 
Thecarl
Member
Username: Thecarl
Post Number: 879
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 - 12:06 am: |    |
^^ but that was when he lived in bear lake or fruitport -- not detroit! |
Vetalalumni
Member
Username: Vetalalumni
Post Number: 992
Registered: 05-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 31, 2008 - 7:02 pm: | |
The Gran Torino and Detroit scenery was enjoyable. No comment on the movie and acting (nothing good to say, don't say anything). |
Realitycheck
Member
Username: Realitycheck
Post Number: 283
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, January 04, 2009 - 11:22 am: | |
Chuckjav asks (6 days ago):quote:Please do tell . . . how does Detroit fit in with the plot? Explained adequately already ^, but I also like this from NYTimes review by Manohla Dargis:quote:The film has the feel of a requiem. Melancholy is etched in every long shot of Detroit’s decimated, emptied streets and in the faces of those who remain to still walk in them.
Made in the 1960s and ’70s, the Gran Torino was never a great symbol of American automotive might, which makes Walt’s love for the car more poignant. It was made by an industry that now barely makes cars, in a city that hardly works. |
Steamaker
Member
Username: Steamaker
Post Number: 82
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Monday, January 12, 2009 - 4:34 pm: | |
"Eastwood's hard as nails old racist curmudgeon character is a little bit exaggerated, but it's a decent movie"
I don't know about the exaggeration. This could be my father or any older gentlemen I know from Detroit or around there. They seem cranky and predjudice but will do almost anything to help anyone who needs help no matter what color or race they are. Tough exterior and soft interior. |
Cambrian
Member
Username: Cambrian
Post Number: 1959
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 - 8:39 am: | |
Saw the movie Saturday and loved it. The ending wasn't what I wanted, depressing, but I can understand why the Kowalski Character did it. The only innacuracy that bugged me was his claim that he worked on the very assembly line that built his Gran Torino. If he was living in Highland Park at that time the commute to the Chicago assembly plant must have really put a strain on his family life. Maybe that's why his relationship with his sons was so poor. |
Jgavrile
Member
Username: Jgavrile
Post Number: 215
Registered: 09-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 - 10:33 am: | |
Yes the house is in Highland Park , 238 Rhode Island near Oakland, I also noticed some shots on John R at Buena Vista. You can see the old Ford plant in the background. Also a shot of the Robert E. Barber grade school on Buena Vista and John R. |
Hardcore
Member
Username: Hardcore
Post Number: 1
Registered: 01-2009
| | Posted on Thursday, January 15, 2009 - 9:16 pm: | |
Well When he dose Grand Torino 2 You can Tell him what to do with his 35 mil. |
Jjaba
Member
Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 7707
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 15, 2009 - 10:31 pm: | |
Ford made the Torino car from 1968-76. It was quite a successful seller. It came in a variety of styles, colors, and models. It competed with the Chevrolet Chevelle and later, Monte Carlo.
The Gran Torino came along, 1972-76.
Torino as a car name comes from the Italian city, Turin, Italy's version of an auto capital.
Torino evolved from the very popular Ford Fairlane which was phased out over this period.
The Torino was "Ford's Newest Bright Idea."
Engines were bulit in Cleveland and Windsor.
The Ranchero pick-up has a Torino front end design.
Motor Trend Magazine named Torinos as cars of the year duing the period.
Hurst manual 4-speed transmissions were available in sporty models. Holley and Rochester Quadrajet carburetors were popular. Built as station wagons, they were very popular family wagons. The Torino was known then as an "intermediate" sized vehicle.
As for assembly plants, Ford built Torinos and Gran Torinos at the following plants.
Lorain, Ohio.
Atlanta, Georgia.
Chicago, Illinois.
Oakville, Ontario-Canada.
jjaba, on the history of Gran Torino. |
East_detroit
Member
Username: East_detroit
Post Number: 1834
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 7:20 am: | |
quote:If he was living in Highland Park at that time the commute to the Chicago assembly plant must have really put a strain on his family life.
When did he say he lived in Highland Park? |
Cambrian
Member
Username: Cambrian
Post Number: 1965
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 7:26 am: | |
"When did he say he lived in Highland Park?"
