summary

Central Park has starred in over 350 movies and series. So, you've walked through it a hundred times — even if you've never actually been there.

In this first episode of Travel With Movies, Jeroen and Tanja start at The Mall, where Kramer vs. Kramer turns a straight, elm-lined path into a divorce battlefield. They cross Bethesda Terrace, where John Wick trades bullets for quiet menace one day — and a cartoon princess in a yellow gown teaches New Yorkers how to sing the next. They cross the Bow Bridge, where Spider-Man gets dumped in one of the park's most romantic spots, and skate past Wollman Rink, where true love and a Home Alone heist share the same patch of ice.

Along the way: 500 trained pigeons with birdseed stitched into a coat, and the rock from The Fisher King — the one Jeroen spent years hunting down and finally found.

Before they even reach the park, there's more: a Silence of the Lambs anniversary party in the actual house, the Spain location of the new Hunger Games poster, and the strange coincidence linking The Godfather, The Offer, and the new Rocky biopic.

And to close it out — Bar Vitelli in Sicily, the little terrace where Michael Corleone found love, and a very funny, very true story about a red Mini in the English village from The Holiday.

You're listening to the podcast where films and amazing locations meet. My name is Jeroen Huijsdens. 

And my name is Tanja van Rooden. And this is [footsteps] Travel with Movies. [clapperboard snaps] Hi, Jeroen. 

Hey, Tanja. How exciting, isn't it? 

Yes. 

After all this preparation, we finally- 

... here at it is- 

1st episode. 

Yeah. 

Woo-hoo! 

1st episode of our English podcast about- 

... fantastic filming locations. 

Yeah, it's very exciting. But also, if I'm, if I'm honest, it's a little scary. 

Why is that? 

Well, um, because my English is, let's say, a work in progress. 

[laughs] 

[laughs] I know what I want to say, but getting it out with the right words, that's a challenge. So, sorry in advance for my broken English. Just laugh at my mistakes. I do too. [laughs] 

But you're doing, you're doing okay. 

As... I'm trying. I do the best I can. 

Should not underestimate yourself. 

Ah, yeah. 

We're going to have fun. 

Yes, that's foremost. We're gonna have fun. 

Okay. Um, today, we're gonna take the listeners to a place that's very dear to both of us, I know. 

Yes. 

We're going to take them to Central Park in New York City. It's, uh, I think the most filmed park on the planet, and everybody knows it. Even if you've never been there before, you will recognize it. You will recognize it from movies and series like John Wick, Kramer vs. Kramer, Home Alone 2, Enchanted, and so many more. Uh- 

Well, yeah. There's so much filmed there. I, I believe there are over 350 movies and series filmed in Central Park, so... 

And still counting. [laughs] 

Still counting, absolutely, yes.  

Yes. 

But, um, we picked some good ones, we believe, to talk about today, um- 

I think so too 

... with, yeah, with some interesting behind-the-scene details, 

like how they used hundreds of pigeons for a movie and why the Central Park Zoo sells animals they don't actually have. 

[laughs] 

So, um, stay with us, I would say. 

It's gonna be fun. 

Yeah, it's gonna be fun. But before we head to New York, Jeroen, um, some things caught our attention recently in the, in the world of films and travel. Uh, what's been on your radar lately? 

Well, I, I came across this awesome news that, um, this year it's, uh, 35 years ago that The Silence of the Lambs, the famous horror movie, uh, came to cinemas all around the world. And, um, well, I've been to the, that place, and, um, I will tell you... Maybe someday I will tell you the extended story, but, uh, they're gonna celebrate this special anniversary in one of the- 

Oh, really? 

... most wonderful locations from the movie. You know the house from Buffalo Bill, which at the end of the movie? 

Yes. 

Yeah? Okay. Well- 

Of course I know. I already have goosebumps now- 

[laughs] 

... so keep telling. 

A fan of the movie, Chris Rowan, bought the house a couple of years ago, and he's going to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the movie in the house on a, uh, in a very, in a very special way. Um, he has invited Brooke Smith, the, the actress who played Catherine Martin in the movie- 

Yeah 

... the girl in the pit. 

The girl in the pit, yeah. 

And she's going to, uh, be his guest during the weekend of September 18th until September 20th this year. And they're going to organize tours in the house. 

Oh, wow. 

They're going to screen the movie in the backyard in the dark- 

Oh 

... withCatherine present. And ... I think it's, it's going to be a hell of a party over there. 

With Catherine present in the pit, or can she get out of the pit, or... [laughs] 

[laughs] No, I think she will be just be sitting in a chair or something. 

Yeah. 

But she's gonna tell her memories to the filming of the m- of that legendary movie, uh, in Perriopolis near Pittsburgh. Um, it's, it's a scary movie, but it's a, it's a, it's a very strange but also very special location. And I definitely recommend [laughs] everybody who's near Perriopolis in Pittsburgh to go and visit the house, uh, because- 

Because he, he, he lives there, or is it a museum, or what, what i- what is it? 

No, it's a sort of bed and breakfast. [laughs] 

Oh, wow. Really? 

Yeah. You can go there- 

So you can visit the pit and then go upstairs, close your eyes- 

... sweet dreams- ... in the house with that basement right underneath you. 

Yeah. 

That's the idea. 

And I also recommend you to watch the movie over there. Well, I've been there with my wife, and it's... Uh, we were alone at that time because Chris was, was not able to attend, uh, uh, over there at that time. But we, um, [laughs] we went there, and we were just with the 2 of us in the house. And w- I went into the basement, and there's a whole story behind it, but he has sound sensors. So if you go into the basement, the music from the movie and the soundtrack from the movie starts playing. 

Incredible. 

And it's so terrifying. 

Oh, that's- 

It's so terrifying. 

Wow. It's an incredible thing to do if you're not easily scared. Well, so rule me out. [laughs] 

[laughs] I was just, I was just on my way to invite you to go to there together, but, uh, maybe next time. 

I skip this one, Jeroen. I skip this one. 

