"Escape from New York" was filmed entirely in St. Louis.
- 2,005
^No he is right, Duke of New York's HQ is Union Station! most of the movie was shot near the current Tap Room after a gigantic fire burned two or three blocks. A question of mine is where is the bridge at the end is it the Chain of Rocks or McArthur?
- 835
bencharif-- no, I'm not kidding. Escape from New York was filmed primarily in St. Louis. You can recognize a lot of buildings, including Union Station and several in the garment district, long before Washington Avenue was hip.
And speaking of the city's transitional commercial life: Is film production anything more than an asterisk in the city's economy, if that? Is anyone in municipal government pursuing it seriously?
I keep thinking the cost of living/doing business should make St. Louis a magnet for creative people in all kinds of businesses. Just from the Web, you can see an impressive level of creative energy behind some of the city's small businesses.
How did they get to St. Louis? Apart from regional word-of-mouth, how can St. Louis attract more like them?
I keep thinking the cost of living/doing business should make St. Louis a magnet for creative people in all kinds of businesses. Just from the Web, you can see an impressive level of creative energy behind some of the city's small businesses.
How did they get to St. Louis? Apart from regional word-of-mouth, how can St. Louis attract more like them?
- 835
I used to work for the now-defunct St. Louis Film Office, which morphed with the still-operating-but-sucky Missouri Film Office. STL actually gets a number of major commercial/television/film productions for a city of this size. The city's diverse architecture and range of neighborhoods make it a very versatile backdrop for the big screen. While it's not a huge source of revenue for the city, these productions do have an impact on the local economy. A major film starring Judd Nelson and Kristy Swanson just wrapped up production here a couple months ago (called Black Hole), and look for the premiere of The Game of their Lives very soon, which was filmed mostly here as well.
St. Louis has doubled for New York, Paris, London, Toronto and has starred as itself in a great many productions in the last 20 years.
St. Louis has doubled for New York, Paris, London, Toronto and has starred as itself in a great many productions in the last 20 years.
Doubled for itself and New York in "The Game of Their Lives." They also used many locals for extras, including my Uncle. "The Big Brass Ring" was filmed completely here around 1999. I am often surprised to see St. Louis in movies, considering our size. Like Jive said, we've had our fair share. I would like to see more though. Funny how this thread has morphed.
- 835
I was a forefront extra in Big Brass Ring. I was in the last scene on the riverboat playing a dancer in drag. I had to stand in a leather dress, panty hose and high heels from 12 midnight to 5:00am.
The Fox was shot in ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, as was the Masonic Temple at Spring and Lindell around the corner. Depressing, but at the same time, if a remake were to be made today, StL would not be as much of a viable option.
Anyone have a list of movies in which St. Louis had doubled for a larger, more "sexy" city?
Anyone have a list of movies in which St. Louis had doubled for a larger, more "sexy" city?
- 835
St. Louis has doubled for New York City in the following films:
Escape from New York
A Will of Her Own (mini-series)
The Game of Their Lives
Several more, I'm drawing a blank though.
Chicago has actually doubled for St. Louis in a few movies too, including:
National Lampoon's Vacation (only the skyline shot was filmed here)
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (only the airport scene was shot here)
Cheech & Chong's Things are Tough All Over (only the skyline shot was filmed here)
Escape from New York
A Will of Her Own (mini-series)
The Game of Their Lives
Several more, I'm drawing a blank though.
Chicago has actually doubled for St. Louis in a few movies too, including:
National Lampoon's Vacation (only the skyline shot was filmed here)
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (only the airport scene was shot here)
Cheech & Chong's Things are Tough All Over (only the skyline shot was filmed here)
- 51
Even Silence of the Lambs was filmed here.
You can find a complete list at
http://www.imdb.com/List?endings=on&&lo ... uri,%20USA
You can find a complete list at
http://www.imdb.com/List?endings=on&&lo ... uri,%20USA
There's a Steven Saudenberg(Traffic, Oceans 11, etc.) film called "King of the Hill," shot in St Louis and Alton IL. They also just shot two films in Alton this past December. I also heard awhile ago, about a SCIFI channel original film, that takes place in St Louis, and was shot entirely there. So, if you have the SCI-FI channel, look out for a flick about aliens taking over STL. Might be fun to watch while smoking... As far as why St Louis would be attracting for film makers, the primary reason would probably be...
St. Louis has an east coast appearence (as far as some neighborhoods, more so than Chicago) , and as a result can save Hollywood film makers a lot of money. Usually, the closer to L.A., the better.
St. Louis is cheap to shoot in.
St. Louis is old, and has many available warehouses that can serve as studios.
