Parks, Camera, Action!
New York's parks appear as beautiful backdrops in hundreds of movies and television shows .
To celebrate this film and television award season, Parks & Trails New York has compiled a short list of movies and television series that used New York State parks or historic sites as filming locations. From HBO's Girls to the the 1917 silent film The Honeymoon, New York's parks and historic sites have provided some pretty incredible scenery on both the big and the small screen.
What movies or TV shows did we miss? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!
Girls (2016), Rockland Lake State Park
The latest season of HBO's Girls reportedly includes a scene filmed in "an undisclosed location" near the north entrance of Rockland Lake State Park.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014), Jones Beach State Park
Much of the movie was filmed on a set located in one of the Jones Beach parking lots (West End Field 2).
Person of Interest (2014), Gantry Plaza State Park
In "Last Call" (Season 3, Episode 15), the characters stroll through Gantry Plaza at the end of the episode, taking full advantage of the gorgeous views from this State Park on the Queens waterfront.
Noah (2014), Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park
The actual building of the ark took place at Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay, New York. Crews made the ground look black to match the scenery in Iceland, where most of the movie was filmed.
Men in Black III (2012), Robert Moses State Park
Will Smith came to Long Island when Parking Field 4 housed an elaborate set for this film.
Salt (2010), Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve
Angelina Jolie visited Long Island in 2009 to film scenes at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve. She also visited Albany's 787 overpass, but no word on whether she stopped by the Corning Preserve while there.
Get Him to the Greek (2010), Letchworth State Park
The scene where wild and crazy British rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) goes base-jumping was filmed in the beautiful gorge at Letchworth State Park.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), Montauk Point State Park
The Horse Whisperer (1998), Saratoga Spa State Park
The accident scene was filmed at Saratoga Spa State Park, and other parts of the movie were filmed in the town of Saratoga Springs.
The Juror (1996), Harriman State Park
Demi Moore, Alec Baldwin, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt starred in this courtroom/Mafia thriller.
Canadian Bacon (1995), Niagara Falls State Park
Although many films that include Niagara Falls were filmed from the Canadian side of Horseshoe Falls, Canadian Bacon ironically has a scene filmed on the American side. Recognize that observation area? It's Terrapin Point, which has undergone some major revitalization in the past several years thanks to Governor Cuomo's Parks2020 initiative.
Billy Bathgate (1991), Saratoga Spa State Park
Dustin Hoffman, Bruce Willis, Nicole Kidman starred in this film, which included scenes from the Hall of Springs and the exterior of the Gideon Putnam, as shown here.
Arthur (1981), Caumsett State Park Preserve
Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli starred in this comedy about a rich English playboy in New York. The 2011 remake of the film starred Russell Brand, but not Caumsett.
The Seven-Ups (1973), Harriman State Park, Palisades Interstate Park
In the film's high-speed car chase, the cameras follow cars from Manhattan, across the George Washington Bridge, up the Palisades Interstate Parkway, and eventually onto the Taconic State Parkway.
The Honeymoon (1917), Niagara Falls State Park
The only silent movie on our list (although not necessarily the only silent movie filmed in a New York state park!), and one for which it is terribly hard to find any clips.
Honorable Mention
These parks might not have hosted the filming of movies, but the stars visited them just the same!
Cliff Robertson at Hyde Hall
Cliff Robertson (Best Actor 1968) once performed a dramatic reading in the Drawing Room at Hyde Hall. Check out Hyde Hall's Facebook page for more on other famous visits to the house! Photo by Alan Light CC2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Fred Astaire at Saratoga Spa State Park (1981)
Fred Astaire stayed at the Gideon Putnam, the hotel in Saratoga Spa State Park, while filming Ghost Story, much of which was shot in Saratoga Springs.
Big (1988), Palisades Interstate Park
Tom Hanks plays a kid who suddenly becomes an adult in this late-80s comedy. The part of the film where Josh first meets Zoltar was filmed in Palisades Interstate Park -- but on the New Jersey side, thus its placement in the honorable mention category.
What movies or TV shows did we miss? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!