Okay. 

Well- 

So- 

... I have, I have a nice one for all the Outlander fans. 

Okay, please tell. 

Yes. Yeah. Visit Scotland just published a guide to, uh, the Scotland Outlander filming locations. Every location from every season packed in one- ... beautiful PDF. And you can download it for free from the VisitScotland website. And honestly- 

So they do understand how this works. 

Really understand, yeah. And the beautiful thing is that when I saw it, I immediately sent it to my friend, Ingrid, because she was about to leave for a road trip through Scotland with her husband, Geert. 

Oh, awesome. 

Yes. And she's a big Outlander fan, so it was perfect timing. And last week, I, she sent me pictures from some of the locations, and she was over there and with a big smile and being happy at all those incredible, beautiful places. So it's- 

Okay, wonderful. So but what I- 

Yeah, it's exactly what visiting filming locations does. Yeah. 

Yeah. But we should compliment VisitScotland because- 

Absolutely 

... they, they do get it, if you know what I mean. 

Yeah. Yeah, I- 

They understand that- 

Yeah 

... people wanna go to places inspired by seeing the movies and the series, and, uh, they get it. That's good for them. 

They get it. 

Yeah. Wonderful. 
that's also why we make this podcast, because- 

Yeah 

... travel and movies and series, it's an incredible experience. 

Yeah. Shall we go to some news? 

[upbeat music] 

[claps] 

So, Jeroen, what caught your eye? I mean, a new trailer, new production, anything that made you want to pack your bag? [laughs] 

[laughs] Well, I came across something I thought was really interesting. I came across the teaser poster, so just the 1st poster, not the final poster, of the new Hunger Games movie. 

Ah, Sunrise on the Reaping. 

Sunrise of the Reaping. 

Yeah. Yeah, Sunrise on the Reaping. Um, 

and, um, the thing that really caught my eye was that it's the location that's central on that poster. Because you don't see the actors, you don't see the actress or, 

or everybody playing in the movie, but you see this hill, this green hill of grass- 

... and you see mountains. And maybe we can show the poster on the website with the, the show notes. 

Of course we can do that. 

Because we also wanna have people on the website so they can check out the latest news and, uh, but especially the, the show notes of this podcast. But it's the location that's central in that poster, and I really loved it. So I dived into it. Uh, but before I do that, I- 

Mm-hmm 

... I also wanted to tell you that the story is set 24 years before 

Katniss Everdeen comes into play. So- 

... it's a story that's, that tells about the history of the Hunger Games. Uh, it's set during the 15th Hunger Games, and we follow the 16-year-old Hayse- Haymitch, uh, Abernathy, in the original movie played by Woody Harrelson, but in this, uh, movie, it's played by Joseph Zada. Um, but I already dived into where they filmed it, and you might be surprised because they didn't film it in England or in America or whatever, or in Germany maybe. 

Oh, no. Okay. When, when I watch the trailer, I, it, it makes you think of New Zealand. 

Yeah, because of the mountains- 

Yeah 

... and the green grass- 

Yes 

... [laughs] and the hills. Yeah. 

But it wasn't. 

Imagine. 

No, it wasn't. 

Oh, okay. 

It was filmed in 

north of Spain- 

Yes 

... in Somiedo Natural Park. And that really surprised me because I, I didn't know anything about that, but I caught the, the news and I, so I dived into it and I found it. And the only thing that struck me was that it looked very green. So I think with some adjustment, they, they, they did something with the poster to give us the real exciting feeling of the sun that's setting, or the sun that's rising, I should say, and the grass is green. And I don't think it's that green in the northern part of Spain. 

No, it isn't. [laughs] Especially not in the summer, and especially not in the summer of 2025, because I saw pictures of the production. 

Okay. 

And they built the cornucopia in, in the meadow, um, but because it was very dry, the grass was really brown, mostly dead. So when you, when you s- see it in the trailer, everything is fresh and vibrant green, also on the poster. So clearly, uh, a little bit of CGI magic. 

Okay. 

Yeah. 

Well, well, I can imagine because there's a lot of special effects coming into play in these, uh, in these sorts of, uh, of movies. But the, the final thing I wanted to tell everybody is that the movie has a theatrical release, and it's always great to see those movies on the big screen, uh, in November, November 2026. So you, uh, can start saving your cinema ticket for that one. Okay. Um, the next one. Um, where do you wanna... Did you see any trailer, poster, or something about a movie production that caught your eye? 

Yeah. I was intrigued by the trailer of I Play Rocky. Have you seen the trailer? 

Yeah, I saw it. 

Oh, of course you saw it. 

Absolutely. Yeah. 

For anyone who hasn't seen it, it tells the true story behind the story. So not about Rocky Balboa, but about Sylvester Stallone himself, a young, broke, unknown actor who wrote a screenplay and refused to sell it unless he could star in it himself. 

Yeah, it's a famous story. 

And somehow, somehow he convinced Hollywood to say yes. I mean- 

Yeah, it's a crazy story, but it's a magnificent story 

... it's incredible story for a movie. [laughs] 

Yeah. 

But, um, the film comes out in November. It's exactly 50 years after the original Rocky hits the cinemas in 1976. I think that's 

no coincidence. That's perfect timing. [laughs] 

Yeah, perfect timing. 

But the filmmaker shot it in, uh, Philadelphia, in Los Angeles, and in New Jersey. And in Philadelphia, they went back to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to film the- 

Because of the stairs. 

To the stairs, because they had to film the iconic running up the steps scene from Rocky. So the same steps, the same run, recreated 50 years later at exact, exact the same location. 

Wonderful. 

How wonderful is that? Yeah. 

Yeah. 

Have you... A little sidetrack. Have you, uh, ever heard the anecdote from Sylvester Stallone about filming that scene at the steps in Philadelphia? 

I don't know which anecdote you mean. 

Well, they had no money to shoot there, and they had no permit. So Stallone just got out of the car and said, "Let me just run up the steps. You get the shot, and we'll get out of here before the police came, come." [laughs] I hope so, they put that in the movie. [laughs] 

Yeah. 

