http://www.post-trib.com/news/825339,dillinger.articleMovie-set stagers scout region for Dillinger filmMarch 5, 2008
By DIANE KRIEGER SPIVAK Post-Tribune staff writer
CROWN POINT -- Do you happen to have a vintage machine gun case lying around the house?
How about a 70-year-old boot knife?
Universal Studios is looking for props for the upcoming Johnny Depp movie, "Public Enemies," about notorious outlaw John Dillinger.
Actually, the studio is looking for photographs of 1930s items with the intention of reproducing the props. Those they can't reproduce they'll buy, lease or borrow, said Rita Ritz of Rita Ritz Enterprizes Inc.
Ritz, of Chesterton, is handling the acquisition of props for a portion of the movie that's being filmed in Crown Point this spring.
Ritz said Universal Studios contacted her about six weeks ago because of research she had done on Dillinger in the past.
She's now the clearing house for a list of props that will be used, or reproduced, for the movie.
Bruce Woods, director of the Lake County Historical Museum, said Universal also contacted him about six weeks ago, and a representative came to the museum and took photos of Dillinger-related items.
"We have a lot of that," Woods said. "He was doing research for the movie."
So far, there are few indications of what's to come. Workers are restoring a portion of the old Lake County Jail from which Dillinger escaped.
"I saw a couple of guys standing across the street a few days ago holding up their hands like this," said Susan Vydra, owner of Antique & Unique Treasures, holding her hands up in front of her face, forming a frame like artists do.
"A lot of people are excited about it," Nancy Levine, an employee of the Antique Mall of Crown Point, said. "The restaurants and shop owners are hoping it brings people to Crown Point to shop. And of course, they're coming to see Johnny Depp," she said.
"I love Johnny Depp," said Mary Lou White of St. John, who stopped to talk about the movie with an employee of the Candy Cove in the Old Lake County Courthouse.
"I thought they were filming at the courthouse," White said. "I didn't know where the old jail was. I'm going to try to keep up with everything. Everybody's excited about it."