i luv cinema

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • 100 “Must-See”
  • About Me
Home Archives for new york city

August 20, 2013 By iluvcinema 4 Comments

On Location: Pennsylvania Station in the Movies

During TCM’s wonderful Summer Under The Stars film festival last week, I was watching Hitchcock’s Spellbound, when the first scene at Pennsylvania Station took place; in that moment, I was reminded of the former grandeur and splendor awarded to Midtown Manhattan transportation hub:

Another shot of the old Penn Station #TCMParty #PeckTCM #Spellbound pic.twitter.com/kJK1Md5ij7

— iluvcinema (@iluvcinema) August 15, 2013

The old Pennsylvania Station: where Bergman and Peck just departed from #TCMParty #PeckTCM #Spellbound pic.twitter.com/xlSQthAfzD

— iluvcinema (@iluvcinema) August 15, 2013

That got me thinking: how many other films (besides Spellbound) were shot at the once iconic location? I say “once iconic” because as anyone who has visited the station in its current incarnation can attest, it is anything but grand and architecturally masterful.

What my research produced was pretty sweet! A lot of you film enthusiasts beat me to the punch and did your own retrospectives on films shots in and around the landmark. So instead of retreading already covered ground, I am using this post as a shout-out of sorts, highlight a few articles that do Penn Station proud:

  • Sentimental Journey: New York Penn Station in Film
  • The Late, Great Pennsylvania Station In this book, author Lorraine Diehl highlights some films that took place at Penn Station.
  • A New York Times feature from 2007 about the storied location; includes information on Grand Central Terminal as well.

Here is a clip that merges several scenes from Hollywood films that use the landmark as a location (whether actually shot on location or reproduced and filmed on a studio lot).

———–

For further insight of what has since been lost, watch this short clip of the early history of the station:

Lastly, read this 2010 blog post from the Brooklyn Museum.

Filed Under: On Location Tagged With: film location, new york city, nyc, penn station, pennsylvania station

July 10, 2009 By idawson Leave a Comment

On Location – NYC

Since I live in the greater NYC area, I have a wealth of “On Locations” to report. This first installment is probably one of my favorites from a favorite director of mine.

I already have featured one location from the masterpiece that is Vertigo. The second Hitchcock film I will refer to is “North by Northwest.”
Here is a photo of the corner of 5th Avenue and 42nd Street as it is now (from my cell phone) …

42nd 55th new

… and a few years back when Nat Sherman was there …. 59271535_884f7d9f2c

In the film, it was a passing shot pretty early on. There are plenty of other NYC locations that Hitchcock used throughout the filming of NbNW, but for me, a frequent passerby of the area, I felt a nice little connection to the location. In my research it is no doubt a “shout out” to the store. According to Cigar Aficionado, Hitch was a huge fan of cigars.

As for Nat Sherman, it has moved a few hundred feet to a less conspicuous location – along 42nd Street.

nat new

Here is a really cool site I discovered that listed many of the location shots from North by Northwest.

I also found this awesome compendium of film locations. Using this guide as a resource, you may even be able to plan a nice trip around a film or two!

Filed Under: Fun Stuff, On Location Tagged With: alfred hitchcock, new york city, north by northwest, On Location

Search

Recommended Read

Captain of Her Own Soul

UC Press

Added to My Video Library

Imitation of Life (1934)

Centers of Film Study

  • JBFC
  • MoMA Film Screenings
  • The Picture House
  • University of California Press (Cinema and Media Texts)

Fast Film Resources

  • Alfred Hitchcock Wiki
  • Alfred Hitchcock-Master of Suspense
  • Film | The Guardian
  • Kermode & Mayo's Film Reviews
  • Park Circus
  • Rotten Tomatoes
  • The Internet Movie Database
  • Tribeca Film

Film Societies

  • BAMcinématek
  • Film Society of Lincoln Center

This is How We Blogroll

  • BBC Film: The Bulletin
  • Cinematic Corner
  • Comet Over Hollywood
  • Critical Women on Film
  • FlixChatter
  • Future of Flim (Tribeca Film Blog)
  • in so many words …
  • Kermode's Film Blog
  • Paula's Cinema Club
  • Roger Ebert
  • Sobriety Test Movie Reviews
  • Superhero Movie Talk
  • Sweet Freedom

Archives

Tweets by @iluvcinema
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact iluvcinema
totalfilm600movieblogs

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2025, iluvcinema ·Streamline Pro Theme · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress · Log in