Paramount Theatre's executive director said Thursday that four-time Oscar-nominated film director Michael Mann has signed a two-day contract to film scenes for "Public Enemies" at the downtown theatre on April 6 and 7.
Johnny Depp Filming Dillinger Death Scenes April 6 & 7, Paramount Theatre, Aurora, IL
So it is true! I picked up the Chicago Tribune yesterday (wrote a whole post then it went *poof!* That's OK, I have better intel today) and therein was a feature story on one of the country's and more specifically, the Midwest's most notorious Public Enemies, John Dillinger--but the reason for the story is that Johnny Depp is starring as John Dillinger. I'm so ashamed. I don't even know if I can call myself a true fan girl anymore. I have been so lax on my keeping up with media stuff...
Public Enemies, is a film by Michael Mann about the F.B.I's war against American gangsters John Dillinger, 'Baby Face' Nelson and 'Pretty Boy' Floyd. It stars Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Giovanni Ribisi, Stephen Dorff, Billy Crudup, Channing Tatum, and recent Oscar winner, Marion Cotillard.
Depp will play bank robber, John Dillinger, circa 1933-34, during a depression-era crime-wave when other gangsters like 'Baby Face' Nelson' and 'Pretty Boy' Floyd transformed J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI into the first US federal police force.
Recent Academy Award winner, Marion Cotillard~
http://publicenemiescolumbus.blogspot.com/ (April 3) Rumour is it that Public Enemies - The Movie, will be making Christmas 2008 debut. In other news - Billy Crudup - who is playing Dr. Manhattan in the movie The Watchman has officially signed on to play Hoover in Public Enemies.
Anyway! Excitement! JD will be in the area filming--Johnny Depp Filming Dillinger Death Scenes April 6 & 7, Paramount Theatre, Aurora, IL.
I am familiar with the area in which Public Enemies is filming. Very fitting that it is a Chicago suburb with an appalling crime rate--and I know this first hand having worked with _NOT FOR_ the Aurora Police Dept for 3 years. It's a blighted town, bravely trying to remake itself with it's Riverboat Casino (ugh) dollars. My advice, if you are going to Aurora to watch Michael Mann, Depp, Christian Bale et al film Public Enemies on April 6 and 7 is to Edit/ use the city lot or banking lots or the street/End edit and then get a spot on the steps of what I believe is a courthouse, kitty-corner to the Paramount Theatre. The theatre is downtown, on the Fox River so you may be able to catch a spot on the sidewalk on either side of the river and get a bit closer. Don't go driving off away from the partly-rehabbed downtown though, unless you know exactly where you are going.
Paramount Theatre
I have some cool pix from the filming in Wisconsin in late March. I love the look of the director and film crew in these shots. It's astounding how they squeeze so well together, hanging off the side door of Johnny's car whilst he "drives" and they are totally in his face.
I could never pull that off! Ha! But it's big fun to watch. Movie's gonna rock!
Picture Depp uttering this (real-life) Dillinger sound bite, "I don't smoke much and I drink very little. I guess my only bad habit is robbing banks." After Sweeney Todd, I can absolutely see Johnny Depp doing Dillinger. Coolness!
The Tribune says shooting is in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Illinois. You'll have to keep up with actual locations by searching Public Enemies shooting schedule, then read local papers for specifics of where/when.
Dillinger, from what I read, hid out/hung out in the more northern parts of the Chicago with his demise coming near what is now "the Loop," at the Biograph Theatre (which is now The Victory Gardens theatre).
Ugh, there's a point in 1934, the year he died that Dillinger gets plastic surgery in the Chicago home of James Probasco, who committed suicide after being arrested. I don't need to see that in the film but I'll bet it's in there anyway.
Oh heck, I just read that Christian Bale is in this too. The (at least) tied-for-best celluloid Batman yet? <fans self>
Hi,
Im the one who is giving you the paint and i really hope you like the colors.
Posted by: LeRoy Hutchings | April 11, 2008 at 09:59 PM