But back to the location. So it's, it's Philadelphia playing Philadelphia playing Philadelphia some kind of, uh- 

[laughs] 

... [laughs] some kind of way. I mean, has that ever done before, a movie about making a movie shot at the exact same location as the original? 

Well, there have been a few examples, I think. But what's most interesting is that they're planning a movie about the making of a movie [laughs] right now as well, uh, and one that's very famous, Breakfast at Tiffany's. 

Oh, yeah. I'm curious- ... very curious about that movie. 

And it's, uh, it, it's starring Lily Collins- 

Yes 

... the daughter of the famous drummer, Phil Collins. But she's- 

... a legend on her own because she al- uh, also stars in the very popular TV series, uh, Emily in Paris. 

By the way, Jeroen, that's perfect casting. 

Yeah, absolutely. 

I mean, she is Audrey. 

[laughs] 

And I, I don't think she, she even needed to do audition. I mean, after she, she played a scene for Emily in Paris at the Opera Garnier in Paris, and she walked down those stairs with the same energy, the same grace- 

I mean- 

... as Audrey Hepburn did in Funny Face. I mean, only one scene. 

It's, it's a big shoe to fill because Audrey Hepburn is, uh, yeah, is something special. [laughs] 

Of course she is. But, but when you look at her, you see Audrey Hepburn. So I'm very, very curious about- 

Yeah 

... how she will do that. Yeah. 

But there's another connection because you st- you, you, you start talking about I Play Rocky. Um, the guy that plays Sylvester Stallone, the actor that plays him- 

Mm-hmm 

... is Anthony Ippolito. 

And he u- he played Al Pacino in the TV series The Offer. 

Oh, really? 

Which is also a series about the making of a legendary movie- 

Oh 

... The Godfather. So- 

It's some kind of thing for him. [laughs] 

[laughs] So that's a, that's a nice connection. But we'll get to The Godfather later in this episode. 

Okay, okay. 

Yeah. 

Well, that's very good. It's always good to talk about The Godfather. [laughs] 

Always. 

Yeah. So I think that's, for now, the news. 

Yeah. We'll wrap it up- 

Yeah 

... over here. And, uh- 

Okay 

... we'll go somewhere else, I think. 

Yes. Yeah. Let's go to Central Park. 

Let's go to Central Park. 

upbeat music] 

Yes, Central Park. I mean- 

Yeah, wonderful. 

If there's one place in the world you already know, even if you've never been there, it's Central Park. 

You've seen it... Yeah. You've seen it in, in winter, covered in snow, in autumn, drawn in gold. And we've seen people run through it, fall in love, break up, chase each other so many times in so many films and series that walking into it for the 1st time feels almost like homecoming. That familiar is it. [laughs] I mean, that's what film, what film does. It makes places familiar before you even set foot in them. And at least that's what I felt during my 1st visit, uh, to Central Park. 

Uh, it's a place I wanna go to every time I'm new- I'm in New York because it's- 

It's incredible. 

It's a little bit like feeling, uh, the feeling that you're coming home. Yeah. 

Yeah, exactly. 

I know what you mean. 

But before we dive into specific locations and movies, a bit of data about Central Park. 

Okay. 

I mean, it, it covers 840 acres. 

So... And it was completely built from scratch in the mid-19th century. 

Each year, over 40 million people visit Central Park. I mean, 40 million people. [laughs] 

[laughs] Just, just let that- 

Let that sink in. I mean- 

[laughs] Yeah 

... but 70% of them are local New Yorkers who simply use Central Park as their backyard. 

So... 

But over the years, like we said, many movies and films are shot there. So mo- almost every bench, bridge, or path has a story related to film. 

And today, we want to take you to some of those locations. And 1st of all, I like to start at The Mall. [laughs] 

The Mall is almost the only straight path in Central Park. Everything else is curved and, and winds, but The Mall goes straight ahead, deliberately by design. And it's flanked by 2 beautiful rows of American elm trees. 

And The Mall was originally built as, um, a formal promenade, a gathering space. I mean, it's some kind of a Victorian catwalk. [laughs] So- 

For the rich and famous in New York. 

For the rich and famous. So- Horse and carriage would drop off the New York's wealthiest elite at the southern end of the mall, so they could stroll along the mall to be seen before they get picked up at the other end, up north, near Bethesda Fountain. 

And that mall that appears in movies and series like Ocean's 8, uh, Made in Manhattan, Vanilla Sky, Enchanted, Sex and the City, 

many, many movies. But I think, I believe one of the most memorable uses of the mall was for the 1979 classic movie Kramer vs. Kramer, 

starring Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman. 

The mall appears twice in that movie. The 1st time when Ted, played by Dustin Hoffman, teaches his son Billy how to ride a bicycle. 

Oh, awesome. Every father knows that feeling when you- 

Yeah 

... try to [laughs] learn your boy or girl how to ride a bike. 

Yeah. It's- 

Especially we from the Netherlands, but it's, uh- 

Yeah. That- 

... it's- [laughs] 

... that's also true. Yeah. But you see they bond there. And later in the movie, Joanne, Ted's ex-wife, played by Meryl Streep, returns at the same spot. So the place where Ted and his son 1st bonded is now the place where she takes Billy away from Ted at the same path- 

Heartbreaking 

... to completely opposite feeling. Yeah. Heartbreaking. Uh, really heartbreaking. And it's no... it's not accidental that it's the same location. I mean, that's filmmaking. And those 2 parties, both at another side of the mall with the child in the middle, it feels almo- almost like the mall is a character instead of a location. So for me, it makes it... that makes it one of the most memorable scenes at the mall. But, [hisses] um, 

the mall looks 

on one side the same today, but on the other side, really different than it did in, uh, 1979. The lawns- 

Why is that? 

... are, are greener. Hmm? 

Wh- why is that? 

Because they- 

Is it just because it's greener, or wh- what? 

