Favorite films set in states in which you've lived
Jun 12, 2017 17:53:43 GMT
_ and spiderwort like this
Post by vegalyra on Jun 12, 2017 17:53:43 GMT
I've only lived in Texas but there have been some good films set (and filmed here).
The Sugarland Express is one that I enjoy. The only problem is although it's based on a true story I believe the chase ended in Anahuac, TX which is only about 45 minutes from where I live. The film makes it almost seem like the protagonists made it to the Rio Grande Valley. They do go through a lot of towns near San Antonio which is neat (my favorite part of Texas). They also show the prison in Sugarland, TX which was still an active prison until a few years ago (urban sprawl was getting very close to the prison which used to be pretty isolated).
I have not seen it, but Brewster McCloud takes place in and around Houston and I believe has shots of the old Astroworld theme park and has some footage taken inside of the Astrodome. It's on my watch list.
Cloak and Dagger (1984) takes place in and around San Antonio. It even has some great footage of the Riverwalk. What a great and fun film with Henry Thomas (post E.T.) and Dabney Coleman (great actor). I always look to see if i'm in the background in some of those Riverwalk shots. We'd visit that area quite a bit when I was a kid.
Hellfighters with John Wayne was filmed in Houston and Baytown. One of the old oil derricks that was used in the film (although there were hundreds of them in Baytown back then) still exists at a park in Baytown. Not one of my favorite Wayne films but my Dad grew up literally across the Ship Channel in La Porte from where the movie was filmed. He would have been about 16 or so at the time.
Urban Cowboy - What else can I say about this film. It was an institution where I lived for many years. My Uncles (my Dad wasn't much of a drinker) and their friends went to Gilley's quite often (and drank Lone Star Beer). It even has shots of the old Huntsville Prison Rodeo when it still operated. I'm pretty sure at least one of my family members is in the background in one of the shots. Really gives a good impression of what life was like working at one of the refineries in Pasadena, TX (near Houston) and then relaxing and blowing off steam at Gilley's right down the road. They still call Pasadena "Stinkadena" because of the huge refinery complexes that line the Houston Ship Channel. When the wind is blowing right you can smell it for miles.
Apollo 13 - Lots of shots of the Johnson Space Center and the surrounding neighborhoods. Not too far from downtown Houston (about a 30 minute drive). My Grandfather was part of NASA during the 1960's and 1970's so this film was part of his library until he passed away. He was friends with the real astronauts that were portrayed by Tom Hanks, etc. He also served as a consultant for mission protocol and to the set designers for how Mission Control looked during the era. I don't believe he is credited in the film though which is too bad. My mom grew up with the astronaut's kids and went to high school together so it's special.
The Sugarland Express is one that I enjoy. The only problem is although it's based on a true story I believe the chase ended in Anahuac, TX which is only about 45 minutes from where I live. The film makes it almost seem like the protagonists made it to the Rio Grande Valley. They do go through a lot of towns near San Antonio which is neat (my favorite part of Texas). They also show the prison in Sugarland, TX which was still an active prison until a few years ago (urban sprawl was getting very close to the prison which used to be pretty isolated).
I have not seen it, but Brewster McCloud takes place in and around Houston and I believe has shots of the old Astroworld theme park and has some footage taken inside of the Astrodome. It's on my watch list.
Cloak and Dagger (1984) takes place in and around San Antonio. It even has some great footage of the Riverwalk. What a great and fun film with Henry Thomas (post E.T.) and Dabney Coleman (great actor). I always look to see if i'm in the background in some of those Riverwalk shots. We'd visit that area quite a bit when I was a kid.
Hellfighters with John Wayne was filmed in Houston and Baytown. One of the old oil derricks that was used in the film (although there were hundreds of them in Baytown back then) still exists at a park in Baytown. Not one of my favorite Wayne films but my Dad grew up literally across the Ship Channel in La Porte from where the movie was filmed. He would have been about 16 or so at the time.
Urban Cowboy - What else can I say about this film. It was an institution where I lived for many years. My Uncles (my Dad wasn't much of a drinker) and their friends went to Gilley's quite often (and drank Lone Star Beer). It even has shots of the old Huntsville Prison Rodeo when it still operated. I'm pretty sure at least one of my family members is in the background in one of the shots. Really gives a good impression of what life was like working at one of the refineries in Pasadena, TX (near Houston) and then relaxing and blowing off steam at Gilley's right down the road. They still call Pasadena "Stinkadena" because of the huge refinery complexes that line the Houston Ship Channel. When the wind is blowing right you can smell it for miles.
Apollo 13 - Lots of shots of the Johnson Space Center and the surrounding neighborhoods. Not too far from downtown Houston (about a 30 minute drive). My Grandfather was part of NASA during the 1960's and 1970's so this film was part of his library until he passed away. He was friends with the real astronauts that were portrayed by Tom Hanks, etc. He also served as a consultant for mission protocol and to the set designers for how Mission Control looked during the era. I don't believe he is credited in the film though which is too bad. My mom grew up with the astronaut's kids and went to high school together so it's special.