When people think of movies that showcase Chicago, The Untouchables (1987) often tops the list. But does Brian De Palma’s award-winning gangster film truly give the city its rightful starring role? 

Let's answer this question with a tour to three Chicago filming locations: 

1. Chicago Board of Trade

2. Rookery Building (with its Frank Lloyd Wright redesign)

3. Chicago's Union Station

Along the way, we’ll pair original HD footage with stories of how Chicago architecture and history shaped this cinematic classic.

For the second half of this program, we'll turn to The Untouchables’ most iconic sequence: the Union Station staircase shootout, where a desperate mother, her baby, and a hail of gunfire collide in an unforgettable movie moment. Together, we’ll explore this sequence's behind-the-scenes details, its roots in silent-era cinema, and ways other filmmakers have borrowed the baby carriage motif for dramatic effect.

By the end of our hour together, you’ll see how The Untouchables not only cements Chicago’s place in film history, but also transforms the city itself into an unforgettable character on screen.