No. It's, it's more tidy. It's more manicured. I mean, they, they really, uh, changed, uh, the Central Park. The, in, in the, the '70s and '80s, it was a, a real different park than it is now, a real- 

I think- 

... different city than it is now. 

Yeah. New York was different in the, in the '80s. 

It was very different. Yeah. So it's, it was, uh, how... Yeah, rough around the edges. And somehow that feels right for a movie about how messy real life actually is. So it, it's, it's a good thing. So you recognize it, but it's, it's really different, uh- 

Yeah. But- 

... when you visit it now 

... uh, n- as you already said, New York has changed. Central Park has changed. It has become more of a location where you go with your family in the weekend or spend time with your friends or whatever. But one of the tips we both have for our- 

Mm-hmm 

... listeners is that if you go to Central Park, 

you better visit it on a weekday morning. Go there early. 

Yes. 

Set your [laughs] alarm, set your clock. 

Exactly. 

Go, go there before the joggers arrive, although that could also be fun. 

Yeah. 

Go there before the... all the tourists arrive- 

Yes 

... before the food cars are set up. Although it's always good to have a hot dog in Central Park. Um- 

Yeah. But it's- 

... and walk the mall. It's, it's- 

Yes 

... it's amazing. 

It's extraordinary. In the morning light and when it's all calm and the city comes alive, it's, it's a perfect time to visit Central Park. It really is. Yeah. 

Yeah. 

Absolutely. 

But if you walk the mall, then you go to? 

And then we go 

through the Bethesda Arcade, and we come at Bethesda Terrace. 

And I want you to picture a scene from John Wick: Chapter 2. [laughs] 

I already see him. 

Yes. After John Wick, played by Keanu Reeves, walk through the Bethesda Arcade, he meets with Winston, played by Ian McShane, near the Bethesda Fountain. It's no car chase, no fight sequence, like almost the rest of the movie, [laughs] but just 2 men having a talk, and one of the most beautiful locations in Central Park doing all the heavy lifting. It's, it's an amazing scene. And the location, I, I think it makes it extraordinary because the fountain sculpture at the center of the fountain where they filmed this scene 

was, wa- was designed by a lady called Emma Stebbins. And she was the 1st woman to receive a public commission for a major work of art in New York City, by the way. 

Hooray. 

Hooray. 

[laughs] 

Good for her. Yes. But the angel in the fountain represents healing waters. And I believe it's, it's, so resurrection, and I believe it's a fitting symbol for a scene of John Wick. I mean, a movie about a man who keeps coming back from the dead. [laughs] 

I didn't know that, what you just told me. I didn't know that. Uh- 

No, you didn't. Yeah. It's, it's a, it's a beautiful sculpture. Yeah. 

Yeah. The sculpture I know, but I didn't know what the, the, the meaning of the water is, that it has- 

... special healing powers. 

Special meaning. Yes. Resurrection. But that same location, Jeroen, that same terrace and that same fountain 

was used for many, many movies. 

Yeah. 

But it was also used for Enchanted. 

Yeah. 

Start singing. 

And because... Yes, yes, yes. 

[laughs] 

And that, that's Central Park. I mean, one day it's Keanu Reeves navigating a world of contract killers, and the next day it's a, it's a cartoon princess in a yellow gown teaching New York City how to love. I mean, that's great. 

I believe that's great. 

And, um, director Kevin Lima, the director of, uh, Enchanted, filmed there. He brought 

leading lady Amy Adams and hundreds of extras in full, full costumes, and he filmed right there on a regular day with real New Yorkers stopping and staring and maybe occasionally jumping in. [laughs] And, and that song, I mean, you just said it. I mean, once it's in your head, that's how you know it's there, and you can... It's not getting away anymore. 

And it, it's, it's 100% Disney. It's, it's so Disney with all the colors and all the good vibes. It's, uh- 

Yes 

... it's a wonderful place to start singing. [laughs] 

Yes, yes. I won't sing because I may have some talents, but singing isn't one of them. [laughs] And that's not at - 

Yeah, you keep telling me that, but, uh- 

Yes, no 

... I want to hear you sing someday in this podcast. Okay. 

[laughs] Well, keep on dreaming. [laughs] But where John Wick makes Bethesda Fou- uh, Terrace feel dangerous, Enchanted makes it feel like the whole world might break into a song at any moment. And when you stand there, it's, it's... Yeah, yeah. Go and stand there and see which one wins for you. I mean, that's, that's interesting. But it's also- 

There are a lot of movies, but those are 2 great examples. 

Yeah, there's a lot of movies. I mean, the, The Avengers, Elf, the, the Maid of Honor, One Fine Day, many, many movies were filmed there. It's a beautiful place. 

Right next to Bethesda Terrace, you find the Bow Bridge, our 3rd location. 

That's one of my favorite spots. 

It's amazing. 

It's, it's very nice bridge. I mean, it's, it's the graceful arc shapes where it get its name from, the Bow Bridge. 

Yeah. 

It's, it's beautiful. Yeah. And it's, it's not only the... one of the most photographed spots in Central Park. It's also one of the most romantic spots because it's famous for the wedding proposals. [laughs] Couples have been saying yes here for over a century, so it's, it's, it's a very ro- very romantic place. I mean- 

I asked my wife to, uh... on another location in New York. Maybe we'll discuss that location, uh- 

Yeah. That's also a beautiful location 

... in another episode. But it's, uh- 

Yeah, I didn't choose for- 

You think I thought about perfect places to [laughs]- 

... to do wedding proposals. [laughs] 

Yeah. But I could... I, I can imagine that people, uh, wanna, uh, pop the question on the Bow Bridge. 

Yeah. Yeah, it's a beautiful location. I mean, no such luck for Peter Parker, Peter Parker, by the way, because in Spider-Man 3, 

the Bow Bridge is the location where Mary Jane breaks up with him. So right there on the same romantic bridge in New York City, no proposal, no yes, just goodbye. Aw, poor Spider-Man. 