He did not have to say where he lived, the responding police cars were always marked 'Highland Park'. |
Jgavrile
Member
Username: Jgavrile
Post Number: 217
Registered: 09-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 8:39 am: | |
jjaba, you left out the big block 429 engine built at Lima Ohio. There were Cobra Jet versions too. Pretty fast cars. The sister car to that was the Montego. Different front end and tailights. Also the T-Birds and Mark IV's were basically the same chassis, just stretched.
As to the house on Rhode Island St. It is 5 bedroom house. It was for Sale in 2004 for $115K. A friend of mine that has access to real estate listings looked it up. Looks like they re-did the porch railing making it white and added the white hand rails since 2004. |
Cambrian
Member
Username: Cambrian
Post Number: 1966
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 8:54 am: | |
I owned a Gran Torino much like the movie character's after high school. It was the same year, same dark green color, and even had the same black vinyl roof. Mine was however the "Grande" coupe, where as the one in the movie was a fastback. My car came equipped with a 351 W 2bbl. It was one of my faster cars, but it had a hard life by the time I purchased it from a gas station mechanic for $200. It had blow by so bad that I had to drive around with a case of oil and be ready in an instant to add 5 quarts of oil to keep the engine from seizing. |
Newport1128
Member
Username: Newport1128
Post Number: 258
Registered: 05-2007
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 10:42 am: | |
I saw Gran Torino last night and liked it. Eastwood's character was a bit over the top; all the grimacing and grunting reminded me a little of Lurch from the Addams Family. I especially enjoyed the scenes set at St. Ambrose church, the parish where I grew up. The lawyer, seen at the end of the movie was played by Marty Bufalini. Besides doing traffic reports for WWJ Radio 950 and writing an auto review column for the Grosse Pointe News, he does a nice job of commenting about the antique cars during the annual Motor Muster and Old Car Festival at Greenfield Village. He's also a lector at St. Ambrose. Nice to see a recognizable Detroit face in the movie! |
Turkeycall
Member
Username: Turkeycall
Post Number: 131
Registered: 09-2008
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 1:15 pm: | |
Newport1128
Assuming you have a history on Newport, was your address between Mack and Charlevoix, Charlevoix and Vernor, Vernor and Kercheval, or Kercheval and Jefferson?
When I was in high school[way back in the 60s], I had a friend who lived on Newport between Chalevoix and Vernor but I can'r remember his address. The house has long since been torn down.
Also, wasn't there a Lutheran Church [Messiah] somewhere close in that area? |
Newport1128
Member
Username: Newport1128
Post Number: 260
Registered: 05-2007
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 1:41 pm: | |
Turkeycall, I was between Jefferson and Kercheval. The house where I lived is still standing - one of the few. There is a church at the corner of Lakewood and Kercheval, an old brown brick edifice. Not sure what denomination, though. Lots of other old churches in the area, too. |
Jjaba
Member
Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 7710
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 1:53 pm: | |
Jgavrile, besides the V-8s and straight 8s, Ford also had a Urinate. That was a pisser of an engine.
Thanks for your addition.
jjaba on the Westside. |
East_detroit
Member
Username: East_detroit
Post Number: 1836
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 2:09 pm: | |
quote:"When did he say he lived in Highland Park?"
He did not have to say where he lived, the responding police cars were always marked 'Highland Park'.
Highland Park is also a suburb of Chicago. |
Cambrian
Member
Username: Cambrian
Post Number: 1967
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 2:16 pm: | |
Yah but a bit more upscale then our Highland park though. |
Otter
Member
Username: Otter
Post Number: 503
Registered: 12-2007
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 3:26 pm: | |
I have difficulty imagining two locales with the same name that are less like each other than Highland Park, MI and Highland park, IL. Alas.
O. |
Rj_spangler
Member
Username: Rj_spangler
Post Number: 100
Registered: 10-2008
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 5:50 pm: | |
It is a damn good movie. I saw the hardware store from GGP, the Charlevoix sign from near the Tap Room (my friends son watched them shoot that scene -- he didn't know who Clint was when he met him!). The ending scene driving down Lakeshore toward the GP Yacht Club. Good to see our area in a movie. At the very end it said the movie was filmed in Michigan. Apparently the Lutheran Church relocted the Hmong people to our area.
