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The clichés about spring in New York City are true. Even the most jaded, seen-it-all New Yorkers crack a smile in May. It’s the time of year we start heading back outside even when we don’t have to. My job today is to present you with some historic New York movie locations that you can still visit today. I’ve looked high and low, consulted with colleagues, and I promise I will not mention Katz’s like every other movie location list does.
As the author of a new book titled ‘Cinematic Immunity: An Oral History of New York Filmmaking by the Crews Who Got the Shot’, I have some knowledge on this subject. It’s the first filmmaking history book that exclusively features the people that are never interviewed – set dressers, props, makeup artists, assistant directors, camera operators, among many others. The book is full of never-heard-before stories from On the Waterfront to The Sopranos.
1. The Stone Archway at The Ramble from Cruising (1980)
Central Park has starred in too many films to name. However you can lean against the Stone Archway like Al Pacino in Cruising. Sadly, none of the S&M bars featured in the film exist today.
Address: Central Park West Side at 77th Street
2. The Plaza Hotel from Home Alone 2 (1992)
Everyone remembers Macaulay Culkin’s slide across the Plaza Hotel tile floor in Home Alone 2. That tile floor was rediscovered by the film crew. A doorman knew about it and the crew asked to remove some carpet at midnight to check. I hear it’s still there.
Address: 768 5th Ave
3. The Judd Foundation from 9½ Weeks (1986)
The building served as the art gallery from 9½ Weeks, so you can pretend to be Kim Basinger and have a breakdown in the downstairs gallery. Look out for a cool cameo by Ronnie Wood in that scene. The building was purchased by Donald Judd in 1968. Today, it’s the home of the Judd Foundation.
Address: 101 Spring St
4. The Horseshoe Bar from The Verdict
It’s where Paul Newman went in The Verdict. Scenes from Godfather Part II and Crocodile Dundee, and more were filmed here. They are film-friendly. I worked there last year on Law & Order: SVU. In the early 2000s, I bought heroin across the street, which doesn’t appear to be a going concern today.
Address: 108 Avenue B
5. Tompkins Square Park from What About Me (1993)
Hundreds of films shot here, but Rachel Amodeo’s recently rediscovered gem What About Me (1993) was shot all over the park. For true heads there’s cameos by Johnny Thunders, Dee Dee Ramone and Nick Zedd. New York will never be this cool again, sorry.
Address: Between 7th & 10th Avenues and Avenue A & B
6. Brighton Beach from Brighton Beach Memoirs (1986)
We all love Coney Island (despite the price gouging in recent years), but next door is Brighton Beach. Here’s a story from Brighton Beach Memoirs by carpenter Bernadette Wise-Tuteur: ‘Down at Brighton Beach the guys all showed up in shorts and deck shoes like they were on vacation down at the beach. The grips had to rip down this wall behind this garage and all these roaches and rats came out from everywhere. The next day everybody had boots and jeans, and elastic bands around their pants.’
Address: Between Coney Island & Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn
7. Clandestino from Tiny Furniture (2010)
Writer and filmmaker Nick Newman of The Film Stage told me that the bar Clandestino is the bar in Tiny Furniture. I don’t recommend acting out Lena Dunham’s scenes because the actual hostess might get angry.
Address: 35 Canal Street
8. Staten Island Ferry from Working Girl (1988)
You can be the most jaded New Yorker and still be wowed by the iconic view of the skyline coming back from the Island. Or you can channel Melanie Griffith in Working Girl, as my wife did on our second date.
Address: 8 Whitehall St, South Ferry Terminal
And a couple of classics...
9. Grand Central Station from Carlito’s Way (1993)
Musician, filmmaker and avid film watcher Matthew Danger Lippman reminded me of the great shootout scene in Carlito’s Way that was filmed in the lobby making using the escalators for extra drama. They are less film-friendly these days, according to industry chatter. The House on Carroll Street (1988) made great use of the station as well.
Address: 89 East 42nd St
10. Sutton Place Park from Manhattan (1979)
Admire the Queensboro Bridge at dawn on a nice day and pretend to be Woody Allen and Diane Keaton. I’m told you have to bring your own bench though.
Address: 56th & 57th Street at the East River
‘Cinematic Immunity: An Oral History of New York Filmmaking by the Crews Who Got the Shot’ is available now via Feral House.