Aw, poor Spidey. 

[laughs] But the bridge appeared, uh, appeared in many other pro- productions. I mean, Autumn in New York, uh, Manhattan, Highlander. 

Yeah, of course. 

The original '80s version, by the way- 

Yeah, yeah 

... with Christopher Lambert. Not the one they're filming right now with Henry Cavill, but that's, [laughs] that's also a sidetrack. Um, and, and just last June, uh, Billy Crudup, if I pronounce his, his name right, who plays Cory Ellison, and series newcomer Sean Hayes, who most people know from the series Will & Grace, filmed a scene at the Bow Bridge for the final season of the, I think, fabulous Apple TV series, The Morning Show. 

Yeah. 

Yeah. 

And, and Bi- and Billy Crudup is, is an amazing actor. Uh- 

He's very- 

... he's a little bit underrated, I think, but, uh- 

Yeah 

... he's great, especially in this series 

... I don't know why, why that is, but he's... Yeah. He's, he's, he's 

awesome in the series. [laughs] I mean, really awesome. So you see, some locations never get old, and Bow Bridge is one of them. They keep on using it, and it's, it's again and again a beautiful location. 

From the Bow Bridge, we're heading a little bit south, and we're going to the Wollman Rink. 

Hmm. 

And you can skate in Central Park, yes. The opening- 

Why did you pick that one? 

Ah, I mean, 

when you visit this place, it's, it's amazing. I mean, it's, it's... 

It appeared in many productions, but I choose it because it's in one of my favorite movies. [laughs] 

Which is one... Which one is that? 

And that's because it is in Serendipity. 

Ah, okay. 

Yes. It's a very, very feel-good romantic movie about 2 people who leave their reunion entirely up to fate. 

And the final scene from that movie was shot at Wollman Rink 

when John Cusack, who, who plays one of the leading roles, lying on the ice, waiting and just believing that she's coming to get him. [laughs] 

[laughs] Yeah. 

I mean, that location, it's, it's... Yeah, it's perfect. I mean- 

It's true love. 

Yeah. When you're standing there and you look up and... look up and you see the Manhattan skyline framed above the trees, it's, it's almost too cinematic to be real. And, and you... When you stand there, you understand why crews keep coming back to film movies there. I mean- 

Yeah. It's a, it's a great place to see the skyline, or, uh, the skyline or at least the big buildings surrounding Central Park and- 

... that part of the park at least. Yeah. 

This year it's, uh, uh, Serendipity the movie turns 25 this year. 

Mm-hmm. 

Yeah. And some good news for fans of the movie because Amazon MGM Studios is working on a new version of the movie with the same title- ... I read, but also with the same writer, Mark Klein. And, uh, they are n- it's not gonna be with the same characters, so new characters, new story, new idea. So it's not a remake or, or, or a reboot. It's more of a rebootal or something [laughs] like that.  

If that's even a word. [laughs] 

Yeah. 

But it's, uh, it's an original, uh, an original story. 

Okay. 

But I think the original movie, still perfect. So- 

[laughs] 

... just go and see it. And, uh, on that same ice where John Guzek finds the love of his life again, [laughs] that, um, that ice was also used for, by 2 criminals, Harry and Marv, [laughs] skate around planning their robbery in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. 

Of course, of course. 

Yeah, same location in completely different worlds again. Yeah. 

Yeah. By the way, they didn't only use the ring for, uh, that movie because there- 

Hmm 

... are several other locations, not only- 

Absolutely 

... in New York, but also in New York where they filmed that. But, um, Lost in New York, which is the subtitle of Home Alone 2, 

um, 

has, um, 

has a, has a great location in Central Park, but I will get into that later because I wanna, uh, 

make some or create some... No, I don't wanna create something. I wanna tell something. 

What do you want to say? You wanna tell something. [laughs] 

About... Yeah. [laughs] Because, um, the, 

the actress that played the pigeon lady in that movie- 

Yeah 

... uh, was an English actress called Brenda Fricker, and she died recently- 

Hmm 

... uh, in Dublin. She was a very well-known actress in England, but maybe there are a lot of people all around the world that don't know her that really good. But she played the pigeon lady in Home Alone 2, uh, but she was also very famous, and she won an Academy Award for the movie My Left Foot- 

Okay 

... uh, starring Daniel Day-Lewis. But, um, 

the character of the bird woman in the movie was sort of based on the Disney movie Mary Poppins. 

Oh. 

And a lot of people don't know that. But- 

No, I, I didn't know 

... um, they also didn't use, uh, CGI in the scene where all the pigeons- 

... come to her- 

[laughs] 

... because they used 3 to 500 real pigeons, trained pigeons, to be honest. 

Yeah. 

Interesting. 

Trained pigeons. 

Yeah. 

I mean... 

[laughs] Can you believe it? 

I didn't, I didn't even know that existed. 

Well, they- 

[laughs] I mean, yes 

... they can train any, they can train almost any animal. But they, they sowed real birdseed to the clothing so the birds [laughs] would, would not only come to her, but it would also stick on the, on, on, on- 

Wow 

... the clothing, on, on the coat. 

That's a great detail. [laughs] 

Yeah, yeah. Um, and if you wanna go there, you should go to the Gapstow Bridge in Central Park. 

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 

It's a, it's a wonderful smaller bridge in the park. It was built in 1874. It was made of iron and wood, and they replaced it with a different design a couple of years later. Uh, but because of the movie- 

Mm-hmm 

... nowadays, everybody knows it, not as the Gapstow Bridge, [laughs] but y- you might guess this one, as the Home Alone Bridge. And it's a- 

I really love that. [laughs] 

... wonderful romantic sphere with Macaulay Culkin and the pigeon lady, uh, with the ice in the background and this wonderful small bridge, so... 

Yeah. 

Um- 

It's a beautiful bridge. 

Yeah. 

It, it's, it features in more, uh, movies. I believe that next to the Gapstow Bridge, they filmed a scene for another iconic movie, The Devil Wears Prada. 

