Gran Torino - Choosing Detroit as a backdrop for the movie Gran Torino was obvious. After all, the Motor City put the world on wheels!
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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
GRAN TORINO STREET SCENE Inside the store is a sign that says, “Clint GOODNITE GRACIE
PHOTOS: PHIL ROSSI, THE PADDLE LLC
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
Take a ride over to this location and see picking out the tools for Tao. held at the trendy Goodnite Gracie. 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
This is the same barbershop (called shop even had a part in the film. romantic Art Deco style. Enjoy a cocktail
ST. AMBROSE CHURCH Martin’s Barbershop in the movie) and hear some of the great jazz music that
Grosse Pointe Park where the “man talk” occurred among Clint he enjoyed 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 European elegance at its finest. Guests
Magazine for its attention to detail. The CABBAGE PATCH BAKERY
can enjoy afternoon teas and fine dining
majestic 2,400-pipe organ was added to Grosse Pointe Park
at the Townsend. The lobby has marble
the church around WWII. The beautiful Be sure to stop in where Clint Eastwood
fireplaces, crystal chandeliers and custom
arched stained glass windows were ordered home-brewed ice tea here many
murals. While staying at the Townsend,
installed in the 1930s. times. One lucky lady behind the counter
Clint Eastwood ordered a grand piano to
POINTE HARDWARE got to cut lemons for his tea, too.
be brought to his suite. Although Clint
15020 Kercheval Avenue 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 start ordered a supply of the scones to be flown
to 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 shopping,
having wedding photographs taken in automotive families, the Edsel and
too.
THE HENRY FORD Greenfield Village when Clint Eastwood’s Eleanor Ford Home. The house became
Dearborn Model T pulled up next to their horse- the new residence of Edsel Ford and his
BOULAN PARK drawn wedding carriage. wife, Eleanor, in 1929. There is no other
America’s greatest history attraction had a
3671 Crooks Road, Troy 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 carriage rides for your party, and
have Clint Eastwood step out of a Model T MEADOWBROOK HALL
to compliment and congratulate you? Rochester
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.”
Homewood Suites is the quaint shopping
PHOTO: THE HENRY FORD
The Henry Ford is also the starting point district in downtown Birmingham and
for tours of the Ford Rouge factory, a the upscale Somerset Collection in Troy.
fascinating interactive experience of the Indulge yourself with unique boutiques
auto plant that put the world on wheels. and luxury shopping.
The visit ended with a stop at the carousel
backdrop. A scene shows Walt sitting on
PHOTOS: PHIL ROSSI, THE PADDLE LLC
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
kissy sounds to her. Daisy immediately
238 Rhode Island Street
responded by jumping up and licking
Highland Park
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 okay, 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 Kowalski’s Gran Torino. With beginning of the movie.
no father in the family, Tao is expected to
be the man of the house. When the car LAKESHORE DRIVE
theft fails, Tao returns home and his family Grosse Pointe Farms
forces Tao to apologize and make amends As the film ends, Tao is seen driving the
to next door neighbor, Walt Kowalski. Gran Torino down a road with Walt’s
dog in the car, too. The drive is actually
Lakeshore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms
and one can see Lake St. Clair in the
background.
The money St. Ambrose Church The Gran Torino in the movie is 100 Clint Eastwood’s son, Scott Eastwood
U
received for the use of their church percent real. Eastwood’s staff found (credited as Scott Reeves) appeared in
Y O in the movie was used to remortar the car online and Warner Brothers the movie as Trey. His other son, Kyle,
DID W? the historic church. Talk about bought the car through a classic car provided the film’s music score.
KNO
pennies from heaven! dealer on eBay. It had a few choice
options: Magnum 500 wheels and Over and over again, everyone who
While at Goodnite bride, a laser stripe painted on the sides. came into contact or worked with Clint
Clint Eastwood sat back and Owner Jim Craig described it as a Eastwood during the filming of Gran
enjoyed watching the jazz band playing mechanically sound barn-find, which Torino had great things to say about
for most of the evening. Even St. he finally restored after five years. He him. Clint Eastwood was described
Ambrose’s very own priest (Fr. Tim) was never knew his car was about to star in as low key, kind, gracious, and did not
Just before filming was to start for the invited to the cast party. a major motion picture when he sold it. allow swearing or trash talk while on
confessional scene with Walt Kowalski the set.
