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From Ferris Bueller to political drama, see the Art Institute of Chicago and Grant Park through the lens of film From Ferris to the Frontlines: Chicago's Art Institute and Grant Park in the Movies From Ferris Bueller to political drama, see the Art Institute of Chicago and Grant Park through the lens of film All Talks About The Art Institute of Chicago and Grant Park are not just beloved city landmarks—they’ve also played unforgettable roles on the big screen. In this hour-long talk led by a film scholar with a PhD , explore how both public spaces have been represented in film, sometimes as places of whimsy, sometimes as sites of unrest. Specifically, you will: Stroll (virtually) along Michigan Avenue to visit the Art Institute of Chicago and its famous lions Explore how a beloved ‘80s teen comedy transformed a museum visit into a cinematic moment Step into Grant Park, a sprawling downtown green space rich in political and pop culture significance Learn how a recent historical drama restaged one of Chicago’s most turbulent protests View original HD footage you won’t find anywhere else—captured and curated just for this talk See familiar city landmarks in a new light—through the lens of film—as we engage in conversation about place and media. Request Talk

Explore hidden stories of women who shaped early Chicago cinema, with HD footage of key locations where they lived and worked Women and Early Cinema in Chicago: Untold Stories Behind the Silent Screen Explore hidden stories of women who shaped early Chicago cinema, with HD footage of key locations where they lived and worked All Talks About Discover untold stories of three women who helped shape early cinema in Chicago. Through HD footage of locations where these women lived and worked, you'll explore their often overlooked contributions to the early film industry. Start in Chicago's western suburbs at a modest Frank Lloyd Wright home, where you'll uncover a woman's impressive connection to pre-cinema through her work at the Art Institute of Chicago. Then, stroll down a 140-year-old brick-paved road to the Morse Theatre to hear about its innovative female ownership and why it was once hailed as "the theatre of the future." Finally, visit the old Essanay studio lot in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, where a silent-era screenwriter worked before becoming one of Hollywood's most powerful gossip columnists. Led by a PhD who taught film for more than a decade, this program offers a unique glimpse into Chicago's cinema history, highlighting three (of countless!) oft-overlooked women who made their mark on the early days of film. Request Talk

Visit (virtually) the 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' house in suburban Chicago, hear behind-the-scenes stories, and explore the movie's complex theme of home Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and the Trappings of Home Visit (virtually) the 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' house in suburban Chicago, hear behind-the-scenes stories, and explore the movie's complex theme of home All Talks About Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) is frequently considered John Hughes’ best work. Its Rotten Tomatoes score is 92% . It ranks either #1 or #2 on lists from Variety , Screen Rant , and Movie Maker . Dan Ackroyd even likens the movie to Arthur Miller’s great American play, Death of a Salesman , calling John Candy’s shower curtain ring salesman “the Willy Loman of his age.” Why has Planes, Trains and Automobiles earned this elevated status in John Hughes’ body of work? It’s just a comedy with a simple premise, silly slapstick, and caricatures as leads, right? Yes, the movie is all of that. But it is also perhaps Hughes’ most mature screenplay. In this program featuring HD video footage, you’ll visit the suburban Chicago house where Planes, Trains and Automobiles ends. You’ll hear plenty of behind-the-scenes stories. And you’ll discover how the movie intertwines humor with the complex notion that “home” is both a comfort and a constraint. Request Talk

Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. The Fugitive In the 1993 action-thriller The Fugitive , Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) escapes from U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) during Chicago's annual St. Patrick's Day parade . This sneaky getaway allows Kimble more time to find the one-armed man who murdered his wife. This screenshot illustrates how The Fugitive ’s director, Andrew Davis, filmed this segment “documentary-style, grabbing what [he] could from the actual parade.” Pictured are parade participants dressed as clowns, with one in the foreground juggling bowling pins. Alongside their float, they march down N. Dearborn St. in front of The Daley Center . Can you spot the Picasso statue in the background? More specifically in terms of production, The Fugitive 's director captured most of the parade chase with hand-held and Steadicam cameras. Then, he edited the shots together to depict Kimble’s slipping away unnoticed. But one of the final shots in this scene—of Kimble escaping into the crowd as Gerard searches —occurs in the same frame. “That moment was without a cut," recalls Davis. "It was fantastic." You can watch the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day parade scene in full below and read more about it in this 2023 interview . Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive

Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Planes, Trains and Automobiles Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a 1987 comedy about a Chicago marketing executive (Steve Martin) who's forced to travel with a talkative shower curtain ring salesman (John Candy) on his meandering way home for Thanksgiving. In today's #OneShotWed, Steve Martin's character is trying to rent a car. In the process, he spews 19 "f-bombs" at the car rental employee (Edie McClurg). Despite what some Planes, Trains, and Automobiles fans think, Martin did not improvise anything in this scene . In fact, he credits John Hughes' writing for the now-classic scene: "There's a certain rhythm to John's writing. And if you start just saying the f-word anytime you want, it's just going to fall out of whack and not be poetic." Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive

Explore the lives of three stars via massive murals in Chicago  Chicago Murals and Movie Stars Explore the lives of three stars via massive murals in Chicago All Talks About With the help of original HD video, this talk takes guests to massive murals in three different Chicago neighborhoods. The first mural is devoted to Dolly Parton : singer, songwriter, actress, LGBTQ+ icon, and philanthropist. While there, we'll chat briefly about Parton's 1992 romantic comedy Straight Talk , filmed here in Chicago. The second mural celebrates Robin Williams , born in Chicago in 1951. Once we "arrive," we'll take a moment to analyze the artwork in terms of size, color, and subject before heading to the actor-comedian's childhood home. The third mural depicts film producer Quincy Jones , who survived a "rough and scary" childhood in Chicago. We'll also visit Jones' childhood home in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood. NOTE: Due to the violent nature of Jones' backstory, this segment of the program may not be appropriate for children. Request Talk

