W Olive Ave, Burbank, CA 91506

The same motel was featured in the films “Apollo 13” and “Coach Carter.”

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