10 Rhode Island Spots That Served As Backdrops For Movies
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Little Rhodey is highly sought after amongst Hollywood filmmakers. Not only does the Ocean State provide stunning beaches, seaside cliffs and classic New England lighthouses, it also offers well preserved historical landmarks and breathtaking Gilded Age mansions.
The following 10 Rhode Island cities and spots have been featured in some major Hollywood films.
1. Downtown Providence
The city of Providence has been featured in several movies and television series. You may recognize some of the scenery from Coen brothers favorites, There’s Something About Mary and Dumb and Dumber. The 2013 box office flop, R.I.P.D. starring Ryan Reynolds also features city scenes.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BM5IeXKh-WD/?taken-by=downtownprovidence
2. Portsmouth
The 1993 film Age Of Innocence is based on the 1920 novel by Edith Wharton. Much of the movie was filmed in Portsmouth, although it is Newport that the characters visit in the book.
3. Galilee
This quaint little fishing village is found in the town of Narragansett and was featured in the 2000 movie Me, Myself, and Irene, along with several other Rhode Island locations.
4. Fort Wetherill, Jamestown
The 2012 film Moonrise Kingdom starring Bill Murray featured beautiful wilderness, beach and cliff scenes from the Forth Wetherill state park in Jamestown, RI.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUZR39HDAm-/?tagged=fortwetherill
5. Downtown Newport
Newport is the quintessential New England seaside village and highly sought after by filmmakers. Popular films featuring Newport scenes include 2015’s Irrational Man, 1956’s High Society, the 1962 version of Lolita, 1990’s Reversal of Fortune and 2008’s 27 Dresses starring Katherine Heigl.
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6. Rosecliff Mansion, Newport
This breathtaking Gilded Age mansion is most famous for appearing in the 1974 adaptation of The Great Gatsby with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow. Newport stood in for Oyster Bay, NY in the film. Scenes from 27 Dresses, True Lies and Amistad also featured Rosecliff.
7. Goooseberry Beach, Newport
The 2007 tearjerker, Evening, starring Meryl Streep, Vanessa Redgrave, Claire Danes and Toni Collete was filmed heavily in the Newport area with a focus on picturesque Gooseberry Beach. The movie poster features the stately Wittenborn house towering over the shoreline.
8. Old Woonsocket Railroad Depot
The 2009 movie Hachi, starring Richard Gere, tells the heartbreaking true story of a dog named Hachiko who spent more than nine years waiting at a Japanese train station for his deceased owner to return. The Old Woonsocket Railroad Depot served as the American stand-in for the actual 1930s Japanese station. A statue commemorating the faithful Akita stands at the depot today.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDWQgujDx2w/?taken-at=1018865265
9. State House, Providence
Filmmakers chose Providence for several shooting locations for the 1997 movie Amistad. They were especially drawn to the classic looking harbor and well-preserved historical buildings. The Rhode Island Statehouse represented the 1839 Massachusetts Capitol building in the film.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTZlc7EAmK0/?tagged=providencestatehouse
10. Aldrich Mansion, Narragansett Bay
One of my personal favorite movies, Meet Joe Black starring Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins, premiered in 1998. Filmmakers utilized the stunning 70 room French chateau to represent the home of Hopkins’ character – a ridiculously wealthy media magnate.
Featured Image via Flickr/Taber Andrew Bain