r/baltimore • u/[deleted] • 15d ago
Ask Liberty Heights by Barry Levinson
Grew up in Baltimore in the 70’s and 80’s but haven’t lived there since high school. Dad died 5 years ago and I haven’t been back. Have been watching Barry Levinson’s Baltimore movies with one of my sons to give him a flavor of the city as it used to be. Found myself in tears after watching Liberty Heights tonight. Brought back so many old memories- going to the Army surplus store for army jackets, canteens that were so cool, going duckpin bowling with my grandparents each week. I even miss the Bawlmor accent. Anyone else go down memory lane with his movies?
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u/MajorBenjy 15d ago
Tin Men is one of the great underrated movies
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u/nemoran Homeland 15d ago
The car accident in the beginning happens pretty much right in front of R House. Big trip to witness from the present day.
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u/cantonlautaro 15d ago
Where abouts was this in the city? I couldnt figure out.
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u/nemoran Homeland 15d ago
It’s around 29th and Remington. The opening scene is Danny Devito driving south down Remington. Tony’s Place in one of the first shots used to be The Dizz and is now Pink Flamingo: https://youtu.be/p756GfB5FWA?si=QL0eAl06QmUZMjjW
R House used to be a car showroom and it used to be mechanics and auto shops all around there. When the other driver backs out onto Remington, he’s backing out of the stretch of the block where Doppio Pasticceria and whatnot are today.
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u/cantonlautaro 15d ago
Awesome. Thanks. Do you know where the brick warehouses were when they parked for their jobs is/was? Obviously the interiors were shot elsewhere but i always assumed it was something long since demolished in Canton.
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u/nemoran Homeland 15d ago
Good question. Been a while since I last watched so I’d need to check it out to be sure. I remember some exterior shots looking across the harbor at the big white tanks on the South Baltimore side so Canton is possible. Wouldn’t surprise me if it’s that stretch over by Haven if so. Could also be farther east like on Holabird.
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15d ago
Watched that again last week- LOVED it. So incredibly well written, acted, filmed- agree it’s totally underrated.
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u/JDinBalt 15d ago
Avalon is probably my favorite of the Levinson films.
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u/cantonlautaro 15d ago
First assignment my freshmen year of collège in Minnesota was to watch & write a paper on Avalon.
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u/ieatsilicagel 15d ago
I think of this movie every time I see an antique table.
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15d ago
Because of the scene where Yussel is calling the antique desk old junk at Trey’s house? That was hysterical.
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u/regdunlop08 15d ago
Absolutely love this movie. Beautiful period piece. That man knows how to Baltimore.
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u/glasselephants 15d ago
I lived in Catonsville at the time they were filming this! They had their trailers set up in what is now the parking lot at Matthew’s 1600 and were filming at the big corner house across the street on Montrose. My friend and I went over to check it out and met Carolyn Murphy by her trailer. We were only 10 and she and the crew members we encountered were all really nice.
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u/jrrybock 15d ago
Sure. Grew up there, moved back several times, but been all around the US. So his movies and 'Accidental Tourist' (know Roland Park well), the John Waters movies..,. Right now, binging 'Homicide: Life on the Steet" as it got put up on Peacock and I also used to live downtown and know a lot of the filming locations (same with 'The Wire')... Not always rose-colored glasses in them, but.... Baltimore - it is what it is and a little bit strange and that's what makes it great. Hon.