Mm-hmm. Yeah. 

The original. 

You're so right. Yeah. 

I believe it's a scene where Andy, played by Anne Hathaway, visit Nigel, 

the fellow- 

Played by Stanley Tucci 

... Stanley Tucci, yeah. 

Yeah. Of course. Yeah. 

On set for a photo shoot for a Runway magazine. It's the same location. I mean, th- that's incredible. You can't take 10 steps in Central Park without tripping over filming locations. 

But this is a special one because if you go there, you should take photos of 

both places for different movies. 

[laughs] Yeah. 

But it's- 

Yeah 

... it's fun to be there. 

Yeah, it's really fun to be there. Yeah. 

So after Gapstow Bridge, 

I like to go to the zoo. 

Mm-hmm. 

I like to go to the zoo. [laughs] The Central Park Zoo. It opened in 1894, and it's just 6 and a half acres. 

That's not much. 

So it's very tiny for a zoo. 

Yeah. 

So you can walk through it in under an hour, and it appears in, in s- some movies like and series like Gossip Girl and Enchanted and in the movie Hitch, um, and Woody Allen's A Rainy Day in New York, by the way. But it found is, its real movie fame from DreamWorks animated movie Madagascar. 

Of course. Yeah. 

Of course. 

Of course. 

I mean, an hilarious movie about 4 Central Park Zoo animals attempt to escape, and they end up shipwrecked on the island of Madagascar. I mean, it's Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, [laughs] Gloria the hippo, and of course, Melman the giraffe. [laughs] And here's the funny part, Jeroen, because the gift shop of the Central Park Zoo sells stuff, stuffed lions and giraffes. 

But neither of those animals really live in the zoo, so they're only selling these merchandise because of the movie. 

Yeah. 

And because of it made them famous for its r- 4 residents. I think that's the power of cinema. [laughs] It's, it's nice, isn't it? 

Yeah, you don't have the animals in the zoo, but you do sell stuffed toys of- 

Yeah, because- 

... animal not being in the zoo. Yeah. That's great. 

People, visitors are looking for those 4 famous- 

Yeah 

... uh, residents. Yeah. I mean, a short walk from the zoo, you'll find some of, um- 

Yeah, some of Central Park's famous rocks. I mean, the one that appears, uh, through the park. It risings out of the, all the, the ground like some prehistoric thing. That's, that's very iconic for Central Park, I think, those, those rocks. 

Can I interrupt you? 

Yes, of course. 

Because I wanna tell a story. 

Okay, tell a story. [laughs] 

Uh, uh, because, um, 

we all know, everybody who knows Central Park knows the rocks in the park. But there's one rock, and it's very difficult to identify it, that played a part in one of my favorite movies. It's The Fisher King from 1991 starring- 

Ah 

... uh, Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges- 

Yeah 

... and Mercedes Ruehl, Amanda Plummer, and so many great actors. And that movie was partly filmed in Central Park. And there's this scene where the homeless Perry, Robin Williams, and Jack, uh, Jeff Bridges, chase the Red Knight. Um, but that Red Knight is a figment of Perry's imagination. But, um... And they chase him, and they end up, uh, this wonderful rock- 

Mm-hmm 

... in Central Park. 

Yes, absolutely. 

And I really wanted to find that rock when I was [laughs] in New York- 

[laughs] 

... the last time. It was 2018. 

You're a little bit crazy. You really are. [laughs] 

Yeah. I know, I know, I know. But it doesn't matter. It's so much fun because, um, I used a scene from the movie to identify the buildings near the rock- 

Mm-hmm 

... uh, next to the park. 

And you know what? 

No. 

I found it. [laughs] 

Oh, that's brilliant. 

I went- 

I really loved it. [laughs] 

I, I went there, uh- 

Yeah 

... uh, I climbed up the rock, and I took some photos. And I was actually realizing that that was the place where Robin Williams was sitting and Jeff Bridges, exhausted as he was in the movie, was lying there, 

as was I. So- 

Wow 

... it was, um- 

Oh, it's perfect 

... it was a story I wanted to share with you because it's, uh- 

Yeah, that's perfect. Thank you for sharing. [laughs] 

[laughs] 

Oh, that's really nice. Yeah. Can we also put a photo of you on that rock in the show notes? Because I wanna see it. [laughs] 

Uh, I don't know if it's for public access, but maybe I'll- 

Think about it 

... I'll, I'll take a look at it. 

Think about it. Think about it. 

Yeah. 

I mean, yeah, that's a great story. That's really, really lovely. I mean, we could talk about Central Park for hours, but, but for now, I, I think we have to leave Central Park because it, we... It's too much to, to, to tell- 

Are you sure? 

... in one episode. 

Are you sure? 

Well, well, and I, I, and there's one more scene I, I, I can't leave without mentioning. 

I know. 

You know me. 

Yeah, I know you. 

Yeah, and it's, it's a scene from When Harry Met Sally... 

because the autumn, the leaves, 2 people walking, having a conversation that goes nowhere and everywhere at the same time. 

And that became one of the most recognizable images in romantic comedy history. I mean, Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal walking in Central Park. 

And especially because of the autumn colors of the- 

Yeah 

... of the image, of the scene. 

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, it's beautiful. They almost missed that, that one when, during filming. If the... I read an interview with, with Billy Crystal that if they were one day later, 

the weather changed and all the leaves were falling off. So if they were one day later, they wouldn't have such a beautiful, beautiful autumn scene in Central Park. But they did. So on their way to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, [laughs] Harry and Sally walk through the park. It's, it's amazing. And 

in 2018, when I visited the park, 

I found the exact spot where they filmed that. 

Mm-hmm. 

