Buildings in the Movies

There was an article in the February 8, 2011 Winfield Courier (Kansas) that stated officials at Southwestern College weren’t pleased that a promotional poster for the thriller Roommate featured one of their buildings. “Our concern is the association — the unauthorized association — of what we think is an iconic image of the college with a ‘slasher’ movie,” said Southwestern College president Dick Merriman in the article. In response to the college, Sony Pictures Entertainment removed the image from the film’s website and from subsequent promotional materials.

Of course, this is far from the first time that an actual building was featured in a movie. What other buildings have been featured in film? Loads of them. I can’t mention them all, but I will mention three buildings that had a “starring” role.

Philadelphia Museum of Art
Actually, it was the East Entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which was made famous in the 1976 film Rocky, when the title character ran up the steps leading to the said entrance. Since then, thousands of tourists have run up the steps, just like Rocky did in the movies. At the foot of the steps is the Rocky sculpture by A. Thomas Schomberg.  This statue was made for Rocky III in 1980 and after filming was complete, Sylvester Stallone donated it to the city of Philadelphia.

The Dakota (New York City)
One of the most famous apartment buildings in New York City, if not the world, due to its famous inhabitants, such as Lauren Bacall, Leonard Bernstein and John and Yoko Lennon—just to name a few. The building had its exterior featured in two films, the 1968 film Rosemary’s Baby and the 2001 film Vanilla Sky. Interior shots were done on soundstages, since the building’s owner would not permit interior filming to be done.

The Coliseum Ballroom (St. Petersburg, Florida)
Why is this building listed? You ask. It is listed because it was featured in a dance scene in the 1984 film Cocoon. It also is famous for having the largest dance floor in the southeastern United States. How big? Try 13,000 square feet (1,207.73 square meters for those living outside of the U.S.)

So there you have it, three buildings that had a “starring” role. While buildings don’t say much, they aren’t much trouble to the director. After all, a building won’t demand that the director film the “good side” or try to rewrite the script in the building’s favor. It will just stand there, as it always does. If only some actors and actresses were as easy to work with.

Sources:

http://www.winfieldcourier.com/articles/2011/02/08/news/news/doc4d5183cc7aa41324106218.txt

http://www.nyc-architecture.com/UWS/UWS017.htm

http://www.visitphilly.com/museums-attractions/philadelphia/the-rocky-statue-and-the-rocky-steps/

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/movies/content/after-breakfast-eggs-no-oatmeal-wilfred-brimley-talks-about-cocoon-and-catching-tarpon-st-pe

http://www.stpete.org/coliseum/

Preston, Patricia Tunison & Preston, John. Frommers Tampa & St. Petersburg ’91-’92 Prentice Hall 1991 pg. 148

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When the Famous Become Infamous

Recently there was a bench warrant issued for Lindsey Lohan’s arrest after she failed to appear in court.  Lohan has been in and out of court, since her 2007 drunk driving conviction and it was reported that she had been partying big time at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Before anyone start complaining about how spoiled some actors and actresses are these days and stating how actors and actresses of the 1930’s, 1940’s and 1950’s conducted themselves differently, think again. Some actors and actresses of the past were just as bad.

Errol Flynn drank heavily, shamelessly chased after women and died in the arms of his teenage mistress when he was 50 years old. Joan Crawford was reported by her daughter Christina in her famous book Mommie Dearest as having been both physically and verbally abusive towards her and her brother.

Of course, this information came about after these persons died. Back in the day, there wasn’t TMZ, or Extra reporting about their exploits and the studios were willing to “bail out” a particular actor or actress, both literally and figuratively, when that person got into trouble.  While studio executives weren’t happy to learn about a particular star’s infamous exploits, they “protected” their stars.  They considered it the cost of doing business with these people. After all, the movies of Errol Flynn and Joan Crawford and others, made money for the studios, so the executives put up with “that” kind of behavior.

When the studio system dissolved, so did the protection it afford people. Yes, actors and actresses have more freedom to pursue projects to their liking, the flip side of being an independent contractor is that they are vulnerable to a spurned boyfriend or girlfriend, ex-employee or other person leaking information about drug habits, relationship problems or other juicy tidbits to the press and no one can do anything about it.

So, the next time you hear about some famous bad boy or girl du jour, remember this:  They’re just continuing a long and not so illustrious  tradition.

Sources:

http://www.tmz.com/2010/05/20/lindsay-lohan-bench-warrant-jail-court-dui-hearing-probation-passport-judge/

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Lindsay+Lohan+longer+large/3057692/story.html

http://www.inlikeflynn.com/flynn.html