Scarface (1983)

March 1, 2021February 26, 2023 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1983 Brian De Palma film “Scarface,” starring Al Pacino, is set in the underworld of Miami, telling the story of the rise and fall of Tony Montana. While Miami was used for several locations, Los Angeles also stood in for the city for quite a bit of the film, due to the fact that the Miami Tourist Board declined the producers several filming requests, fearing the subject matter would deter tourism. Some later scenes in the film were also shot in New York.

When they first arrive in Miami by way of Cuba, Tony Montana, played by Pacino, stays in a detention center with his friend Manny Ribera, played by Steven Bauer. The detention center scenes were filmed under the I-10 Freeway, near the I-110 interchange in Los Angeles. In the film, Tony and Manny are mostly seen beneath the Eastbound lanes, near W 17th St and Georgia St. However, that area is within a fenced off, gated parking lot. The Westbound lanes on the opposite side, while not seen from that angle in the film, run over Venice Blvd and offer a bit easier photography and general view of the area. This area is located very close to the opening robbery scene from “Heat.”

LOCATION: Beneath I-10, near W 17th St & Georgia St, Los Angeles, CA 90015 (GPS coordinates: 34.037791, -118.273057)

As Tony and Manny arrive in Miami Beach for a drug deal, the pull up next to “The Carlyle.” The same hotel was famously featured in the film “The Birdcage,” as well as the TV shows “The Golden Palace” and “Miami Vice.”

LOCATION: 1250 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139

On the same street is the location of the infamous hotel where Tony’s drug deal goes bad and one of his crew is killed with a chainsaw. The building has since been remodeled and is now a drug store. However, the facade out front, as well as the staircase, remain in tact.

LOCATION: 728 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139

The drug deal takes place on the top floor.

This sign is posted at the front of the building to the right of the stairs, noting it as the filming location. There are also a few photos from the film inside, behind the cash registers.

Here is the area across the street where Manny waits.

The violence spills out onto the streets as Tony executes the man with the chainsaw in front of the hotel next door.

LOCATION: 720 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Tony meets with drug kingpin Alejandro Sosa at his home in Bolivia. The real location is actually in Montecito, California. The house sits far back from the road and is not visible from the street. This estate is located just minutes away from Tony’s mansion in the film.

LOCATION: 656 Park Ln, Montecito, CA 93108

Frank Lopez, played by Robert Loggia, owns this auto dealership, where he yells at Tony for making a deal without consulting him beforehand.

LOCATION: 8825 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

As he rises in power, a montage is shown of Tony expanding his empire. He and his crew deposit large amounts of money at this bank, located in Encino.

LOCATION: 16000 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91436

Tony is shown emerging from this building, which has the name “Montana Management Co.” in the film. The building can be found in West Hollywood, California.

LOCATION: 8623 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

This building has the name “Montana Travel Co.” in the film. It is located directly across the street from the above location. Despite the addresses on Sunset Blvd, both buildings actually face Sunset Plaza Dr. This same area has also been featured in the films “Armed and Dangerous” and “Model Shop.”

LOCATION: 8619 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

In the same montage, Tony is seen opening a beauty salon for his sister Gina, played by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. This is again located next to the above two locations in West Hollywood, on the opposite side of the street on Sunset Blvd. All three locations are in very close proximity to one another.

LOCATION: 8648 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

The exterior used as Tony Montana’s house can be found in Montecito, California, near Santa Barbara. Tony marries Elvira, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, at the home, which added a second story facade for the production. Known as El Fureidis, the property sits far back from the road and is not visible from the street. Many Miami-based tour guides tell tourists the home is located in Miami, which is incorrect. El Fureidis hosts over 100 species of palm trees and is famous for being the source of the rare species of palm trees found in Disneyland’s Adventureland and Jungle Cruise ride. Walt Disney, Charlie Chaplin, Albert Einstein, John F. Kennedy and Winston Churchill are among the many famous guests said to have visited the estate.

LOCATION: 631 Parra Grande Ln, Montecito, CA 93108

Manny’s home can be found in the Mt Olympus neighborhood of Los Angeles.

LOCATION: 2271 Hercules Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Thanks to Phil Savenick for contributing a note on El Fureidis.

Related articles: Carrie (1976), Body Double (1984)

U Turn (1997)

April 1, 2020December 13, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

The 1997 Oliver Stone film “U Turn” is set in the small town of Superior, Arizona and that’s exactly where production mostly took place as well. In the film, Superior is depicted as a strange, sometimes hostile town. In reality, the town is quite welcoming to tourists, offering a variety of shops and antique stores. “U Turn” is not the only production to film scenes in Superior. “The Prophecy” and “Eight Legged Freaks” have as well.

Early in the film, Bobby, played by Sean Penn, is driving a desert road when his car breaks down. He takes his car to Harlin’s Garage, where he meets Darrell, played by Billy Bob Thorton. These scenes were filmed on E Magma Heights Dr, however the house and garage seen in the film are long gone. In fact, a copper company now owns the land and it is completely inaccessible to the public.

When Bobby first reached the Main St of Superior, he looks over and sees the sheriff’s station, quickly turning the other direction. The building seen in the film is the Superior Kearny Justice Court.

LOCATION: 60 Main St, Superior, AZ 85173

Bobby encounters blind man, played by Jon Voight, at the train station. Bobby tries to pet the man’s dog, only to be told it’s dead.