Reconsider Chicago amusement parks through the lens of home movies and a dunking booth game Roller Coasters, Racism, and Chicago Home Movies Reconsider Chicago amusement parks through the lens of home movies and a dunking booth game All Talks About The popularity of the Midway Plaisance at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair spurred on the development of the American amusement park. Indeed, shortly after the Fair closed, amusement parks began to appear across the country, many located in and around Chicago . This virtual tour offers your patrons/guests a brief history of select amusement parks in Chicago through the lens of home movies. It also details the racism behind a popular game adults and children played at these parks. Finally, with the help of our HD video camera, you'll walk to the current location of the sign that welcomed families to an amusement park in Melrose Park, IL, called Kiddieland. NOTE: This virtual event includes historical material involving the use of offensive racial epithets. Request Talk

Visit the suburban Chicago village where the romantic comedy "While You Were Sleeping” was filmed While You Were Sleeping in Chicago: A Holiday Stroll Visit the suburban Chicago village where the romantic comedy "While You Were Sleeping” was filmed All Talks About Book the new, updated version of this Christmas talk: Location and Legacy in While You Were Sleeping ! Round out your holiday season with a virtual walking tour through the Chicago suburb where the 1995 Christmas movie While You Were Sleeping was filmed. As you stroll with Kelli through the charming village streets of La Grange, IL, you’ll see the locations that set the stage for Lucy and Jack’s romance. Along the way, you’ll also experience three of Frank Lloyd Wright’s rare “bootleg” houses, blending a bit of architectural history with our holiday cheer. Whether you’re a fan of Sandra Bullock, Peter Gallagher's eyebrows, or just seeking a fun and festive way to immerse yourself in the holiday spirit, this virtual walking tour is a fun way to celebrate the season. Request Talk

Get introduced to cinematography to experience movies on a new level How Do Movies Guide Your Eyes? Get introduced to cinematography to experience movies on a new level All Talks About When you watch a movie, the images before you may seem like objective views of the world. But they are not. In fact, those images are purposefully constructed and then put onscreen—to guide your eyes where the director wants them to go. Sneaky, right? This hour-long program introduces you to the basics of cinematography, including speed of motion, perspective relationships, focal length, depth of field, and framing. After all, once you recognize how cinematography works, you can experience and understand movies on a new level. Request Talk

Learn about three Chicago movie theaters that survived the 1918 flu pandemic Chicago, Movies, and the 1918 Pandemic Learn about three Chicago movie theaters that survived the 1918 flu pandemic All Talks About In 1918, Chicago movie theaters faced an unprecedented challenge as the flu pandemic disrupted daily life and shuttered public spaces across the city. Yet some movie houses found ways to endure—and their buildings still stand today! In this talk, Kelli takes you, via HD footage, to three silent-era Chicago movie theaters that survived the 1918 flu pandemic. Along the way, she offers a brief history of the so-called Spanish Flu, with subtle connections to more recent global experiences such as COVID. Request Talk

Revisit the abortion plot in Dirty Dancing, without which the entire movie falls apart Dirty Dancing on Abortion Revisit the abortion plot in Dirty Dancing, without which the entire movie falls apart All Talks About Dirty Dancing , the 1987 coming-of-age movie starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze, has resurfaced in the news in 2022 for three reasons: Grey is promoting her memoir Out of the Corner . This summer marks the film’s 35th anniversary . The Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade , the 1973 Court decision that affirmed the constitutional right to abortion. In light of these recent events—along with Millennium Park's summer film series (Aug. 2) and a live concert in Rosemont, IL (Nov. 11)—join Chicago Movie Tours in an exploration of Dirty Dancing as it relates to the issue of abortion. We’ll pay special attention to the movie’s representation of abortion, without which the whole story would collapse. Also, in the livestream, we’ll consider Dirty Dancing ’s premiere, its screenwriter’s intents, and its progressive messages for audiences in 1987—and today. Choose your date below to join the conversation! Registration closes 70 min. before the event is scheduled to begin. Request Talk

Learn about the Chicago connections of a few giants of American comedy Comedy in Chicago: The Marx Brothers and Bob Newhart Learn about the Chicago connections of a few giants of American comedy All Talks About Chicago's onscreen history with comedy runs deep. This movie talk and accompanying original HD video footage will consider two giants of American film comedy, both of whom have strong ties to the Windy City. In Part 1, we'll begin with a leisurely walk to the Marx Brothers' Chicago home. There, you will learn about a subgenre of film called anarchic comedy. You'll also "take a ride" down a slice of historic Route 66 and see where the Marx family once owned a chicken farm. (Yes, a chicken farm.) Then in Part 2, we'll shift comedic gears to Bob Newhart. Newhart was born in Chicago, and his sitcom The Bob Newhart Show (1972-78) was set here as well. In this section of the talk, you'll visit three locations near and dear to the comedian and actor: his childhood home, his Oak Park apartment, and Navy Pier. Join Chicago Movie Tours and discover the city's comedy roots through TV and film! Request Talk