20 Greatest Philly Movies

Brought to you by Philadelphia Magazine, 2008

#20 1776COOL FACT: Though the movie is set in Philly, the bulk of it was shot on a studio lot in L.A., Year:1972

#19 The BlobCOOL FACT: McQueen was offered his choice of 10 percent of the profits, or $2,500. He took the $2,500 — and the film earned $4 million, Year: 1958

#18 Twelve MonkeysCOOL FACT: To help Brad Pitt pull off his character’s nervous way of talking, Gilliam took away his cigarettes, Year: 1995

#17 Mikey & NickyCOOL FACT: May is said to have shot 1.5 million feet of film for Mikey & Nicky — more than three times the amount shot for Gone with the Wind, Year: 1976

#16 Kitty FoyleCOOL FACT: Rogers beat out Hepburn for the best actress Oscar, Year: 1940

#15 Best in ShowCOOL FACT: The shot of “Liberty Hall” is really Pittsburgh’s Mellon Arena—stock footage left over from Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Sudden Death, Year: 2000

#14 My ArchitectCOOL FACT: Kevin Bacon’s father, Edmund Bacon, was considered to be Louis Kahn’s nemesis, and is in the film, Year: 2004

#13 BirdyCOOL FACT: Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown, a Philadelphian, developed a new technology to shoot Birdy’s aerial shots, Year: 1984

#12 High SchoolCOOL FACT: Former mayor Richardson Dilworth, then head of the school board, pushed for the ban, Year: 1968

#11 Stone ReaderCOOL FACT: After the film came out, Barnes & Noble republished The Stones of Summer, Year: 2002

#10 The Young PhiladelphiansCOOL FACT: Based on a Richard Powell novel, The Philadelphians, Year: 1959

#09 WitnessCOOL FACT: The script's original title was "Called Home" which is the Amish term for death, Year: 1985

#08 Atlantic CityCOOL FACT: Robert Mitchum was considered for Lancaster’s role, Year: 1980

#07 Sixth SenseCOOL FACT: In twelve Monkeys, shot four years before this, Willis’s character says, “All I see are dead people.” Year: 1999

#06 Blow OutCOOL FACT: Yes, that is Action News weather guy Dave Roberts playing a TV newscaster, Year: 1981

#05 Trading PlacesCOOL FACT: the film was conceived as a vehicle for Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder; G. Gordon Liddy was offered the role of Clarence Beeks, Year: 1983

#04 The WoodsmanCOOL FACT: Based on a play by Steven Fechter, Year: 2004

#03 PhiladelphiaCOOL FACT: Working titles included People Like Us, At Risk and Probable Cause, Year: 1993

#02 The Philadelphia StoryCOOL FACT: Hepburn owned the film rights to Philip Barry’s play. They were purchased for her by Howard Hughes, Year: 1940

#01 RockyCOOL FACT: The studio wanted Ryan O’Neal to play Rocky, Year: 1976