LOCATION: 100 Main St, Superior, AZ 85173

Bobby first sees Grace, played by Jennifer Lopez, walking by the building.

Later in the film, Bobby purchases a bus ticket at the same building.

Grace takes Bobby to her home, where she lives with Jake McKenna, played by Nick Nolte. Jake’s house is known as the Castle On The Rock. The house is located on N Picket Post Rd, Superior, AZ 85173. There are tours of the building on occasion, but most of the time the property and even the road are completely closed to the public.

Jake drops Bobby off back in town at this grocery store, where Bobby immediately finds himself in a robbery.

LOCATION: 50 N Pinal Ave, Superior, AZ 85173

Bobby uses a payphone to try to get money at the corner of this building.

LOCATION: 222 Main St, Superior, AZ 85173

Bobby calls the gangsters he owes money at the corner of this building. This same street was featured in the film “Eight Legged Freaks.”

LOCATION: 160 Main St, Superior, AZ 85173

Bobby visits this diner, where he is approached by Jenny, played by Claire Danes. Misreading the situation, Toby N. Tucker (“T.N.T.”), played by Joaquin Phoenix, has a confrontation with Bobby.

LOCATION: 149 Main St, Superior, AZ 85173

This building served as the realty office of Jake McKenna.

LOCATION: 271 Main St, Superior, AZ 85173

Bobby encounters the old, blind man once again in front of this building. Later in the film, this is also where he fights T.N.T.

LOCATION: 71 Main St, Superior, AZ 85173

Bobby passes Jenny’s house and the two walk past this church talking.

LOCATION: 94 N San Pedro St, Superior, AZ 85173

If you do make it to Superior, Arizona, most of these locations are quite a short distance from one another. Most of them, you can walk on foot from one location to the next.

Related articles: Natural Born Killers (1994)

Natural Born Killers (1994)

March 16, 2019October 9, 2022 / filmoblivion / Leave a comment

Oliver Stone’s 1994 film “Natural Born Killers” was shot in quite a few different locations, including Arizona, New Mexico, Illinois and Indiana, as the story depicts two killers on a cross-country mass murder spree. In the opening scenes of the film, Micky and Mallory, played by Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis respectively, visit a restaurant on a desert road known as the “5 To 2 Cafe.” After some unwanted advances and rude remarks from some locals, things quickly turn violent.

The building still stands all these years later, although it is long since boarded up and closed down. The former diner can be found on AZ-99, along an isolated stretch on the outskirts of Winslow, Arizona. To visit in person, it feels quite remote. However, in reality, it’s only a few miles from Interstate 40, between the highway and the town of Leupp. The exact location of the building is 35°06’54.8″N, 110°52’20.3″W.

LOCATION: AZ-99, Winslow, AZ 86047 (between Interstate 40 and Indian Rte 15, Leupp) (GPS coordinates: 35°06’54.8″N, 110°52’20.3″W)

The property is fenced off from the sides and there is a residence next door, so be careful not to trespass or disturb the tenants.

These distinct circular windows can still be seen on the sides of the building. The windows are seen in the film behind Juliette Lewis, as she dances in front of the jukebox.

The overheating truck pulls up in front.

For those wondering, the “5 To 2 Cafe” sign out front near the road is long since gone.

Micky and Mallory get married at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge in El Prado, New Mexico. The bridge is far removed from most tourist destinations, requiring hours of driving through mountains and winding terrain to reach it. Once you’re there, however, it’s instantly recognizable.

LOCATION: Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, US-64, El Prado, NM 87529

The same bridge appeared in the films “Twins,” “She’s Having A Baby,” “Wild Hogs,” “Vacation,” “Paul,” “Terminator: Salvation,” “The Signal,” “Catchfire” and “White Sands.”

Here is where the doll falls at the beginning of the scene and where Micky and Mallory cut their hands, hold them together and drop their blood into the river below.

Here is where the loud truck passengers drive by and momentarily irritate Micky and Mallory.

The gorge is a very sheer drop, so the surrounding land is mostly fenced off, preventing you from getting too close to the edges. Here is about as close as you can get, with this view taken through the wire fencing.

Here is a view standing on the middle of the bridge looking out at the road. It gets extremely windy on this bridge, so much so, you can feel the vibration on the bridge as you stand on it.

This side of the gorge isn’t seen in the film, but here is the view from the opposite side of the bridge.

Here are some landmarks and signs for the bridge. You can see some of the fencing in the background, which is taller than it may appear here.

While it is permissible to fly drones at the bridge, the area is so windy, you’ll almost certainly lose your drone immediately if you attempt to fly one. We don’t recommend trying it. There is a parking lot available on one side of the bridge and a rest area on the other side, making it easy to access on foot. The drive to get there is the hardest part.

Later in the film, Micky and Mallory are finally captured at the “Drug Zone” after being bitten by rattlesnakes and in need of medicine. The building is currently a crafts store and can be found in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Aside from the sign and some changes to the front entrance, the building otherwise still resembles how it appeared in the film.

LOCATION: 9350 Eagle Ranch Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114

A standoff between Micky and the cops ensues out front and after surrendering, Micky is then beaten by the police, as they try to prevent a film crew from capturing it.

Here’s a look from inside the store, in the general area where Micky exits and surrenders.

Film Oblivion

Movie and TV locations, points of interest.

Oliver Stone

Scarface (1983)

U Turn (1997)

Natural Born Killers (1994)