I would encourage everyone to go see it for themselves. |
The_rock
Member
Username: The_rock
Post Number: 1515
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 6:02 pm: | |
Pointe Hardware on Kercheval in GPP,a really neat store with nice owners and helpful personnel, has gotten some nice publicity as a segment of the movie was shot there. The name of the store was changed, however. You got something against the Pointes, Clint?
The owners of the store had to stock up with some extra items for the shelves,about $6,000 worth I understand, and I believe the local paper said that they split the cost with the film company which I thought was a tad unusual.
Their well-known/well placed water cooler that you pass by as you enter the store was moved to a different location. Directors have the final say.
We have yet to see the movie, but are hopeful to see it soon. I am told that one segment that was filmed in our neighbor's house is in the breakfast room overlooking the back yard, and I have sat at that same location having coffee with the former owner. He has not yet seen the movie either. |
Mplsryan
Member
Username: Mplsryan
Post Number: 63
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 7:42 pm: | |
The movie was originally set in Minneapolis, the writer is from here. IT was rewritten for Detroit because you guys offered better tax credits for making it in Michigan. |
Mplsryan
Member
Username: Mplsryan
Post Number: 64
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 7:44 pm: | |
The movie was originally set in Minneapolis, the writer is from here. IT was rewritten for Detroit because you guys offered better tax credits for making it in Michigan. |
Mplsryan
Member
Username: Mplsryan
Post Number: 65
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 7:45 pm: | |
The film was originally set in Minneapolis, the writer is from here. It was rewritten for Detroit because you guys offered better tax credits for making it in Michigan. |
Mplsryan
Member
Username: Mplsryan
Post Number: 66
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 7:45 pm: | |
The film was originally set in Minneapolis, the writer is from here. It was rewritten for Detroit because you guys offered better tax credits for making it in Michigan. |
Flyingj
Member
Username: Flyingj
Post Number: 395
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 8:39 pm: | |
Mplsryan, and "Crossing The Bridge" was set here & in Canada
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt01 04030/
but aside from a few 2nd unit shots they went 2 the Twin Cities because of THEIR film tax credits. Go figure |
Jjaba
Member
Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 7713
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 9:19 pm: | |
Sounds like The Rock is getting us ready for The Rock's Gran Torino tour. Fire up the Chevy long van and show us around. Thanks Rock.
jjaba, Westsider who has never seen any of these places. |
East_detroit
Member
Username: East_detroit
Post Number: 1838
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, January 17, 2009 - 1:30 pm: | |
Highland Park is on both the East and West sides. |
Kathinozarks
Member
Username: Kathinozarks
Post Number: 1845
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, January 17, 2009 - 4:56 pm: | |
Well, we just saw it and OMG we are still (one hour later) completely into it and just starting to decompress.
It was a $9.00 movie to be sure. I'm so glad I saw it and will see it again. |
Mayor_sekou
Member
Username: Mayor_sekou
Post Number: 2628
Registered: 09-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, January 17, 2009 - 5:08 pm: | |
It was funny I wasn't sure you could film a movie in Detroit with only three black people in the whole movie until I saw Gran Torino, but they sure as hell did it. It felt like this was some sort of other Detroit that I didn't know existed where there are Asian gangbangers, Hispanics rolling around in Dickie shirts and old school Impalas, and people seeking Lions season tickets. But all in all it was a good movie I learned a lot of new racial slurs to call people now. |
Jgavrile
Member
Username: Jgavrile
Post Number: 219
Registered: 09-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 18, 2009 - 11:43 am: | |
Having worked for Ford and also having grown up there, its a little interesting in that ,it use to be wherever there was a Ford plant, somewhere near there would either be an area or a suburb called Highland Park. Check it out. Chicago, St.Paul, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas, Edison N.J.
