Choosing Detroit As a Backdrop for the Movie Gran Torino Was Obvious
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Gran Torino Choosing Detroit as a backdrop for the movie Gran Torino was obvious. After all, the Motor City put the world on wheels! PHOTO: THE HENRY FORD By the mid 20th century, Detroit had become the motor and young entrepreneurs that are reshaping the city and metropolis of the world. The car industry was on the cutting travelers from around the world are taking notice. edge and the “Big Three” auto companies, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler, forced most smaller competitors out In the movie, Walt Kowalski (played by Clint Eastwood), a of business. recently widowed Korean War veteran, is alienated from his family and angry at the world. The auto industry employed vast numbers of working Detroiters; hundreds of thousands of blue-collar workers Follow in the footsteps of the actors in this four-time award- found work on the assembly lines—one of every six people winning movie. Tour the film locations sites and explore the worked for the automotive industry. places where Clint Eastwood and fellow actors spent their downtime. Get the scoop and discover entertaining behind- Today, Detroit is still the world headquarters of the Big the-scene stories and more. Three, but the Motor City is also home to developers PHOTOS: PHIL ROSSI, THE PADDLE LLC PHOTOS: PHIL ROSSI, THE PADDLE GRAN TORINO STREET SCENE Inside the store is a sign that says, “Clint GOOD NIGHT GRACIE’S 13140 Charlevoix Street Was Here—Gran Torino 2008”. It is the Royal Oak Grosse Pointe Park exact spot Clint Eastwood stood when The kick-off party for the actors was held Take a ride over to this location and see picking out the tools for Tao. at the trendy Good Night Gracie’s. The where Walt Kowalski watched as the popular nightclub is part of D’Amato’s three neighborhood hoodlums gave Sue ARTONA TAILORING Restaurant and is a favorite for traditional (actress Ahney Her) a hard time. 17834 Mack Avenue Italian cuisine, cocktails and martinis. Grosse Pointe Park The restaurant was built in 1927 in WIDGREN’S BARBER SHOP This tailor store is where Walt gets fitted downtown Royal Oak’s Washington 204 West 11 Mile Road, Royal Oak for his new suit. The owner of the tailor Square building and designed in a ST. AMBROSE CHURCH This is the same barbershop (called shop even had a part in the film. romantic Art Deco style. Enjoy a cocktail Martin’s Barbershop in the movie) Grosse Pointe Park and hear some of the great jazz music that where the “man talk” occurred among Clint henjoyed as well. Gran Torino opens at St. Ambrose the barber, Walt, and Tao. Although the Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Park, barbershop closed shortly after filming, THE TOWNSEND HOTEL where Walt Kowalski (played by Clint the building is still there. Birmingham Eastwood) is attending his wife’s funeral. This four-star hotel is where actor St. Ambrose Church celebrated its first Clint Eastwood and his two sons mass on Christmas Eve, 1927. stayed during filming. The hotel offers It was hailed in American Architecture CABBAGE PATCH BAKERY European elegance at its finest. Guests Magazine for its attention to detail. The Grosse Pointe Park can enjoy afternoon teas and fine dining majestic 2,400-pipe organ was added to at the Townsend. The lobby has marble Be sure to stop in where Clint Eastwood the church around WWII. The beautiful fireplaces, crystal chandeliers and custom ordered home-brewed ice tea here many arched stained glass windows were murals. While staying at the Townsend, times. One lucky lady behind the counter installed in the 1930s. Clint Eastwood ordered a grand piano to POINTE HARDWARE got to cut lemons for his tea, too. 15020 Kercheval Avenue be brought to his suite. Although Clint Clint Eastwood often ordered scones Eastwood plays piano, it was his son, Grosse Pointe Park made here. When the filming of Gran Kyle, who composed the music for Grand Pointe Hardware is where Walt and Tao Torino was completed, Mr. Eastwood Torino on the piano in their hotel room. come to shop together for tools and ordered a supply of the scones to be flown startto bond with one another. back to his home in California. HOMEWOOD SUITES Baseballs, gloves and bats were provided Seven Model Ts escorted Clint Eastwood in Greenfield Village. The actor picked Troy to all that needed them. and his wife, Dena, and 24 cast and crew out his own carousel animal, which of The rest of the cast and crew, even Daisy members through Greenfield Village, an course, was a horse. Clint Eastwood the dog, stayed at this hotel. Daisy was MUST SEE ATTRACTIONS outdoor history park. Just as the Model chuckled: “It’s been a long time since I originally found in a