Michael Mann at the Biograph: Dillinger to die again
Hollywood director Michael Mann and a bevy of assistants have been surveying the historic Biograph Theatre for a starring role in the new John Dillinger movie "Public Enemies." The Lincoln Park locale would be an obvious choice for filming — Dillinger met his violent end outside the theater in 1934 after taking in the gangster movie "Manhattan Melodrama." With minor amounts of movie magic, the exterior of the Biograph could easily be made to look as it did in 1934.

According to Dennis Zacek, the artistic director of the Victory Gardens Theater, which occupies the Biograph, Mann and his entourage spent quality time recently in the the lobby and on the sidewalk and in the alley outside. "He seemed very happy with what he saw," Zacek said. Presumably, any filming would inject a little cash into Victory Gardens' deserving coffers, but Zacek demurred on that score.

"Public Enemies," which is set for release in 2009, will star Johnny Depp at Dillinger, Marion Cotillard as Billie Frechette and Christian Bale as Melvin Purvis. Once filming begins in Chicago and Wisconsin this spring, the movie is expected to employ a lot of Chicago's familiar theatrical faces — albeit partially hidden by fedoras.


The Biograph at 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, then. Parts of the "Manhattan Melodrama" movie title can be read in the marquee in the left edge of the Tribune file photo.


The Biograph now.

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the...el-mann-at.html


Rose

Thanks for posting the article and pics Rose---they are definitely using a lot of the locals and apparently local theater talent---this is just so great for the area! :)

-Donna

Hmmm, very interesting. They were saying that the Biograph as well as the area was too modern now to use and were thinking about using the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, outside of Chicago. I hope they decide to use the original Biograph. Thanks for the update, Rose.

Thanks Rose for posting this one for us! Interesting that it's now too "new."

That's exactly what I heard as well. Interesting. Of course they may have been taking in the details in order to make the Aurora theatre more like the actual Biograph. The area where the Biograph is located is very crowded and the street is narrow, buildings are in close quarters... we almost missed Lincoln Ave when we were looking for the Fizz Bar.

Thanks for the update! You guys are a wealth of info!!
Holly