Lights, Camera...Capitol

by Tim Storey

One brutally hot summer day a few weeks ago, I decided to take the kids and seek relief in the air conditioned confines of the local movie house.  I let my kids (ages 5 and 6) choose the movie, so we set off to see the summer's most talked about canine-oriented flick--Underdog.  I spent most of the movie trying to figure out what state capitol provided the filming location for Underdog's heroic exploits.  The credits revealed that it was filmed in and around the Rhode Island state capitol and capital.  Rhode Island's legislative leaders, Speaker William J. Murphy and President of the Senate Joseph A. Montalbano, were formally thanked in the credits.  Apparently, Rhode Island lawmakers offered tax credits that helped attract the Underdog filmmakers, and legislators and staff worked around the inconvenience of having a film crew swarming through the building for several days.   

I started wondering how often legislatures have allowed Hollywood to use the capitol as a set.  A couple of years ago, filmmakers spent 10 days filming All the Kings Men, starring Sean Penn and Anthony Hopkins, in Louisiana's towering state capitol.  I believe some Louisiana legislators and staff appeared in the film as extras.  Of course, we've devoted a great deal of virtual ink here in the Thicket talking about the documentary Legislature filmed in the Idaho state capitol (see here and here).  I imagine that other capitols have served as the backdrop for major motion pictures, so post a comment if you know of any other flicks filmed in legislative chambers.

And by the way, I wouldn't race out to see Underdog unless maybe you're under eight years old or you want to marvel at the beauty of the Rhode Island Capitol building. 

Comments

[Steve Miller]

Portions of John Grisham's The Chamber were filmed in the Mississippi Capitol.

[Alfred Speer]

The brief chamber scenes in "Ray" were not filmed in GA, where the actual commendation occurred, but in the LA House Chamber.
Also, the film "Blaze" concerning Gov. Earl Long's reputed relationship with a New Orleans exotic dancer had scenes filmed in the LA Capitol.

[Terri Enns]

The Ohio Statehouse had a minor role in the movie "Traffic."

[Ken Levine]

Several movies have filmed in the Texas State Capitol. However I'm poor in name recall, so perhaps another Texan can help. But the one I remember was major scenes from "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" were filmed in the Capitol...primarily at night. As a side note, I appeared in a student production of a farce about train robbery. Part was filmed on the Capitol steps. I played the evil lead's faithful sidekick, and was knocked down the full flight of steps. If I did that now, I would be hospitalized for weeks. Ah, youth.

[Robyn Hadley]

Two movies I remember being made at the Texas Capitol - a scene in "The Newton Boys" starring Matthew McConnaughey (you should have seen all the women trying to catch a glimpse of him) was shot in the West ground floor hallway. It was supposed to be a courthouse scene. And one scene in "Clear and Present Danger" was shot on the Capitol grounds with Denzel Washington sitting on a bench talking to another actor. In the movie, they're supposed to be in Washington D.C.

There are probably dozens more, but those are ones I witnessed as a staffer!

[Robyn Hadley]

I forgot... a major scene in "Spy Kids 2" was filmed in the Texas Capitol's underground extension rotunda.

[Timothy Storey]

I heard of one more. "Body of Evidence" starring Madonna and Willem Dafoe, was filmed around the Washington capitol. The capitol was supposed to be a courthouse.

[Tim Rice]

"Legally Blonde 2" was filmed using the Illinois House chamber to represent the U.S. House of Representatives. Some staff were selected to be extras, particularly to help populate the chamber. In our case, much of the star-gazing was directed toward Reese Witherspoon.