Some of them may be gone now, but I use to make note of this in traveling to the many assembly plants for Ford. Can't explain it?? |
Mallory
Member
Username: Mallory
Post Number: 316
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Monday, January 19, 2009 - 8:46 am: | |
Saw it yesterday. Liked it, and loved the Archie Bunker redux! |
Gnome
Member
Username: Gnome
Post Number: 2245
Registered: 08-2007
| | Posted on Monday, January 19, 2009 - 9:13 am: | |
best line by Eastwood:
"Stay away from my dog." |
Slick
Member
Username: Slick
Post Number: 46
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 11:01 am: | |
Saw the movie last weekend. Enjoyable till the end, but it was part of the plan.
Best line by Eastwood, Hmmph! reminds me of my Dad.
Glad to know the church is St Ambrose, is that the interior of the church also?
Anyone know where the Barber shop is?
Recommend the movie! |
Conman
Member
Username: Conman
Post Number: 67
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 11:05 am: | |
The barber is in Royal Oak. |
Slick
Member
Username: Slick
Post Number: 47
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 11:10 am: | |
Saw the movie last weekend. Enjoyable till the end, but it was part of the plan.
Best line by Eastwood, Hmmph! reminds me of my Dad.
Glad to know the church is St Ambrose, is that the interior of the church also?
Anyone know where the Barber shop is?
Recommend the movie! |
Newport1128
Member
Username: Newport1128
Post Number: 261
Registered: 05-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 4:40 pm: | |
Slick, the interior and exterior scenes are all from St. Ambrose. The only one I'm not sure about is the one in the confessional. I think maybe they did this one in a mock-up, since there isn't enough room in the real St. Ambrose confessionals for two actors and a camera, even in the more updated face-to-face confessional. |
Cambrian
Member
Username: Cambrian
Post Number: 1986
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, February 05, 2009 - 3:05 pm: | |
It did strike me odd that he had a cage door conveniantly installed for his basement door opening. What kind of bondage was he and his wife up too? |
Margaret
Member
Username: Margaret
Post Number: 245
Registered: 06-2007
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 1:55 pm: | |
have seen this fantastic movie twice now and will probably watch it again in the future, on DVD. I love the story, the setting, the fact that the church is good old St. Ambrose (my childhood church, too! how many times did our feet climb those front stairs, Newport???), the fact that St. Ambrose is looking so good, good enough to be a movie set! I am amazed by how Clint Eastwood seems to get better and better as he ages. way to go, Clint! does anyone know where on Charlevoix that one scene was filmed, where Sue confronts the black guys? just curious...anywhere near the intersection of Lakewood and Charlevoix? anyway, kudos to Clint and kudos to Detroit and Michigan!!! may there be many more films like this to delight our senses and to pour movie money into the economy there! |
Jat44
Member
Username: Jat44
Post Number: 14
Registered: 03-2008
| | Posted on Saturday, February 21, 2009 - 3:16 pm: | |
I finally saw this movie and thought that it was great! Walt Kowalski reminded me a lot of my Dad (Polish ancestory) who was also from the same era as Walt. The swearing, the racial slurs, the "not taking any shit from anybody" attitude and the beer drinking.
They even had a scene in Walt's VFW type of drinking establishment that to me, was pretty authentic. |
Mikeg
Member
Username: Mikeg
Post Number: 2242
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, February 21, 2009 - 3:50 pm: | |
quote:They even had a scene in Walt's VFW type of drinking establishment that to me, was pretty authentic.
That's because it was shot in the Cpl. Richard Menge VFW Post on Sherwood in Center Line. Here is the Macomb Daily article about the local filming for the movie.
(Message edited by Mikeg on February 21, 2009) |
Jjw
Member
Username: Jjw
Post Number: 551
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, February 21, 2009 - 4:28 pm: | |
Wait till dvd release. |
Buyamerican
Member
Username: Buyamerican
Post Number: 909
Registered: 02-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, February 21, 2009 - 5:44 pm: | |
Turkeycall, Messiah Lutheran Church was on Lakewood and Kercheval. I was baptized there. Lived in an apartment on Lakewood when I was first married. The apartment is long gone from fire and vandals. |
Cambrian
Member
Username: Cambrian
Post Number: 2021
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, February 22, 2009 - 8:45 am: | |
Jat44, he reminds me of my older polish relatives too. The source of their prejudice always struck as coming from someone working in the plants would see the next wave of immigrants as a threat to thier job via the fact the later immigrants would agree to work for less money. |
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