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Depp, Mann visit Dillinger farm

By Amy Hillenburg | ahillenb@md-times.com
Wednesday March 5, 2008



Hollywood director Michael Mann, Jeff Scalf, nephew of the late John Dillinger, and film star Johnny Depp, who will play Dillinger in an upcoming movie, pose here during Mann and Depp's visit to Mooresville over the weekend. Submitted photo.



Movie star Johnny Depp told John Dillinger's nephew, Jeff Scalf of Mooresville, that he would try to be sensitive to the bank robber's true persona. And that he would portray Dillinger as he really was.


Depp and Hollywood producer Michael Mann paid a quiet visit to Mooresville on Friday to do some filming on the inside and outside of the farm house where Dillinger lived on Old 267. They also wanted to get a feel for his home town. Scalf said they spent about four hours here and traveled in two black SUVs, filming from the inside of the vehicles.


Accompanying Scalf and the film duo was an attorney for Dillinger's family, Amy Wright of the Sommer Barnard law firm in Indianapolis. Wright said she was there simply to look after everyone's interests during the Mooresville visit and to take some pictures.


Depp will star as the famous outlaw in Mann's "Public Enemies," the working title of the movie based on Bryan Burrough's book. Two other characters have been chosen - Christian Bales has signed on to play FBI agent Melvin Purvis, and Marion Cotillard is set to portray Dillinger's girlfriend, Billie Frechette. Cotillard won an Academy Award this year as Best Actress in her role in the movie, "La Vie En Rose."


"As my grandmother used to say, 'Don't romanticize John, but don't villanize him, either.' He was who he was. John was different than some of the other criminals of his era," Scalf said. "He wasn't mean-spirited or the first to pull out a gun. I hope this movie will show all sides of John."


Scalf said both Mann and Depp were quite knowledgeable about Dillinger's history and surrounding events. They went into John's former bedroom, studied family relics, letters, a reproduction of the outlaw's wooden gun. They also looked at pictures the public had never seen before.


"Johnny actually held the wooden gun. They've really done their homework," Scalf said. "They were both very down-to-earth, polite and respectful of the subject matter."


Scalf said they had even visited Washington, D.C. to study FBI files.


"Michael Mann is known for his attention to detail and authentic elements," Scalf said. "He really does his research and homework to make the scenes accurate - down to the furniture, vehicles and clothing."


Mann produced "Ali," starring Will Smith and is also known for the Miami Vice series and movie, according to Scalf.


Mann's production company, Forward Pass, Inc., is teaming up with Universal Studios and Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal's Tribeca Productions.


Filming is set to begin this spring, but Scalf said Mann and Depp did not talk about whether they would return to Mooresville for the movie. He said he had understood from other articles on the movie that much of the shooting would be done in Chicago and some in Crown Point.

Aw, cute picture. :)

That photo made me say Awwwwwwwwww this morning. This is a cute pic indeed.


Yvonne in LA :captainjack

Lots of nice tidbits there(along with that lovely photo!). So now we know that Johnny/Mann have been in Washington D.C. doing research as well. This line is what brought a smile to my heart and only Johnny Depp could do this in my opinion.

Reminds me of DBrasco in a way---Johnny was concerned about "getting Pistone right" for the family. :thumbsup

-Donna

This pretty much answers yesterday's discussion question...why Depp as Dillinger? Because he tries to get it right.

Does this mean that they might return to Mooresville for some filming? :crossfingers I would be willing to drive the two hours for that one.

Nicci :angel

Nice article, with a good photo (non papparazi).
I guess it does answer yesterday's PE question.
Johnny gets it right.

He sure loves to wear scarves. He looks lovely!

Thanks Fan for the pic! I keep trying to remind myself that John Dillinger is someone's relative, friend...loved one.

I love what Dillinger's mother said;

Awwwww that photo is so cute!! :thud
THANKS!! :thumbsup

Johnny has always shown great dedication to getting to know those he portrays. Ed Wood's widow said that he looked just like Ed; He stole Hunter's "soul" and Jung said he felt he was looking at himself on the screen. So I am not surprised that he is taking so much care to know and understand Dillinger so he can portray him faithfully.

It's not surprising to read that Johnny wanted to see where Dillinger lived etc.
He's just so incredible when he prepares for character, fictional or not.

It's so exciting getting all the reports and pictures about this movie but 2009 just seems sooo far away! :(

Loved this...thanks so much!