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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:

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:

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).

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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.

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For Movie Lovers in the NYC Area (Summer 2011)

It is that time of year again – summer is very nearly upon us. And for cinephiles in the greater NYC there are plenty of opportunities to catch some old and new movies in the great outdoor. Here are just a couple of events to whet your appetite:

Rooftop Films

Rooftop Films is celebrating its 15th year of offering some overlooked fare on – you guessed it – rooftops! Please go to the website for screening information as well as locations, tickets and to learn more about how you can contribute to this non-profit organization whose mission it is

to engage diverse communities by showing independent movies in outdoor locations, producing new films, coordinating youth media education, and renting equipment at low cost to artists.

HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival

Every Monday during the summer, I walk by Bryant Park on my way home from work determined that this will be the year I stop and take a seat and catch a movie. I have yet to partake but having attended other events during the summer in this space, I can highly recommend that if you are in the area you should participate. Although the list of films has not yet been confirmed, if previous years are anything to go by, I would say you are in for a treat. Here is just a sampling of some of the things that have been screened:

  • The French Connection
  • Monty Python and the Holy Grail
  • 12 Angry Men
  • The Sting
  • How Green was My Valley
  • Close Encounters of the Third Kind
  • Arsenic and Old Lace
  • Superman
  • High Noon
  • The Birds

… and on and on. Believe you-me, the full list is quite impressive. What I especially love is that it gives great exposure to some of the “classics” of cinema. For many passers-by this is their first experience seeing these landmarks of cinema. This year I am determined to go! Hope to see you there!

Now it is your turn – if you are not in the NYC area, post your favorite summer cinema activities wherever you are!

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