  7even Member Username: 7even Post Number: 75 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 198.109.26.19 |
I could not find a thread about this, so I am starting a new one. What are the best box office movies set in Detroit? Which have the best shots of monuments? I know recent movies like the Island, and Four Brothers were filmed in Detroit. I have not seen RoboCop in about ten years. Was it actually filmed in Detroit? I guess overall what I would like to get from this thread is what are good movies that have filming in real Detroit areas. | ||
Detroitteacher Member Username: Detroitteacher Post Number: 118 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
Here is a list of films set in Detroit. Those in bold were actually filmed in Detroit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L ist_of_movies_set_in_Detroit | ||
Detroitteacher Member Username: Detroitteacher Post Number: 119 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
Robocop was filmed in Dallas. A friend of my dad's was moonlighting as a limo driver and became Danny DeVito's personal driver during th filming of Hoffa. Needless to say, we all met him. Really hilarious guy! | ||
7even Member Username: 7even Post Number: 77 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 198.109.26.19 |
Four Brothers had parts filmed in Detroit, but it was not Bold. I seen the Guardian, Comerica Tower, One Woodward, Brodrick, and Cass Tech. Anyone know where it was filmed? At the end they were on a lake, anyone know what lake? | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1871 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 70.228.57.24 |
Pretty sure it was in northern Ontario, although it turned out cool. | ||
7even Member Username: 7even Post Number: 78 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 198.109.26.19 |
On RoboCop: "Although cameras are now forbidden to be taken there, a lot of the movie (including the final battle scene) was filmed on Zug Island, which is a man-made industrial island now used primarily for car manufacturing." -Wikipedia (Message edited by 7even on July 10, 2006) (Message edited by 7even on July 10, 2006) | ||
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 38 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 66.184.3.44 |
Could someone tell me how The Island made the list of Detroit movies? Saw it and don't remember anything remotely Detroit about it. | ||
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026 Post Number: 1016 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 24.231.189.137 |
the movie wasnt meant to be set in detroit, however it was filmed downtown... so the city shots in that movie are detroit. | ||
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 39 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 66.184.3.44 |
Thanks MCM, did not know that. The day I watched it I was pretty hung over and feel asleep at on point. Guess I'll have to watch it again. | ||
Valkyrias Member Username: Valkyrias Post Number: 290 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 69.47.103.87 |
pretty positive that 4 brothers, as well as detroit rock city and grosse pointe blank had some shots filmed in the detroit area. detroit rock city filmed the group of kids entering the city from the belle isle bridge, you can tell it was taken from that area because the river is on the left and the ren cen is on the right. talk about a continuity issue. they also filmed some shots outside cobo and along jefferson. grosse pointe blank shows lakeshore drive at the very end of the movie. never saw 4 brothers, but imdb lists detroit as a filming location. oh, and freaks and geeks was based in the metro area too...i can't remember which city specifically. | ||
Hysteria Member Username: Hysteria Post Number: 745 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 205.188.116.137 |
Correct, Motor ... They were looking for a city with a high vacancy rate and older/unoccupied buildings for the film to add visual sensation to the plot ... similiar to what Blade the television series may do. (Message edited by HYSTERIA on July 10, 2006) | ||
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026 Post Number: 1017 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 24.231.189.137 |
4 Brothers shot portions in Detroit... a few shots of the main character driving down woodward avenue, and near the MCS, but most of it was filmed in Ontario | ||
7even Member Username: 7even Post Number: 79 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 198.109.26.19 |
Detroitej72 go here http://thefilmasylum.com/galle ry/The-Island/aab | ||
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026 Post Number: 1018 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 24.231.189.137 |
Also, the altered the city to make it "futuristic" and they added a mass transit system, though the People Mover can be seen through it. Something I found interesting was they way they tinted the Penobscot Building so that it looked red...it was a neat visual effect. Also, the helicopter crash scene was filmed at the United Artists building, though in the movie they computerized it into a modern glass office building. | ||
Hysteria Member Username: Hysteria Post Number: 746 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 205.188.116.137 |
Yeah, the only reason I went to the movie was to see the 'futuristic' Detroit. Haha ... | ||
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 40 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 66.184.3.44 |
Thanks 7even. By the way anyone remember the episode of Northern Exposures that was filmed in Grosse Pointe when Maggie came home for her grandmother's birthday? Did a pretty good job of captureing the whole GP attitude. | ||
Supersport Member Username: Supersport Post Number: 10301 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.246.37.236 |
There are other movies on that list that at least had portions and scenes filmed in Detroit. The one that REALLY sticks out is True Romance. The whole first half of that movie took place in Detroit. | ||
Hysteria Member Username: Hysteria Post Number: 747 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 205.188.116.137 |
I don't think Northern Exposure ever filmed in GP. | ||
Hysteria Member Username: Hysteria Post Number: 748 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 205.188.116.137 |
The movie 'Bird on a Wire' with Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn started out or eventually ended up in Detroit. I remember seeing the river. I didn't see it mentioned on Wikipedia's site. BTW, the movie sucks. It was on TV for about three months straight when I was in college. | ||
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 42 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 66.184.3.44 |
Yeh, it was an episode where Maggie brings Joel back to her hometown for her grandmother's birthday. This was the first and I think only episode that was set outside of Alaska. | ||
Deputy_mayor_2026 Member Username: Deputy_mayor_2026 Post Number: 103 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
