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Location Of Opening Credits Scenery Shot

posted 12 years ago by davidwile
3 replies | jump to latest

Hey folks,

I just watched this film again today for the for the first time since the mid 1990s. During the opening credits, the film began with an aerial view of a marina, and I asked my wife if the location was supposed to be a coastal area of Florida. No more had I asked that question when the camera shot showed what appeared to be the Washington monument and perhaps the 14th Street bridge. Something did not seem right, so I backed up the DVR and started it again. Assuming it was the Washington monument, I figured the opening shot had to be made while flying up the Potomac River. When I watched the opening shot again, I thought it just did not look right for the Potomac River and the 14th Street area, and what seemed to be the Washington Monument still did not look right.

Can anyone tell me if they recognized the location of the opening shot? We used to live in the Northern Virginia area in the mid 1970s, and I thought I was fairly familiar with the Potamac River scenery in the DC area, so this is very frustrating for me.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

[–] nrangerseven 10 years ago

I'm not sure if this post is a joke, but whatever...

You say you watched this before but you initially think it's set in Florida? With no palm trees or beaches??? ok... And despite that huge flaw I'm supposed to believe you're an expert on the Potomac River??

Even though it's 20 years later, and I know NOTHING about the layout of DC, a simple search on Google Maps clearly shows this is real footage.

They start the shot where the Anacostia River meets the Potomac - specifically the Washington Channel - and it obviously leads to the Washington Monument. All the buildings match up perfectly as well as the bridges and marina.

I really need to ask: How does the Washington Monument NOT LOOK RIGHT???? Why are you ASSUMING it's the Washington Monument when it's quite OBVIOUS it's the Washington Monument??? What else would it be??? How many other giant obelisks are in the US to confuse you?? Do you think CGI existed in the early 90s to create a fake DC opening??? ugh

The people you idolize wouldn't like you.

[–] davidwile 10 years ago

Hey NRangerSeven,

No, my post had nothing to do with joking about the film in any manner, and I do not understand why anyone would feel a need to belittle my query. My wife and I first saw this film about 1994, watched it again in 1912, and again enjoyed it very much.

While watching again in 1912, we noticed something about the filming in the opening credits which did not seem quite right, and I simply asked some questions to see if someone could make sense of it for us.

Two years have now passed since I wrote my comment, and quite frankly I no longer remember the exact details which bothered us at the time. That is perfectly alright though; thanks to you I have a received a really nice reply that explains everything to me perfectly and makes me feel like a complete fool for ever asking such dumb questions.

However, I have no clue what you mean by your last sentence, "The people you idolize wouldn't like you." Since I am nearing the age of 70, should I just assume I would not be capable of understanding such an erudite phrase?

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

[–] bbypookins 8 years ago

Wow. That hostility to the question posed by the OP was completely unfounded and unnecessary. I'm going to assume you're a millennial.