(Clint Eastwood) and the priest, St. While filming the hardware store scene, When filming was finished, Clint
Gran Torino was the first film to benefit
Ambrose’s own real-life priest (Father throngs of onlookers stood across the Eastwood was asked by his staff what
from the new tax incentives Michigan
Tim) had a movie poster of Eastwood’s street behind police barriers and away they should do with the car. Clint
was offering at the time.
previous film, Unforgiven. Fr. Tim from filming. Each person was hoping replied, “It’s done right by us,” and
put the poster on the wall of the to get a glimpse of the iconic actor. he purchased the Gran Torino for his Clint Eastwood’s famous line in Gran
confessional, behind where the actor Clint Eastwood could see the large personal collection. Torino, “Get off my lawn” instantly
portraying the priest in the film was to crowd gathering and, lo and behold, he became immortalized in the film just as
sit. Of course, when the confessional stopped filming and graciously walked Gran Torino was shot in 33 days, two Eastwood’s phrase,“Make my day” did
curtain opened, Clint Eastwood, sitting over to his excited fans and signed days short of its scheduled 35. And in the film Dirty Harry.
on the other side of the curtain in the autographs. the production crew spent more than
confessional, saw the poster with the $10 million while they were in town. To quote famous movie critic, Roger
huge words, “UNFORGIVEN.” Clint Several funny retakes had to be done Ebert, “I would like to grow up to be
got a laugh out of it and in his classic, in one of the last scenes in the film, in Clint Eastwood not only played the like Clint Eastwood. Eastwood the
gravelly, low voice he said; “That’s gotta which Clint Eastwood has died and is lead role, but directed the film as well. director, Eastwood the actor, Eastwood
come down.” shown lying in a coffin. Clint had long the invincible, Eastwood the old man.
legs and had a difficulty getting in and Gran Torino was the first mainstream What other figure in the history of the
Local resident, Bernice, was invited out of the casket. There was so much U.S. film to feature Hmong Americans. cinema has been an actor for 53 years,
to watch the excitement of the laughing on the set that several retakes Thirty actors and over 500 extras in a director for 37, won two Oscars for
filming in St. Ambrose Church by her had to be done to capture the scene the film were recruited in Minnesota direction, two more for Best Picture,
friend who was the secretary at the correctly. and locally. To find local Hmong actors, plus the Thalberg Award, and at 78 can
parish office. Lo and behold, 82-year- agents scouted a Hmong soccer direct himself in his own film and look
old Bernice caught the eye of Clint On his off time, Clint Eastwood enjoyed tournament in Macomb County just meaner than hell? None, that’s
Eastwood—he wanted her to be in his playing golf at the Lincoln Hills Golf outside the Detroit city limits. The how many.”
movie. Clint Eastwood remarked that Club in Birmingham. result was 75 local Hmong actors
he thought Bernice was “beautiful and appear in the film. The main actors in
striking” for the part. All she had to First-time screenwriter, Nick Schenk, the film, Bee Vang (Tao) and Ahney
do was walk with a cane down the wrote the script in a bar during his time Her (Sue), are from Minnesota and
church aisle just as the funeral scene off from his job in construction. The Lansing, Michigan, respectively.
was ending. And that she did! She movie unfolds around a Gran Torino
appears in the beginning of the movie, because Nick Schenk lived near a Ford
during the funeral scene. How is that plant and wanted the car to be a Ford.
for being discovered? PHOTO: MOTOR CITY PICTURES LLCThe Michigan Film and Digital Media
Office (MFDMO) was created in 1979 to
assist and attract incoming production
companies and to promote the growth
of Michigan’s indigenous industry. Since
its inception, the MFDMO commissioner
has been responsible for implementing
a program that lives within the
parameters of Michigan law and works
to ensure the program runs efficiently
and effectively. Today, the MFDMO is
working diligently to guarantee the film
and digital media program accomplishes
key results of private investment and
workforce development by encouraging
high wages, high-tech jobs and talent
retention.
Gran Torino tour is the sole property of the Michigan Film & Digital Media Office.
Special thanks to Janet Kasic of Circle Michigan for content creation.
mfo@michigan.org tel 800 477 3456 fax 517 241 3689 MichiganFilmOffice.org
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