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Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta at Leo Carrillo State Beach in "Grease" | Photo: @filmtourismus |
"GREASE"
5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles 90038323-956-5000
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Celebrating its 45th anniversary on June 16, 2023, Grease stars John Travolta and the late Olivia Newton-John in a film adaptation of the 1971 musical of the same name. Grease tells the story of a 1950s high school romance between a “greaser,” Danny Zuko (Travolta) and Sandy Olsson (Newton-John). The soundtrack album was the second-best selling album of the year, and "Hopelessly Devoted to You" (performed by Newton-John) received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.
Grease was filmed on location throughout Los Angeles, including the opening scene at Leo Carrillo State Beach, Venice High School, which stood in for Rydell; the closing carnival sequence at John Marshall High School; and the drag race at the Los Angeles River.
Key scenes were filmed on the studio lot at Paramount Pictures, site of the Frosty Palace set and the musical numbers "Greased Lightning" and "Beauty School Dropout."
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"CASABLANCA" - WARNER BROS. STUDIO
3400 Warner Blvd., Burbank 91505+1-818-977-8687
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One of the most enduring romances in movie history, Casablanca stars Humphrey Bogart as cynical nightclub owner Rick Blaine, who must decide whether to help his former flame Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) and her fugitive husband Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) escape from the Nazis.
Casablanca was filmed almost entirely on Stage 7 of Warner Bros. Studio, which is celebrating its centennial in 2023. Throughout filming, the Rick's Cafe set remained in Stage 7 - nicknamed "Lucky 7" because three Warner Bros. Best Picture winners (Casablanca, The Life of Emile Zola, My Fair Lady) and 10 Best Picture nominees were shot there. The Paris flashback scenes were filmed at French Street on the backlot.
Go behind the scenes and learn the history of the legendary studio on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood. Casablanca fans can take a trip back in time to the Golden Age of Hollywood with the Classics Tour, featuring award-winning films and TV series that were shot on the iconic backlot from the early days of the Studio through the 1970s.
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"500 DAYS OF SUMMER' - GRAND PARK
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| Joseph Gordon-Levitt in "500 Days of Summer" Photo: 500 Days of Summer, Facebook |
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500 Days of Summer was one of the sleeper hits of 2009, landing on the Top 10 year-end lists of various movie critics and earning an Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay. Told in a nonlinear style, the movie features Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tom Hansen, who is reminiscing about his 500-day relationship with Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel). Critics and fans alike praised the chemistry between the two lead actors, as well as the effective use of Downtown LA locations. After their first night together, an overjoyed Tom struts to the tune of Hall & Oates’ You Make My Dreams and is joined by bystanders. During this popular scene, Tom passes the Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain, a Mid-Century landmark that was recently restored as part of the Grand Park project.
NOTE: The famous “Tom’s Bench,” located on Angel’s Knoll above Hill Street and across from the Grand Central Market, is currently inaccessible to the public. It’s still visible through a chainlink fence.
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"THE ARTIST" - BRADBURY BUILDING
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| Scene from "The Artist" at the Bradbury Building Photo: @filmtourismus |
213-626-1893
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The Artist is a 2011 French film made in the style of a black-and-white silent movie. The story takes place in Hollywood between 1927 and 1932, and focuses on the lives of silent film star George Valentin (played by Jean Dujardin), and the chorus girl he discovers, Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo). As “talkies” start to replace silent films, George’s career fades while Peppy becomes a leading lady. At the 84th Academy Awards, The Artist made history when it took home the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director (Michel Hazanavicius) and Best Actor (Dujardin). The Artist also won for Costume Design and Original Score.
The Artist was filmed in numerous LA locations, including the landmark Bradbury Building in Downtown LA. In a symbolic scene, George and Peppy pass each other on a staircase - he is descending the stairs and she is walking up, much like the paths of their respective movie careers. The Bradbury Building has appeared in countless TV episodes, music videos and movies, including the 1982 sci-fi classic Blade Runner.
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"CITY LIGHTS" - BEVERLY WILSHIRE
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| Entrance of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, ca. 1929 Photo: Marc Wanamaker/Bison Archives, Water and Power Associates |
310-275-5200
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City Lights (1931) is widely regarded as Charlie Chaplin’s masterpiece and considered by many to be one of the greatest films of all time. The story follows Chaplin’s Little Tramp as he falls in love with a blind flower girl, who mistakes him for a millionaire. The closing scene is often described as one of the greatest in the history of cinema. In one memorable scene, the Tramp is driving in a Rolls-Royce with “An Eccentric Millionaire.” The Tramp sees a cigar butt on the sidewalk, beats another vagrant to it, and drives away. Silent film historian John Bengtson reveals that the scene was filmed at the historic Beverly Wilshire. Built in 1928, the Beverly Wilshire has welcomed legendary long-term guests such as Elvis Presley, John Lennon, and Warren Beatty, as well as President Barack Obama, the Dalai Lama and the Emperor of Japan.
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*Source: Los Angeles Tourism & Convention BoardOur address is 633 West 5th Street, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, CA 90071, USA
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