So much has changed, but if you look closely, the barriers along Terrace Drive in the background gave it away, and you can see exactly where they filmed that. So it's... Yeah, it's, it's, it's beautiful. So if you, if you're there on a beautiful autumn day, 

go and look for it yourself. I mean, that's great. And if you want some guidance, you can download the Movie Walk app and visit some nice Central Park locations on their self-guided walking tour in Central Park. So they guide you to the exact locations like the ones we talked about, When Harry Met Sally, but also The Devil Wears Prada and Serendipity. So [inhales sharply] you can do that. So 

now we're cur- we're curious, Jeroen, aren't we? Because Central Park is enormous, and somewhere out there, one of our listeners probably visited some locations themself. 

Oh, they must have. If they've been- 

Mm-hmm 

... to New York, they must have. Yeah. 

Yeah. So we'd love to know which one it is. And if you've been there or when you go, please send us a photo of you at that spot. And bonus points, really bonus points- 

[laughs] 

... if you can find a still from the movie and recreate it. So I mean, same angle, same expression, same everything. We would love to see that. When you go to our website, travelwithmovies.com, you can upload your story or images or anything you want to share with us. And maybe we even share it in our next episode. So we're looking forward to your reaction, aren't we? 

We love to hear from you. 

Exactly. [upbeat music] 

So it's time for our classic, classic scene or still. I mean, sometimes a genuine classic, but sometime it's, uh, sometimes it's a scene from maybe last year, but that already feels iconic. Either way, it's the kind of classic that makes you want to go somewhere. 

[laughs] 

And what classic made you want to travel, Jeroen? 

Well, I already addressed the title when we started this podcast at the beginning because we had... We were talking about the offer, about- 

Mm-hmm 

... the making of The Godfather. 

The Godfather, yeah. 

And there is no other movie that's better than to start this new podcast [laughs] series with- ... talking about movie classics than The Godfather. 

The Godfather. Absolutely. 

Uh, it's, uh, it's amazing. Um, I already told you about, uh, The Offer, so I won't get into that too much. But we want to know that there's the link between The Offer and I Play Rocky because this, uh, this actor, Anthony Ippolito, plays S- Al Pacino and Sylvester Stallone in- 

Mm-hmm 

... uh, The Offer and then in the new upcoming I Play Rocky. Uh, but you, but you should definitely check out the series, The Offer, because it's- 

Yeah 

... a great series about the making of this classic. But I wanna- 

I haven't seen it, but it's... I'm going to put it up- 

You should definitely see it 

... high on my wanna watch list. Yeah. 

It's one of the best series I've ever seen. 

Oh, really? 

And especially because I'm so... Well, The Godfather is one- 

Yeah, you're a sucker for Godfather 

... definitely one of the best films I've ever seen. 

Yeah. 

And I love to see it again and again and again. 

Yeah. 

But- 

But there are so many classic scenes in The Godfather, so which one 

do you wanna talk about? 

I wanna take the listeners to Bar Vitelli in Savoca- 

Ah 

... on Sicily. 

Perfecto. 

[laughs] 

[laughs] Did you say a, a commercial with another famous movie star in it? [laughs] 

[laughs] 

Well, it's, um... There, there... You're absolutely right. There's so much to tell about The Godfather and all the locations in these wonderful places, but I wanted to take you to, uh, and the listeners to Sicily because it's one of the locations... it's one of the, 

well, most recognizable locations, uh, in movie history, at least for this one. Uh, but let me mention The Godfather, of course, director Francis Ford Coppola, starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Talia Shire, and Simonetta Stefanelli, who played- 

Ah 

... Apollonia- 

Mm-hmm 

... in the scenes on the island. Um, but it's, um, it's a scene where Michael Corleone, Al Pacino, falls in love with a girl that turns out to be the daughter of the bar owner. 

Yeah. 

And it all leads to this marriage in this Sicilian town. 

Yes. 

Um, it was a spectacular... It, it still is a spectacular scene to see. Um, but the filming took place over several weeks in the summer of 1971, especially around August and, uh, and, and September. Uh, and the bar originally had a different name, but they changed it because of filming. But ever since, it's called and it's known as Bar Vitelli. And the building, the original building, dates back to the 15th century, so it's amazing. Um- 

Yeah, it's a great place. I've, I've, I've also been there. I mean- 

Yeah 

... it's, it's a great place. And, and when you're there and you see all those images of The Godfather grace the old stone walls of Bar Vitelli, it's, it's, 

it's such, such a nice place to visit. Yeah. 

Yeah. And it's small, so you can walk to the church where they marry, and you can also sit on the terrace of Bar Vitelli- 

Yes 

... and enjoy the Italian life. 

Yeah. Yeah, it's a very short walk from Bar Vitelli up to the church. I mean, you can, you can... I mean, um, yeah, you can visit 2 of those classic, uh, filming location within a few minutes walking distance. I mean, it's no, no more than that. 

But I shouldn't... I don't know when you were there. Uh, do you know... Do you remember? 

Um, I believe it's maybe 10 years ago or something. 

Yeah. 

I don't know exactly. 

Well, uh, things have changed, uh- 

Oh, really? Oh 

... because people know the locations. Uh, especially the fans of the movie go there. If you go to Sicily, you have- 

Yeah 

... to go to Bar Vitelli. But ever since the cruisers, the cruise ships also went to or go to, uh, Sicily, the number of tourists that also visit Bar Vitelli, well, sort of has, has exploded. But, um, what's... Maybe that's a little bit of a downside to this, uh, to this experience. But on the other hand, if you go there early or if you go there on times when there's not really high season, you should definitely enjoy the view and defin- definitely enjoy the atmosphere over there. And what's relatively new, 

that the owner of Bar Vitelli has managed to create 3 rooms where you can [laughs] also stay. 

Now you're talking. 

[laughs] 

That's a much better place to stay [laughs] than the one you started with. [laughs] I mean, 

I really like that one [laughs] because when you, when you drive up to Savoca, it's, it's, it's... Because it's not an easy place to reach. 

No. No, no. 

So that's, that's why I'm amazed that you talk about cruise ships and people go there, because before you're, you're there, it's... Because it sits on a hillside in, in the eastern of Sicily, and it's narrow roads. And, and when you come there, it's, it's... Yeah, it feels like something from another century. So yeah, I would really love to stay there. I, I don't think that that was, uh, the case when we visit there because I, I didn't see that. So maybe it's, it's longer ago than 10 year. I don't know exactly. 