One of my favorite scenes in the Island was shot in the old Michigan Theater that is currently a parking lot. | ||
7even Member Username: 7even Post Number: 80 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 198.109.26.19 |
Four Brothers end scene was shot on Lake Simcoe in Canada. http://www.crewpix.com/index_m oved.htm?/StuntsFX/Tow_Snow_sm .jpg Link does not work. Type in Four Brothers and go to last picture. (Message edited by 7even on July 10, 2006) | ||
Hysteria Member Username: Hysteria Post Number: 749 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 205.188.116.137 |
Cool. I agree, Deputy. | ||
Thejesus Member Username: Thejesus Post Number: 10 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 68.62.6.138 |
'Collision Course' is missing from that list...that's the one w/ Jay Leno and Pat Morita, circa 1986 | ||
Yupislyr Member Username: Yupislyr Post Number: 139 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 24.57.86.210 |
The Virgin Suicides - set in Grosse Pointe, although not filmed there | ||
Yupislyr Member Username: Yupislyr Post Number: 140 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 24.57.86.210 |
The Michigan IMDB list: http://imdb.com/LocationTree?M ichigan,+USA Used that and found some more that I didn't know were filmed around here. | ||
Pdtpuck Member Username: Pdtpuck Post Number: 115 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 208.251.168.194 |
now that's money in the bank, baby! how that didn't take off I'll never know 
Dennis Hopper's death "finale" is one of the best parts of that movie! | ||
Hamtramck_steve Member Username: Hamtramck_steve Post Number: 3077 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.252.125.198 |
The ending was set in Detroit, but no filming occurred here. Vancouver was the stand-in. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 445 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 65.185.132.134 |
The Northern Exposure GP scenes were obviously shot in the Pacific Northwest--while the houses were somewhat GP 1920's in character, the fact that they were built on very hilly land would suggest Washington state (where NE was filmed) rather than dead-flat metro Detroit. There were some nice shots taken around town, added as B-roll to give the idea that Maggie and Joel were in the MC. PS-Janie Turner was really HOT on that show | ||
Mallory Member Username: Mallory Post Number: 37 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 207.230.140.240 |
Thanks for the "Collision Course" mention. I was an extra in the movie and haven't shared that factwith people for a long time. If you've seen the movie, you know why. | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1166 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 198.208.159.18 |
beverly hills cop!!!! even features former councilman and mayoral canidate Gil Hill as Inspector Todd | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 696 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 207.200.116.139 |
Yeah, but only the street chase scene at the start of the flick was filmed in Detroit. 98 percent of it was filmed in Lala land. | ||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 5688 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 209.216.150.127 |
Detroit Rock City was filmed in Hamilton, Ontario. | ||
Mallory Member Username: Mallory Post Number: 38 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 207.230.140.240 |
Who can ever forget the WDRQ SEMTA bus doing the 180 on Grand River? Do you think 'DRQ paid for that? By the time BHC3 came out, they shot none of it in Detroit. Hey Eddie, there's still time to save your career. Do BHC 4 and shoot the whole thing in Detroit. Plotline - the BH cops come to see a Tigers game and visit their friend Axel when Axel gets a call from the Chief of Police and blah blah blah. At the end, Judge Reinhold wins a jackpot at one of the casinos and, well, um, uh, oh heck, fill in your own storyline. | ||
Islandman Member Username: Islandman Post Number: 231 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 68.42.171.59 |
I remember being in Trapper's Alley during part of the filming of Collision Course. Also saw a car chase that they did in front of Hudson's down the sidewalk the same week. | ||
Fnemecek Member Username: Fnemecek Post Number: 1778 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 69.212.33.133 |
Looking at that list, I can't help but notice roughly a 3 to 1 ratio of movies that set in Detroit versus those that are actually filmed here. I am s-o-o-o glad that Michigan is one of only 14 states in the nation that offer absolutely no incentives to film here. Oh, and add to that list Spider-Man 3. The writers and directors (all Detroit natives)actually wrote Detroit into the script for the upcoming film. But because Michigan doesn't offer any incentives, the studio decided to spend enough cash to make Cleveland look like Detroit. Thank you, State Senator Nancy Cassis! | ||
Andylinn Member Username: Andylinn Post Number: 126 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 64.141.144.2 |
I added Collision Course, Bird on a wire, and Virgin Suicides to the wikipedia list. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L ist_of_films_set_in_Detroit | ||
Bvos Member Username: Bvos Post Number: 1673 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 75.10.21.159 |
I don't think anything in Detroit Rock City was filmed in Detroit. Some scenes had tried to recreate Cobo and the area, but it definately wasn't the real think. Fnemecek, what would you know about movie production ;-) | ||
Wabashrr1 Member Username: Wabashrr1 Post Number: 186 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 172.161.15.75 |
It looked like Detroit9000 was filmed entirly in Detroit. Was it? I know the chase through and from Fort Street Union Depot scene at the end was. What parts of Renaissance Man were filmed in Detroit? Don't remember seeing anything familiar in that flick (Danny DeVito teaches shakespear to some learning challanged army recruits). | ||
Detroitteacher Member Username: Detroitteacher Post Number: 131 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
In Ren Man one of the characters was from Detroit and Detroit was mentioned quite a bit. It was one of the recruits but can't remember which one. I show this film to my seniors when we study Hamlet. | ||
Detroitteacher Member Username: Detroitteacher Post Number: 132 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
I also found that it was filmed in Detroit and Port Huron. The unemployment office and city streets at the beginning are Detroit. Danny DeVito's character lived in Detroit and became unemployed. | ||
Wabashrr1 Member Username: Wabashrr1 Post Number: 187 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 172.166.57.49 |
I don't remember his (the recruit) name but he was in the army trying to elude law enforcement on drug charges. DeVito's character, in his passion to help the guy excel in the army, wound up getting the guy busted and sent off to jail. Not a stellar Detroit reference from the hollywierd sect if you ask me.. |