shelter. She stayed What would a Gran Torino film tour be T rolled into Greenfield Village, Clint have been on a horse.” with her trainer at the hotel but anytime without a visit to some of the world’s Eastwood exclaimed, “Wow, this place they used Daisy on location, this canine best automotive attractions—all in the looks just like a movie set.” The tour EDSEL AND ELEANOR FORD HOUSE star had her own air-conditioned trailer. Motor City region. Even Clint Eastwood included stops at Henry Ford’s boyhood Grosse Pointe Shores made sure to do just that while he was in home and the Wright Brothers Cycle Cruise over to the serene lakeside estate If you stay here, the hotel offers spacious Detroit. Shop. At one point, newlyweds were of one of America’s most prominent suites. And it’s close to fabulous having wedding photographs taken in automotive families, the Edsel and shopping, too. THE HENRY FORD Greenfield Village when Clint Eastwood’s Eleanor Ford Home. The house became BOULAN PARK Dearborn Model T pulled up next to their horse- the new residence of Edsel Ford and his drawn wedding carriage. wife, Eleanor, in 1929. There is no other 3671 Crooks Road, Troy America’s greatest history attraction had a place that compares to experiencing this visit from Hollywood! The Henry Ford is a Clint took off his sunglasses and said, A day at the Diamond! The local spectacular 60-room mansion nestled National Historic Landmark and although “What a beautiful bride, congratulations.” production company hosted a on 86 acres of magnificent gardens Clint Eastwood heard about The Henry Where else in the world could you have phenomenal BBQ and a game of baseball and grounds. Open to the public for tours Ford, he never visited until August 2008. your wedding photographs in such a for the cast, crew and their families all year. involved in Gran Torino at Boulan Park. beautiful and historic place, have horse- drawn carriages rides for your party, and MEADOWBROOK HALL have Clint Eastwood step out of a Model T Rochester to compliment and congratulate you? Tour a national historic landmark. The 12-acre museum showcases a vast Meadowbrook is the historic home built collection of artifacts and exhibits by one of the automotive aristocracy’s that celebrate America’s ingenuity and most remarkable women, Matilda Dodge innovation. It’s the greatest gathering of Wilson, widow of automobile pioneer John everyday genius. Dodge. The hall’s 88,000-square-feet and 110 rooms make it the largest and most Apparently Clint Eastwood thought so elaborate historic home in the Midwest. too when, after touring the museum and village he remarked, “I heard that this was Birmingham and Troy an amazing place, but it has far exceeded Close to the Townsend Hotel & my expectations.” PHOTO: THE HENRY FORD PHOTO: THE HENRY Homewood Suites is the quaint shopping The Henry Ford is also the starting point district in downtown Birmingham and for tours of the Ford Rouge factory tour, the upscale Somerset Collection in Troy. a fascinating interactive tour of the auto Indulge yourself with unique boutiques plant that put the world on wheels. and luxury shopping. The visit ended with a stop at the carousel PHOTOS: PHIL ROSSI, THE PADDLE LLC PHOTOS: PHIL ROSSI, THE PADDLE backdrop. A scene shows Walt sitting on his porch with his yellow lab, Daisy. When it came time to shoot the first scene with the dog, the trainer walked Daisy on the porch and placed the dog next to Clint. “Cute dog,” Clint said in that signature voice of his as he made eye contact with Daisy. Just before cameras started rolling, Clint bent down to pat the dog’s head. Obviously taken with WALT’S HOUSE the dog, Mr. Eastwood began making 238 Rhode Island Street kissy sounds to her. Daisy immediately Highland Park responded by jumping up and licking Clint Eastwood’s face. The original story of widower Walt Kowalski and the Hmong community The trainer tried to stop the dog, but Clint was set in Minneapolis, but director Clint Eastwood held up his hand to the trainer Eastwood felt Kowalski’s past as an auto and said: “It’s ok, she’s just being a dog.” worker made the Motor City the perfect Clint Eastwood became a bit attached to the dog—when filming was completed VFW POST he considered taking Daisy home with 25500 Sherwood Avenue him, but thought better of it because he Centerline has allergies. Father Janovich (played by Christopher Carley) gets on Walt’s back about life TAO’S HOUSE and death in his local bar—the Veterans 238 Rhode Island Street of Foreign Wars Richard Menge Post Highland Park No. 6756. Grab a seat inside and order a The young Hmong American boy is Pabst Blue Ribbon, as that is what Walt is coerced by a Hmong gang to attempt to drinking on the steps of his porch in the steal Walt Kowalkski’s Gran Torino.