Well, it's, it's only since, uh, 2022 that they started, uh, uh, renting out these rooms. 

Okay. Yeah. 

So that's relatively new. But if you, uh, if you go to our show notes on our website, 

travelwithmorito.com- 

We put it there 

... we'll, we'll put the link in the show notes so you can definitely book a room- 

Yeah. Yeah 

... and- 

Go there 

... enjoy the Italian- 

Yeah 

... Godfather atmosphere of Sicily. 

Yeah. And if you don't book a room, just go and sit on that terrace and order an Italian drink and just, just look out at the same view like Michael Corleone looked at. I mean, it's incredible. Just go there. A great, great, great classic to start with, Jeroen. Thanks. 

You're welcome.

[upbeat music] [claps] So send us your photos, send us your wonderful stories, or even questions, things you wanna know from us, and we'll love to tell you more about filming locations or t- travel destinations or movies or whatever. But we love to hear the questions, and we love to hear your stories. So... 

About wonderful stories, Jeroen- 

Okay 

... may I tell one more story? [laughs] 

One more, okay. 

One more, please. 

Before we wrap up. 

Before we wrap up, because I want to tell you about Shere, Share, Shere. I don't know how to say it, but it's filming location for the, from The Holiday. 

Ah, Kate Winslet. 

A village in Surrey. Yes, Kate Winslet. And it's a small, quiet, almost aggressively charming village- 

[laughs] 

... [laughs] in Surrey. And, uh, The Holiday was filmed there in, uh, 2006, so it's 20 years ago. And we went 2 years ago, knowing full well that Iris' cottages, played by the wonderful Kate Winslet, no longer exist on that location because it was built ex- especially for the film and taken down the moment the crew left. So nothing to find there regarding the cottage, but we went anyway. So we parked our car near St. James Church, and that is the exact spot where Amanda, played by Cameron Diaz, got out of the taxi in the movie. 

And she got out there because the taxi couldn't make it to the cottage. So 

big suitcase, high heels, 

totally not dressed for snow or hiking, [laughs] she was there, and she had to walk up to the cottage. So, 

so funny to actually stand there at that same spot. So it's fun beginning when you get out of the car. [smacks lips] And after that, we walked up to the White Horse pub, and that's the pub where Amanda and Graham, played by Jude Law, had their 1st date. And it's a real English pub with low ceilings and old wood and those boards. In Holland, we say krijtborden. I don't know how you say it in English, but- 

Chalkboard. Chalkboard, yeah. 

Chalkboard with the menu, and it's exactly like in the movie. 

Mm-hmm. 

So we had a drink there on the table, uh, where they also sit, and we tried not to point too obviously, but we failed. [laughs] We failed- 

[laughs] 

... in any way, you can understand. But it was so fun, so fun to be there. And then we went- 

You're such a romantic type, aren't you? 

Yeah. Yeah, I re- Yeah, I'm a sucker for romantic comedies. [laughs] I've, I believe they're 

really underestimated in some, some ways, but that's a different kind of story. But we went... After the... we went, uh, to the pub, we were looking for the fields, which of course is nowhere near the bridge where Cameron Diaz ran across on her way to the cottage, because it's a film. And locations 

that look, look connected on screen can be miles apart in real life, sometimes even on the other side of the world. I mean, we know that. But 

we knew the field was somewhere around Shere, so we got back to the car and ri- drove through the lanes, those narrow lanes with stone walls on both sides of, uh, the lane. And 

it was barely wide enough for one car, so when we were crawling through those lanes, I start thinking about Amanda, Cameron Diaz, who climbed into the tiny red Mini of Iris and gripped the wheels on the wrong side of the road for her and completely out of her depth. And that moment when I thought of her, I looked up in the car because Maro, my partner, was driving, 

and from the other hand of the road, what did I see coming? [laughs] A red Mini came just around the corner. And in my head, very clearly, I heard Cameron Diaz screaming when the red Mini passed by our car. It was so funny. [laughs] But- 

What a wonderful story. 

That's not the story. Sorry, I... 

But I want to tell you because eventually we found the fields, and there was no cottage. Of course, there was no cottage. We knew that. But the trees were right, the landscape was right, and we stood there, 2 people looking at nothing. [laughs] And one of those people was completely happy. That was me. [laughs] And the other one was laughing at my happiness on that empty field outside of Shere without a cottage in sight. And luckily, he has a sense of humor. So, I mean, that was a great experience. So I believe 

go to Shere, have a drink at the White Horse, drive the lanes. It's, it's wonderful. And watch out for red Minis. I mean, that's- 

That's a wonderful story, Tanja. 

It was- 

Thank you so much 

... such a treat. [laughs] It was such a treat. 

Yeah. 

Yeah, I think that's it for today. I mean, uh, we took you- 

Not too bad 

... to Central Park, New York, and, yeah, please let us know what you think. 

Yeah, yeah. Send us your photos or, and, and stories of the filming locations you visited. A story, a disappointment, a discovery, doesn't matter. Uh, maybe we'll share your experience in our next episode. So please send us, uh, your stories and your photos. Um, we'll, uh, we'll post them... Uh, we'll post on our, uh, on our website. We'll post some- 

Yeah, we will 

... show, show notes and, uh... So it's, uh, travelwithmovies.com. I say it again. [laughs] 

Yes, it is. Yes, it's... That's the one. 

Where you can find all the in- uh, where you can find all the information. But please send us our sto- your stories. 

Yeah, that would be very nice. 

Love to hear from you. 

Yeah, we really love that. And if you haven't subscribed yet, please do it now because next time, we're going to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. 

Yep. 

Yes, we are going to do that. And trust us, you don't want to miss that. So until then... 

See you at the movies. 

Or somewhere out there. Bye-bye. Until next time. 

[upbeat music]