How well does Gran Torino portray Highland Park? (Dearborn, Dearborn Heights: house, to live)

[fallingwater]

I thought the movie was excellent. I think the movie more portrayed the attitude and not so much the location in particular. I think black gangs might be more of a problem than Asian and of course street names and HP being shown on the cop cars didnt fit with what we all know in terms of location. But my grandfather, uncles, cousins etc worked for Ford's and Clint reminded me so much of my grandfather. That tough, hard working, guy that anit taking crap from no one. The movie actually made me homesick. I quickly realized when I left Detroit that Detroiters are more upfront, brutally honest and straight forward about stuff even if it isnt PC. Where I live now, people think they are slick foxes and let me tell ya. I feel like Ive got bull**** radar!

[renter8319]

Originally Posted by Dexterguy

For a little while they did not though, I believe that they were controlled by state police 2001-2002, when Highland Park went bankrupt.

they must have got a police force in the last few years, because they were patrolled by the sheriff when they went bankrupt, like dexter said

[renter8319]

Originally Posted by Wingnatic

I believe there's a good size Hmong population in the suburbs , possibly Warren . I have yet to see the movie but plan on seeing it . I was born in Detroit but currently live in the suburb of Center Line ( a city in the middle of Warren) . The VFW scenes from the movie was filmed at the Center Line VFW (Menge Post) on Sherwood (between 10 Mile Rd. and 696) between Mound and Van Dyke

i lived in warren and went to center line high, when i was there, there were some quiet asian kids in our school and one particularly in one of my classes that suddenly stopped coming. everyone knew they were in some asian gang but they were all pretty nice. long story short, the kid that stopped coming was involved (with his gang member friends) in kidnapping something like 4 girls and repeatedly raping them for 2 weeks. it was crazy to find out this dude was involved, he was very quiet, and never mean to anyone.

[Bhaalspawn]

Originally Posted by renter8319

i lived in warren and went to center line high, when i was there, there were some quiet asian kids in our school and one particularly in one of my classes that suddenly stopped coming. everyone knew they were in some asian gang but they were all pretty nice. long story short, the kid that stopped coming was involved (with his gang member friends) in kidnapping something like 4 girls and repeatedly raping them for 2 weeks. it was crazy to find out this dude was involved, he was very quiet, and never mean to anyone.

This awful story sounds like good fodder for a VDare.com article.

In other news, did Clint ever say what he thought of filming in the Detroit area and whether he'd ever consider making another movie here? I wonder if he thinks that the entire region is one huge ghetto now.

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by Bhaalspawn

In other news, did Clint ever say what he thought of filming in the Detroit area and whether he'd ever consider making another movie here? I wonder if he thinks that the entire region is one huge ghetto now.

Yes. The Northwest Airline magazine (seat pocket of the planes) has an article about the movies with a couple of comments from Clint Eastwood. He said that eh came here because of the discounts. He said that Michigan will become the Hollywood of the Midwest." He, or someone, said that they really liked how accomodating the public and local governments are here.

In LA a lot of people will not do anything to accomodate movie makers. There the filmmakers are often seen as more of an annoyance than a boon they hold up traffic, block sidewalks or access to public buildings, etc. Since so many parts of movies and tv shows are filmed there, it happens often and people get mad more than excited when they see a camera crew working.

[Dexterguy]

Originally Posted by renter8319

they must have got a police force in the last few years, because they were patrolled by the sheriff when they went bankrupt, like dexter said

I don't know to much about the Highland Park police, but I know that their police did crumble in 2001 or so. I believe that a new Highland Park police department just recently emerged in the last few years.

They have a police department, but their once beautiful police station, city hall, government buildings, etc are all still standing vacant from the 2001 bankruptcy that happend.

Does anyone know what exact street that Clint Eastwood's house is on???

[Wingnatic]

Here's some info , I'll see if I can find the Free Press article

Where are the exact filming locations for the movie Gran Torino? - Yahoo! Answers

[Wingnatic]

Here's what I've found so far:

December 21, 2008

For metro Detroiters, watching "Gran Torino" will be a bit like watching a home movie. Among the familiar sights:

• Ballantyne Road near Lake Shore Drive, Grosse Pointe Shores. A house here was used as the home of Walt Kowalski's son.
• St. Ambrose Catholic Church (Hampton just off Jefferson, Grosse Pointe Park). The historic 1927 church is seen during the film's opening as nonbeliever Walt endures the funeral of his wife.
• Rhode Island Street, east of Woodward, Highland Park. Highland Park stands in for what the film's characters call "the old neighborhood." Walt keeps a tidy house here and looks askance at those that are crumbling around him.
• Widgren's Barber Shop (11 Mile between Main and Washington, Royal Oak). Walt playfully trades insults in this antique barbershop.
• VFW Post 6756 (Sherwood between Mound and Van Dyke, Centerline). Walt and his buddies drink Pabst Blue Ribbon at this cinder-block hangout.
• Pointe Hardware (Kercheval at Wayburn, Grosse Pointe Park). Look for the store's original owner, Clarence Becker, in a scene where Walt takes the teenage Thao to buy tools.
• Artona Custom Tailoring (Mack near Rivard, Grosse Pointe). When Walt fulfills a lifelong dream of owning a tailored suit, owner Vincent Bonasso sizes him up.
• Pilgrim Street, west of Woodward, Highland Park. Walt has a climactic showdown with Hmong gang members at a house here.
• Lake Shore Drive, Grosse Pointe Farms and Grosse Pointe Shores. Clint Eastwood sings over the closing credits as the title car cruises down Lake Shore. Lake St. Clair and the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club are seen in the background.

[Dexterguy]

Google Maps

I think I have found Clint Eastwood's house(the tanish one), and the Hmong's next door(blue).

This is from Google streetview.

[Dexterguy]

Originally Posted by Dexterguy

Google Maps

I think I have found Clint Eastwood's house(the tanish one), and the Hmong's next door(blue).

This is from Google streetview.

Darn it! The link did not work the way I wanted it to, does anyone know how to paste a Google Maps picture on the forum.

Anyway, if you want to try to find the houses, it is on Rhode Island Street in Highland Park, about 5 houses down from Oakland Parkway, on the Left side of the street.

I'll try to find more, at least what is available on Google Maps.