I wouldn't be too proud of St Louis being used for the film, Escape from New York, we all know why it was, but thankfully, many of the places used for the film were rehabbed. I have the DVD, I can snap some shots and post them here later.
As far as Silence of the Lambs, there was only one scene from that movie that was shot in St Louis. It's actually quite famous. Remember when they were in an airport hanger, and they had him strapped up in a straight jacket, wearing the restraint mask? It was shot in Lambert Airport.
St. Louis has an east coast appearence (as far as some neighborhoods, more so than Chicago) , and as a result can save Hollywood film makers a lot of money. Usually, the closer to L.A., the better.
St. Louis is cheap to shoot in.
St. Louis is old, and has many available warehouses that can serve as studios.
I wouldn't be too proud of St Louis being used for the film, Escape from New York, we all know why it was, but thankfully, many of the places used for the film were rehabbed. I have the DVD, I can snap some shots and post them here later.
As far as Silence of the Lambs, there was only one scene from that movie that was shot in St Louis. It's actually quite famous. Remember when they were in an airport hanger, and they had him strapped up in a straight jacket, wearing the restraint mask? It was shot in Lambert Airport.
- 2,005
It'd be cool to see before and after shots from 'Escape from New York'. Granted that movie was shot mostly at night, there are striking differences b/w St Louis then and now(thank God). Bonus props if you can get Snake Plisken back for some pictures. I have no camera so I'm out 
I remember gnix doing a during and after with escape from new york on SSP a while ago. That was cool. Maybe a repost is needed here.
JivecitySTL wrote:I was a forefront extra in Big Brass Ring. I was in the last scene on the riverboat playing a dancer in drag. I had to stand in a leather dress, panty hose and high heels from 12 midnight to 5:00am.
Boy, I would like to see that, JivecitySTL
Don't forget White Palace http://imdb.com/title/tt0103251/ occurs and shot entirely in St. Louis including the street scene where Euclid (in front of Duff's) doubles as New York.
I saw that Jive. Ha, but I had no idea you were one of those dancers!
- 51
I'm sure all of you must have heard of "Fever Pitch" which was also shot a bit here in St. Louis. not that I like the fact that the ending revolves around the cards loosing. You know I did see Jimmy Fallon run onto the grass and kiss someone after the final game. I had no idea it was Drew Barrymore and that they were shooting a movie!!
http://www.feverpitchmovie.com/
Hemant
http://www.feverpitchmovie.com/
Hemant
- 667
There was a Chinese movie that was shot in St. Louis back in 2000 called Gua Sha (The Treatment). Some places were scenes were shot were Olive St. in U City (Central Trading market, I was an extra in this scene), Delmar Loop, and the Old Courthouse. I had an opportunity to read the scripts and meet the director while at a Chinese cultural event. 
Unfortunately, I haven't seen the whole movie and it wasn't released in the US, unless it was in limited markets.
![]()
About the movie:
Datong (Tony Leung) is a patrician of a St. Louis Chinese-American family and a designer of violent video games. When Datong's father (Zhu Xu) visits from China, he performs some traditional Chinese medicine (the "Gha Sha" treatment) on his young grandson. Though painless, the treatment leaves bright red marks on the skin, which are interpreted by the kid's teacher as welts. Soon the Child Welfare Agency is accusing the family of child abuse and transfers the kid to a foster home...
Hong Kong indie film icon Tony Leung starred in this Chinese production and won the "Best Actor" in Chinese Movie Grand Award. This film was screened at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.
Unfortunately, I haven't seen the whole movie and it wasn't released in the US, unless it was in limited markets.
About the movie:
Datong (Tony Leung) is a patrician of a St. Louis Chinese-American family and a designer of violent video games. When Datong's father (Zhu Xu) visits from China, he performs some traditional Chinese medicine (the "Gha Sha" treatment) on his young grandson. Though painless, the treatment leaves bright red marks on the skin, which are interpreted by the kid's teacher as welts. Soon the Child Welfare Agency is accusing the family of child abuse and transfers the kid to a foster home...
Hong Kong indie film icon Tony Leung starred in this Chinese production and won the "Best Actor" in Chinese Movie Grand Award. This film was screened at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.
it's wonderful that STL is symbolized all over the world by that stainless steal beauty. not many american cities can boast about that.
- 51
Hmm, they should have released the movie in St. Louis considering it was shot here. Sounds interesting enough.
- 51
I found a place where you can buy the DVD. It does have English subtitles and it'a a Region 3 disc so will only run in region free players (which most are now-a-days).
http://store.fivestarlaser.com/cgi-bin/ ... =6768.html
http://store.fivestarlaser.com/cgi-bin/ ... =6768.html